The Gospel of John

The Encounter Between Jesus and Nicodemus

In John 3:1-21, the Apostle John describes a nighttime encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. During this conversation, several critical issues are discussed. Jesus tells Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again to see the kingdom of God, which confuses Nicodemus as he ponders how one can be born when old or re-enter their mother's womb. Jesus clarifies the necessity of being born of both water and the Spirit (note the capitalization of "Spirit"), enlightening Nicodemus further in verses 6 and 7. If you look to the end of verse 8, before you start to read it, you will see what it is describing as you understand the description (those born of the Spirit). In verses 9-10, Jesus' purposeful patience is evident as He teaches Nicodemus. This would have been intentional if Nicodemus was one who Jesus foreknew to have been drawn to Him by the Father. This lesson continues with great clarity throughout the next eleven verses (11-21). Jesus ties the Old Testament image from Numbers 21:9 to the fulfillment of this prophecy in His coming death on the cross in verses 14-15. Verses 16-17 explain the reason for His mission, while verse 18 lays down the justification for the condemnation of unbelievers, which is further detailed in verse 19. Verses 20-21 serve as a two-verse altar call, likely piercing Nicodemus' heart and leading him to salvation. Although the conversation's conclusion is not recorded, John 7:45-52 and 19:38-42 suggest that Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus Christ. Check out this outline:

vv 1-2: Nicodemus Approaches Jesus: Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, perhaps to avoid being seen by others or to have a private and uninterrupted discussion. He acknowledges Jesus as a teacher sent from God, recognizing the miracles as evidence of divine presence.

vv 3-4: The Concept of Being Born Again: Jesus introduces the necessity of being born again to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus, puzzled, asks how a man can be born when he is old, questioning the physical impossibility of re-entering a mother's womb. This literal understanding sets the stage for a deeper spiritual revelation.

vv 5-8: Born of Water and Spirit: Jesus clarifies that one must be born of both water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. He emphasizes the distinction between the physical birth and the spiritual rebirth. Verses 6 and 7 highlight the significance of this spiritual transformation. Verse 8, when read with the understanding that it describes one born of the (Holy) Spirit, becomes clearer in its meaning.

v 9-10: Nicodemus' Continued Confusion: Nicodemus remains confused, and Jesus demonstrates patience, understanding that Nicodemus is drawn by the Father. This patience sets the stage for the ensuing lesson.

vv 11-13: You See Yet Don’t Believe: Jesus testifies of what is seen, yet not believed, emphasizing the truth He brings. These three verses should be read together to grasp the full context of Jesus' divine authority and the heavenly knowledge He imparts.

v 14-15: The Serpent in the Wilderness: Jesus draws a parallel to the Old Testament, referencing Numbers 21:9, where Moses lifted the bronze serpent. This imagery foreshadows Jesus' own crucifixion, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy through His coming death on the cross. “And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it happened, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.” (Nu 21:9).

vv 16-17: The Purpose of Jesus' Mission: These well-known verses illuminate the reason for Jesus' sacrificial mission. John 3:16, often considered the heart of the Gospel, explains God's love for the world and the promise of eternal life through belief in Jesus, Who came not to condemn the world but to save it.

v 18: The Basis for Condemnation: Verse 18 lays out the clear justification for the condemnation of those who do not believe in Jesus. It underscores the importance of faith and the consequences of unbelief.

v 19: The Verdict on Light and Darkness: Jesus elaborates on the reason for condemnation in verse 19, stating that light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. This verse highlights the moral and spiritual struggle inherent in accepting or rejecting Jesus.

vv 20-21: The Call to Salvation: The final two verses of this section serve as an altar call, revealing the distinction between those who practice evil and those who live by the truth. Jesus' words likely pierced Nicodemus' heart, leading him towards salvation. Although the immediate outcome of this conversation is not recorded, subsequent passages in John 7:45-52 and 19:38-42 suggest that Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus Christ.

