The case study of the conversion of Nicodemus presents a golden opportunity for us to look into our own souls, to see whether or not the truths of God’s word, and our practice are compatible. It is very possible for us to be baptized for many years, taking part in various services of the church, and even holding several offices of responsibility, while the essence of thorough, or ongoing conversion is lacking. This is one of the main characteristics of the contemporary Christian church, hence the reason why the title for our study today includes the words “Brother Nicodemus”, for according to the Bible, we have a lot in common with him, and many of us as Christians are just as in need of conversion, as he then was.
Our study begins with a planned visit to see Jesus by Nicodemus, who after much thought, and careful consideration of the potential consequences of such an action, decided that it was in his best interest for him to visit Christ at night, when no one else would be watching, and where an uninterrupted discourse could take place. To have a personal interview with Christ in broad daylight, would no doubt cause him to be looked upon with scorn and ridicule by his fellow colleagues, who were also professors at the leading universities and theological seminaries of the day. This first aspect of his decision have a one on one interview with Christ, immediately brings to light both the goodness and the kindness of Jesus, for it does not matter what time anyone comes to Him, whether by day or by night, once we keep on coming. Let’s read:
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Without going into any long preamble about issues and topics that are not of salvific value, Christ goes straight to the point of most concern, which is his conversion, for as an honored theologian, and a well-respected member of the elite Sanhedrin, Jesus was concerned that his profession to know the God of the scriptures was primarily intellectual, and while scriptural knowledge should never be discounted, yet if there is no commensurate change of heart along with a knowledge of the scriptures, then the whole purpose of studying them could be defeated, for the Bible is not to taken merely as any other textbook, to be studied with critical analysis, that does not touch the heart. And even though Nicodemus was a sincere seeker for truth, yet it was necessary that Christ clearly state that the essence of theological knowledge should be conversion. And as Jesus continues to reiterate His first statement, Nicodemus finds himself in a pretty uncomfortable situation as he correctly assesses what is implied by Christ’s words to him. Let’s read:
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
This last statement of Christ, “Ye must be born again” must have startled Nicodemus out of his comfort zone, for by implication, it meant that his relationship with God was nowhere near what it should be. The problem with this situation is that Christ was not here speaking to Beyonce or Snoop Lion, nor even to someone who was pagan, or who was an abandoned sinner, loaded with known sins of adultery, thefts, or infractions. Here was a pretty decent person who attended church regularly, was in good and regular standing, both in the church and in the up-scale community where he lived.
He was not even an ordinary church member, as your average John Doe, but was actually a professor of theology, at one of the most prestigious, world renowned seminaries of the day, and he also had a perfect credit score. This is the professor who had corrected your theology papers, who is versed in several languages such as Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Aramaic, and his exegesis of the Old Testament is unparalleled. And so it was, that when Jesus stated unequivocally that he needed to be baptized, we can understand why Nicodemus was not only taken aback at what that statement implied, but as any of us in a similar situation might also do, he became offended. If for some reason, Christ were to make that same soul-searching statement to any of the prominent, contemporary theologians of the day, or to a well-respected Evangelical such as Joel Osteen or T.D Jakes, many Christians will be up in arms as to His assessment, and many more might be quick to throw out Christ’s evaluation as being ill-advised at best. A very interesting commentary is made by the servant of The Lord pertaining to this very first interview, which, as his later history shows, marked the beginning of Nicodemus’ conversion. Let’s read:
[Desire Of Ages pp. 168>171] He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly. It would be too humiliating for a ruler of the Jews to acknowledge himself in sympathy with a teacher as yet so little known. And should his visit come to the knowledge of the Sanhedrin, it would draw upon him their scorn and denunciation. He resolved upon a secret interview, excusing this on the ground that if he were to go openly, others might follow his example. Learning by special inquiry the Savior’s place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him.
In the presence of Christ, Nicodemus felt a strange timidity, which he endeavored to conceal under an air of composure and dignity. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.” By speaking of Christ’s rare gifts as a teacher, and also of His wonderful power to perform miracles, he hoped to pave the way for his interview. His words were designed to express and to invite confidence; but they really expressed unbelief. He did not acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God.
Instead of recognizing this salutation, Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a seeker after truth. He knew the object of this visit, and with a desire to deepen the conviction already resting upon His listener’s mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
He was a strict Pharisee, and prided himself on his good works. He was widely esteemed for his benevolence and his liberality in sustaining the temple service, and he felt secure of the favor of God. He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state.
