Lesson text: John 3:1-21
John 3:1 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:”
Pharisees: (ISBE) The name means separatists. “— those who carefully kept themselves from any legal contamination, distinguishing themselves by their care in such matters from the common people....”
“...the Pharisees, although primarily a religious party, became ere long energetically political. They were a closely organized society, all the members of which called each other ... ‘neighbors’; this added to the power they had through their influence with the people.”
Nicodemus: a Greek name, meaning “conqueror of the people.”
a ruler of the Jews:
member of the Sanhedrin, which governed the internal affairs of Israel and was their supreme court. It had ultimate religious authority.
John3:2 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.”
Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night?
It is often assumed that this was an act of timidity or cowardice.
No reason is stated.
Jesus did not express fault with this.
Where he is silent, so should we be.
Both Jesus and Nicodemus were busy during the day.
The questions Nicodemus had are better discussed in private than in a crowd.
Rabbi: A title of respect, "my great one," Master, Teacher
“we know thou art a teacher come from God.”
we know — himself, or he along with others?
know - not gnosis or epignosis, but eidon; to see, perceive
a teacher - didaskolos; not all rabbis were teachers
come from God - "from God" appears first, giving emphasis to his divine commission.
“for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
“these miracles” — recently performed in Jerusalem during the Passover week.
The Jews thinking: miracles are works of God. If a man performs miracles, he must then be approved of God.
NOTE: miracles may be demonic/satanic in origin: Matt 24:24; 2Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:13-14
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