(22-24) Jesus was in the Judean countryside, spending time with His disciples and baptizing. Meanwhile, John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water. The specific locations suggest they were in the same general region but not in the exact same place. Judea is a larger region, while Aenon near Salim is more specific within that region.
*Herod Antipas imprisoned John between late 28 AD and early 29 AD (Mt14:1-12, Mk 6:14-29, Lk 3:19-20) because he publicly criticized him for marrying Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip. Despite Herod's initial reluctance to harm John (because he was popular with the people, as a prophet), he eventually had him imprisoned to appease Herodias.
John the Baptist's disciples expressed concern that Jesus was baptizing and that people were going to Him (25-26). John responded by explaining that a person can only receive what is given from heaven. He reminded his followers that he had already told them he was not the Christ but was sent ahead of Him. John used an analogy of the bridegroom and his friend to illustrate his role, stating that the friend (himself) rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s (Jesus's) voice. John emphasized that his joy is complete (v29) and that Jesus must increase while he (John) must decrease (v30). John the Baptist accepted his role and acknowledged Jesus's superior mission and authority. If you were to take the rest of John’s testimony as an appeal to pay attention to the One he’s been pointing to all along, it would sound very much like this today: (vv31-36) "Jesus, coming from above, is supreme and transcends all. Those who are of the earth speak of earthly things, but Jesus speaks of heavenly truths, testifying to what He has seen and heard. Sadly, not everyone accepts His testimony, but those who do, affirm that God is truthful. God has given Jesus the Spirit without measure, and He speaks the words of God. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into His hands. Therefore, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, and God's wrath remains on them."

When I read these words from vv25-26, I am broken and in awe - as if spoken to me, I am taken to the place where Christ first revealed Himself:

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when He comes, He will declare all things to us.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

but note verse 5 before Christ reveals Himself:
"So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph"

Sychar is a Samaritan city that's sometimes used interchangeably with Shechem. Why did Jesus come to this place to first reveal Himself? What had happened here before? In Genesis 34, Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, is taken by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite. "Taken" is a gentle word for what occured, but there is also a sense that Dinah was not unwilling to be taken. After Shechem expresses a desire to marry Dinah, Simeon and Levi contrived a plan to deceive the men of Shechem. They agree to a covenant with the people of Shechem, in the land that will later be known as Samaria. This covenant was one that allowed their people to become part of Jacob's family - Jacob, who in Genesis 32:28 had been renamed "Israel." So they were given to be a part of the family of Israel. They sealed this covenant by being circumcised, just like the other descendants of Abraham, which would then grant that Shechem could wed their sister Dinah. These people had entered into a covenant with the children of Israel, to become a part of their family. And they upheld their part of the covenant - the men of Shechem were all circumcised. And then, instead of honoring the covenant, Simeon and Levi took revenge by killing them while they were still recovering from circumcision.

Why did Jesus come to Sychar? Why was this the first place, and the first person to whom He reveals He is the Christ? Why did He offer salvation first, of all the peoples in the world, to a person, and people who were not Jews?

-Because there was a covenant made in that place, with their ancestors, to become a part of the people of God, and His people had betrayed that covenant. Christ restored that covenant - and revealed Himself as the Messiah, He who is called Christ, to the Samaritans, of Sychar, or Shechem - before anyone else.

What to look for:
-Healing of the Official's Son: Jesus healed a royal official's son in Cana of Galilee by simply telling the man his son would live, demonstrating His power and eliciting belief from the official and his household. 4:46-54
-Healing at the Pool of Bethesda: At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus healed a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years, instructing him to pick up his mat and walk. 5:1-15
*Controversy on the Sabbath: Jesus' act of healing on the Sabbath led to conflict with Jewish leaders, who began persecuting Him for breaking the Sabbath law. 5:16
*Second Sign in Galilee: The healing of the official's son was noted as the second sign Jesus performed after returning to Galilee from Judea. 4:54
*John uses the term "signs" to refer to Jesus' miracles, which are meant to reveal His identity as the Son of God and inspire belief. The first sign mentioned in John's Gospel had been the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. By noting that the second sign occurred after Jesus left Judea and came into Galilee, John emphasizes that Jesus' ministry was not limited to the religious center of Jewish life.