But by virtue of his birth as an Israelite he regarded himself as sure of a place in the kingdom of God. He felt that he needed no change. Hence his surprise at the Saviour’s words. He was irritated by their close application to himself. The pride of the Pharisee was struggling against the honest desire of the seeker after truth. He wondered that Christ should speak to him as He did, not respecting his position as ruler in Israel. Surprised out of his self-possession, he answered Christ in words full of irony, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Like many others when cutting truth is brought home to the conscience, he revealed the fact that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. There is in him nothing that responds to spiritual things; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
This same problem of having an exalted estimation of our own righteousness has affected very many Christians throughout the ages, and as we study the rise and fall of many Bible characters, with their consequent conversion, we ourselves are prodded to do some deep soul-searching as to what our current relationship with The Lord really is. It is easy to feel saved, if there are a lot of good works being engaged in, and if there is an in-depth knowledge of the scriptures, and while all of these are good, and to be encouraged, yet the searching eye of God bids us not to compare ourselves with others, but rather to see ourselves in the mirror of Christ’s perfect righteousness. Peter also thought of himself as being converted, just like Nicodemus, but it was only when his true colors were manifested, that he realized how in need of God’s grace he really was. Let’s read:
[Christ Object Lessons pp. 152>155] In his early discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his own estimation he was “not as other men are.” When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night,” Peter confidently declared, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Mark 14:27, 29. The evil that led to Peter’s fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is proving the ruin of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master.
It is worthy of note in both instances of Peter and Nicodemus, that conversion involves a germination process by which the word of God takes root in the heart, is acknowledged and acted upon, and then The Holy Spirit brings the seed sown to maturity. After the death of Christ on Calvary, when evidence after evidence was presented to his mind by the Holy Spirit, the same Nicodemus came boldly to the front, and cast in his lot with the people of God, and from that time forward, the needed change of heart that Christ previously spoke of took place, and like Peter, his conversion was complete and enduring. Like the two Bible characters mentioned, some of us as Christians may have been attending church regularly for many years, we may have held various church offices, and we might be highly esteemed amongst the brethren, as well as the secular world. But the question is, could it be that we have much more in common with brother Nicodemus than we know of, and is it possible, that if Christ were to make that same assessment of our relationship with God, that most of us would likely become startled out of our wits. As we ponder on the statement to Nicodemus, and its implications, it becomes more and more apparent that it is not so far-fetched after all, for the statement then made to him, is the very same statement Christ is currently making to the Laodicean church, for we also are apparently in dire need of thorough conversion. Let’s read:
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
As we read and ponder these solemn words, there will be a very strong temptation for us to think of someone who we might know of who is in this exact situation. But God does not desire us to think of anyone else who we know of, but rather to think of ourselves, for the messages thus given are directly addressed to you and me, who are currently in good and regular standing. One of the ways in which we can know for certain if we are currently standing in Nicodemus’ former shoes, is by the ease and speed with which we resolve difficulties arising within the body of believers. The tendency to be united in one heart, mind, and purpose, putting the interests of God’s kingdom first, and self out of the picture, is one of the manifestations of conversion, for it is unity in Christ that forms the foremost identifying mark of the brotherhood of believers. But for us to indulge in back-biting, bickering, fault-finding, or mutual animosities, where we sit on one side of the church to avoid those whom we do not agree with, is a sign that we must be born again. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 3:3 “For whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said”… 3 “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
11 “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.
We may have been saved ten or twenty years ago but the real question for us to answer is whether we have been saved today, because the process of conversion and sanctification is an ongoing work with an upward trajectory, and therefore it is of the utmost importance that we heed the evaluation of Christ given to the Laodiceans, so that like Peter and brother Nicodemus, we can be born again, if need be. We therefore end with a golden treasure of counsel given to us, with the hope that a surrender of ourselves to God each day will ultimately result in the thorough conversion we may stand in need of. Let’s read:
[Testimonies vol. 5 pp. 168>169] No matter how high his profession, he whose heart is not imbued with love for God and for his fellow men is not a disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith, and even have power to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality, but should he from some other motive than genuine love bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr's death, yet if destitute of the gold of love he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite.
Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” The heart in which love rules will not be filled with passion or revenge, by injuries which pride and self-love would deem unbearable. Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love will never needlessly expose the faults of others. It does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but rather seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the one defamed.
Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” He whose heart is imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices.
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love “never faileth.” It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!