John 3: 2a
“He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.’”
When Nicodemus comes to see Jesus and talk with him, he starts out by calling him, “Rabbi,” meaning “teacher.” Technically Nicodemus was a teacher of the highest order, so he was either being extremely deferential or extremely sarcastic in his address to Jesus. But Nicodemus does not stop there. He goes on to commend Jesus as “a teacher who has come from God.”
Q: What do you think Nicodemus meant by the statement that Jesus had “come from God?”
This is a great moment. Nicodemus knows he has been “called” by God to be taught, so in obedience to God He could teach others.
He now receives Jesus as COMING from God, being SENT by God to teach with full understanding of what He is teaching. Nicodemus does not get angry, feel threatened or become jealous of Jesus. Instead he comes to Jesus when it is quiet, acknowledges how Christ is superior to him, and seeks to learn God’s truths.
I agree, Ron. It appears that Nicodemus was speaking truthfully and with great deference. I think that the answers Jesus gives to him testify that Jesus also saw truth and deference in Nicodemus.
Apparently ole’ Nick wasn’t the only one who knew that Jesus has come from God because I see the word, “we”, has been used. Word gets around quick and they didn’t have the technology we have today,..
I think he meant just what he said,..He and all the others knew Jesus has come from God they just didn’t want to accept the fact and worked hard at covering things up,..is it safe to say that there are people like that today? They don’t want to accept the fact that Jesus is God and others have worked hard keeping Jesus behind the closed door to their heart,..
Good point John, I missed the we.
Despite the opposition from his colleagues against Jesus, Nicodemus can’t deny stands apart from other teachers…a difference that can only come from God.
Not to restate the obvious (lol), but I think Nicodemus recognizes a difference in Jesus. We already know that there had been others that claimed speak on behalf of God, because when John the Baptist came on the scene the Pharisees sent representatives to investigate. Nicodemus cut right to the chase, he wasn’t there to investigate, he already acknowledged that Jesus is legitimate. I don’t think Nicodemus truly understood the depth though of the relationship between Jesus and God. He said Jesus had “come from God” but didn’t recognize yet that he was the Son of God. To me it is a bit like calling a 4-Star Air Force General “Airman.” Technically true, everyone in the Air Force is an “Airman”, but certainly not how you would address a 4-Star the level of who you are speaking with.
Chris,
Once again, you bring us to an important point. Nicodemus did acknowledge that Jesus was “from God.” Yet, as you point out, he did not yet understand what that meant. In that respect, I suspect that Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and was still trying to figure him out.
The Old Testament contains many stories about false prophets vying for the attention of Israel’s leaders during the time of the kings. The New Testament warns us about the “wolves” that will come after God’s people in the years to come (Luke 10:3, Acts 20:29).
I agree that Nicodemus appears to have accepted that Jesus passed the first test: he was indeed “from God” and not a false prophet. Yet, for him to wrap his head around the idea that God himself had been born into the world would be every bit the challenge that it is for us today.