NICODEMUS STARTLING ADMISSION

THE STARTLING ADMISSION FROM THE LIPS OF NICODEMUS

John 3:2

"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."

Now, note six things appearing in the course of this opening statement, each one seemingly more remarkable than the one preceding, and each one helping to unfold the mind and heart of Nicodemus.

1. In his address, he admits his personal subordination to Christ. He calls Him rabbi. This is an interesting fact in the light of Hebrew usage. Three words appear in Hebrew, each with rising importance: Rab, Rabbi, Rabban or Rabboni. The first means great one or great teacher; the second means my great teacher; and the third means my very dear great teacher (See John 20:16). It was the second of these that was used by Nicodemus. In this address he was not only admitting that Christ was a great teacher, he was also claiming Him for his own. We might assume that this was the mark of mere respect and refinement, and nothing more. But this is hardly a complete explanation in the light of the immediate context and the subsequent conversation.

2. At the outset he confesses that he has made a careful investigation concern­ing Christ. That is the meaning of the words "We know". This was the duty and respon­sibility of the members of the Sanhedrin (See Deut. 13). Doubtless all had joined in this investigation just as in the case of John the Baptist. That is the reason Nicodemus identified himself with others in the plural "we know". But Nicodemus was the only one who was willing to follow the truth where it led. The investigation had resulted in some settled conclusions. But Nicodemus was the only one who was willing to admit them. It was the same story at the close of Christ's ministry. "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him..,. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:37, 43).

3. Again you will note that he confesses Christ's constituted position as a teacher. "Thou art a teacher" from the lips of a man such as Nicodemus was no mean affirmation. Surely this most popular teacher in all Israel knew what he was saying. All that follows indicates that he had weighed those words. Careful examination of the use of the word teacher makes it clear that such a person was the authoritative source of doctrine. And such a person had to be officially constituted with such authority by a course of training in a recognized school and given proper certifi­cation by public officials. Jesus had neither. He was a mere peasant from the mean village of Nazareth. During His entire life and public ministry Jesus never held any public office or filled a duly constituted position in Israel. In that Nicodemus affirmed Him to be a teacher can only mean that he recognized in Christ there were gifts and qualities which basically and fundamentally constitute men for position and office.

            4. Nicodemus comes to grips with the real situation when he admits that Jesus as a teacher had supernatural-authorization. That is what He meant when said "thou art a teacher come from God". When Nicodemus said this, he placed the statement first in the sentence, thus showing where he placed the emphasis. Now this does not mean that Nicodemus was here confessing that Jesus was the Son of God come out of heaven from the Father. But this does mean exactly what is affirmed of John the Baptist in chapter one vs. 6: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John". This was true of all the Old Testament prophets. They were men who received their authorization from God. As a sincere student of the Old Testament, Nicodemus knew this. And now he recognizes in Jesus those qualities and qualifications which transcend the limited attempts of men to train and induct qualified men into office.

5. To confirm in the mind of Jesus the thoughtfulness of his admission, he points to the Divine-certification of his office. "These miracles that thou doest" were his credentials. Nor was Nicodemus wrong. The Old Testament teaches this great truth. And the New Testament confirms it. Miracles or signs pointed to something. Even though the crowd was enamored with the glamor and the spectacular, Nicodemus in contradistinction looked to the meaning, and he found it, at least enough of it that he was encouraged to go on and finally to enter into a saving relation with the Messiah. On the Day of Pentecost Peter gave full expression to the thing that Nicodemus saw three years before. "Ye men of Israel, here these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know"(Acts 2:22).

6. To seal all the above admissions, Nicodemus declares that Christ had an intimate relation with God. This he expresses in these words -"Except God be with him". But in this expression he was affirming more than mere association, more than mere empowering, although all this was true. The preposition "with" points to an intimate relation. It marks a fellowship of nature and purpose. Could it be that Nicodemus has noted a distinct difference between miracle workers of his day who claimed to be from God and the Lord Jesus Christ? Such men of his day may have dis­played power, but there was with them an absence of demeanor and spiritual qualities that characterized the bearing and performance of the Lord Jesus. Here was one who was perfumed with the presence of God, whose actions were indicative with the odors of heaven, whose speech and bearing were fed from the fountainhead of all holiness, God Himself.

After surveying these admissions, we must agree that they are nothing short of amazing. Whether Nicodemus meant to go on, we do not know. At least he never had the opportunity to state the purpose of his mission. Nevertheless, by these admissions he maneuvered himself into a teachable position. Jesus recognizes this fact and He takes advantage of it, for he follows immediately with His own amazing declaration.