LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Nicodemus
Almost all of the content of the Gospel of John is different from that of the other gospels. That differentiates it from the other three, called synoptics. In it we find the account of several meetings with very representative people. Undoubtedly, Juan had a lot of available material at hand, which he did not include; but here was a careful selection, in order to serve the purpose of showing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
The first meeting is with Nicodemus, a wise teacher of the Jews. Skipping the protocol greetings, John shows the Lord introducing an absolutely new theme in the New Testament: the new birth. The greatest need of a man like Nicodemus, versed in the sacred writings, was to be born again. He was undoubtedly a scholar; but not a new man.
"What is born of the flesh, flesh is; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). This is the great dilemma of man: he is flesh; instead, God is Spirit (4:24). How can someone know God, if he is not born of the Spirit, the very nature of God? Nicodemus couldn't ignore this – but he did.
The flesh and the spirit are irreconcilable. No one can change sphere, unless God changes it. Nicodemus was puzzled. He moved in the realm of earthly things – even though he was a theologian, versed in heavenly things. He did not know God in the spirit, he knew him merely through his mind.
Nicodemus's drama is that of many, still – even within Christianity. They know God by hearsay, but they cannot say, "And we have seen his glory, glory of him as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Nor can they say, "What we have seen and heard we announce to you" (1 Cor. 1:3). Knowledge of him is merely intellectual, doctrinal, theological.
Just beginning this Gospel, the Lord makes it clear to us through Nicodemus, that it is not possible to know God in any other way if it is not by being born again, because only the Spirit of God can reveal God and the things that are of God to us. A few chapters later, John reiterates: "It is the spirit that gives life; the meat profits nothing". Nothing earthly takes advantage to know God, and to do the work of God.
Nicodemus had to be stripped of his vain claim to be wise according to the flesh. The best favor that the Lord Jesus could do him was to denounce his false position, and direct him towards spiritual things. Only by acknowledging our nullity in the flesh, we can expect from God the touch that he will make us spiritual.
Nicodemus was blessed, because he knew in time that nothing of what he gloried in served him. Later we see him siding with Jesus in front of the priests and Pharisees (John 7:50-52), and anointing the Lord after the crucifixion (19:39). A word from the Lord saved this man from darkness. A single word from the Lord also shows us what our greatest need is.