Teaching The Teacher - It Ain't Easy!!!
John 3:1-15
There is nothing harder than trying to teach a teacher, or educate an educator (and I am saying that as an educator of over 16 years, and someone who has worked with youth for 30 years) - especially if they are experienced and well-trained. This is precisely what Jesus experienced in HIS interaction with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was not only a teacher of the law, but was a member of the ruling council - as such, he was the type of person people came to for advice, not the other way around.
In this third chapter of the Gospel of John, we are told of a very interesting interaction between Nicodemus and Jesus. It is an interaction that every person on Earth needs to be aware of, and to consider - for Nicodemus presents a question that multitudes of people have offered up over the ages.
John 3:1-15 says…
Verses 1-2: “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
This moment is an interesting turn of events, as it echoes events from early in Jesus’ life when HE had visited the Temple during Passover with HIS parents (as found in Luke 2:41-52).
In that situation we read about Jesus sitting down at the Temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions and engaging in a discussion of such wisdom that the religious leaders were astounded by it.
In this current situation with Nicodemus - we see Jesus providing a teacher of the law with wisdom that he could not comprehend.
What is interesting to note is that Nicodemus truly believes that Jesus had been sent by God due to the things that he had witnessed. This is both a positive development n Nicodemus’s life, however, the discussion goes to show the lack of faith he had in Jesus as the Messiah (at that point in time).
Some people believe in Jesus while positive things are happening in their own lives, but lack the faith when the ‘signs’ are not evident.
Jesus begins to address this situation in his comments back to Nicodemus’s questions in the following verses.
Verse 3: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
This is the first of the confounding statements that Jesus makes to Nicodemus.
Nicodemus obviously took Jesus’ statement at face value, and literally. It is a position that sometimes we can get trapped in ourselves when we are reading scriptures and we apply meanings to things that aren’t necessarily as clear as we think they are. This is where the discernment of the Holy Spirit (which Nicodemus didn’t have the benefit of experiencing) helps us understand God’s word.
Verse 4: “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
This literal interpretation of Jesus’ words probably made Jesus chuckle.
Because the Pharisees were so strict in their interpretation of the Old Testament scriptures and the rabbinical laws it is not surprising that Nicodemus took this perspective.
Sometimes we need to step outside of the denominational and/or theological framework we have grown up (spiritually, and sometimes physically) in and try to understand what Jesus is trying to tell us.
Sometimes because of our theological/denominational perspectives and our lack of understanding about our faith and how Jesus interacts with our lives, we start to focus on what we believe to be ‘impossible’.
But what Jesus is actually trying to tell us is something so simple and beautiful we miss the point altogether.
Verses 5-8: “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it please. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Jesus hears and understands the source of Nicodemus’s confusion and addresses it.
Jesus plainly separates out the physical connotations of what HE says with those of the spiritual context.
People are born of people and the spiritual gives birth to the spiritual - is what Jesus replied to Nicodemus. meaning that what belongs to this world will come from this world - but what is heavenly and spiritual comes from the source of the spirituality - namely God.
Jesus tell Nicodemus that those who are born of the spirit will follow the guidance of the spirit (the Holy Spirit), that they do not follow a path or direction that is what a ‘normal’ person may deem to be correct or ordinary.
Verse 9: “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
How true is this statement of us? How often do we reply to Jesus/God when HE begins to answer our prayers? Especially when the response isn’t what we wanted to hear, or expected to hear.
Nicodemus’s response is entirely human, and entirely grounded in his understanding of the scriptures.
Verse 10-15: “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
By now Jesus was getting a little annoyed. As a teacher I understand this a little. I too get frustrated when students cannot understand simple concepts upon which larger concepts are built, especially when they are older, more knowledgeable students in years 11 and 12.
In part, Jesus rebukes Nicodemus by saying “You’re a teacher of the people and you don’t get this - how can you do your job properly?”
But Jesus doesn’t let Nicodemus languish in that rebuke. Rather, Jesus outlines the truth of HIS div one authority and nature by responding to Nicodemus with scriptural references that he should know and understand - clear was HIS statement about being the Son of Man - a reference to HIS divinity and relationship with God the Father. This is a reference to Daniel 7:13 which says “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.”
Not only is Jesus identifying as the one in Daniel, but HE is also identifying as one who can be in the presence of God (which no person can be).
When HE referred to Moses lifting up the snake on the pole in the wilderness (Numbers 21).
The image of the snake on the pole being raised up in the wilderness was a foreshadowing event of the coming suffering Messiah.
The link between the Son of Man, and the Snake being lifted up is an obvious link to a Messianic future, and Nicodemus should have been able to pick that up.
Jesus takes it one step further by noting that HE who will be lifted up just like the snake in the wilderness - and it is the belief in HIM as Messiah and as the Son of God, who died and rose again for humanity that leads one to have eternal life.
If you are confused about what you are hearing from God, or reading in HIS word - then I pray that the Holy Spirit provide you with wisdom and clarity in all aspects of your faith journey. I pray that you are not as confounded as Nicodemus was. I pray that you come to a fuller and deeper understanding of God’s word, and HIS will for your life. May you not lean on needing ‘signs’ to validate your faith, but that you lean on the perfect word of God that will speak to your soul.
If you do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or that HE died and rose again for the forgiveness of your sins and for your eternal salvation - I pray that you call out to Jesus with an open heart and mind, and may HE answer you with the peace, love and grace that HE wants to bless you with. May you come to a place where you believe in HIM - for time is running short.