Undercover Mission
Every time I watch a movie that involves an undercover agent my imagination starts to run wild. It would be very cool to go undercover. To go on an undercover mission would be awesome! My wife had an experience years ago similar to an undercover mission. She went on a mission trip to China where they taught English as a front for sharing the Gospel. They also smuggled Bible’s into the country! There are many missionaries that serve undercover and goes on undercover missions. Such activity can certainly give you adrenaline. Nicodemus was a Pharisee that went undercover to see Jesus. John 1:1-2 says, “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”[1] Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and wanted to find out if He truly was the Messiah. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Nicodemus represented the best in the nation. He was a teacher (v. 10), a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. The Sanhedrin had 70 members who were responsible for religious decisions and also, under the Romans, for civil rule.”[2] Nicodemus was a very important and well respected man. He came to Jesus under the cover of night both for his protection and the protection of Jesus. He did not want to draw attention for he knew there were those who were plotting against Jesus.
Enlightening Conversation
I am not sure that Nicodemus expected the kind of conversation he had with Jesus. He came with questions and perhaps left with more questions. Nevertheless, it was a very enlightening conversation. As Nicodemus begins the conversation, Jesus replies with a very interesting statement. Verse three says, “Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[3]Jesus neither confirms or denies Nicodemus’ assumption that Jesus came from God. Jesus allowed Nicodemus to come to his own conclusions as to who He was. Jesus was most concerned about Nicodemus’ soul. He jumps right in with this statement about Nicodemus needing a new birth.
The statement Jesus made led to a question from Nicodemus. Verse four says, “Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”[4] Nicodemus was thinking in practical human terms. He was not thinking with a spiritual mind. Therefore, he asks Jesus what He meant by the need to be born-again. He then rather sarcastically, yet sincerely, asks Jesus how someone can enter a second time into his mother’s womb. Nicodemus was thinking purely in physical terms.
Jesus then gives an explanation for Nicodemus’ question. We see this explanation given in verses 5-13. “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.“[5]Jesus begins by explaining to Nicodemus that in order to go to Heaven one must be born of water and of Spirit. He must have both a physical birth and a spiritual birth. Jesus explains that there is a difference between a physical birth and a spiritual birth. Sensing the confusion in the mind of Nicodemus, Jesus encourages him not to worry about these things. The Spirit of God moves as He wills. Regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit. Though man is responsible to believe, he cannot regenerate himself. Those who are born again are going to know it. There is no confusion. In verse nine we see that Nicodemus still does not fully understand. Jesus challenges Nicodemus by addressing the fact that Nicodemus is an intelligent man and is one who knows the scriptures well. He tells Nicodemus that if he cannot understand earthly things then how can he understand spiritual things. How can Nicodemus ever be saved if he cannot trust and believe what Jesus is telling Him?
In verses 14-21 Jesus gives an application for Nicodemus. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”[6] Jesus begins making application by taking Nicodemus to something that he is familiar with. He reminds him of how Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. The children of Israel were being punished for their disobedience with an infestation of snakes. When the snakes bit the people they had to look up to a snake on a pole in order to be healed of the snake bite. Jesus compares the lifting up of the snack on the pole to Himself who would be lifted up on the cross. Jesus was lifted up. He was lifted up on the cross of Calvary so that you and I may have the hope of salvation. This is the first application. For someone to be born again, Jesus had to be lifted up. He had to die in our place. This leads us to a second application that God loves. God sent Jesus to be lifted up on the cross so we can experience a new birth and be given a home in Heaven. He did this because He loves us. There is no greater love than the love that God has for us. He gave up everything so that we may live. One thing that always amazes me about the love of God is the fact that He loves each of us specifically. He does not just the love the world in general. He literally loves you. If you were the only person on the face of the planet, He would have come and died just for you. He loves you that much! A third application Jesus gave Nicodemus was the simple fact that Jesus saves. Jesus told Nicodemus that as He is lifted up, He will give His life to bring salvation from the penalty and bondage of sin. You and I have no hope apart from Jesus. He saves us from the bondage of sin. He saves from death. He saves us from hell. He saves us from ourselves. Jesus saves! A final application given in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus is that we must believe. Jesus came to be lifted up on the cross to pay the price of sin. On the cross, Jesus did everything that needs to be done to secure our salvation. Everything needed for us to have eternal life in glory has been accomplished on the cross and is available to everyone. However, in order for eternal life to be a reality, we must believe. You must put your faith and trust in Jesus. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! Have you believed? Will you have eternal life?
I am so thankful that I am born again! I have a new life in Christ and I have a home in Heaven reserved for me all because of God’s great love!
[1] The New King James Version (Jn 3:1–2). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[2] Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 280). Victor Books.
[3] The New King James Version (Jn 3:3). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[4] The New King James Version (Jn 3:4). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[5] The New King James Version (Jn 3:5–13). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version (Jn 3:14–21). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Pastor Chris Noland 