THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW BIRTH

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW BIRTH

 

John 3:1-3

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:" "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." "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 

In the former articles we were introduced to a man with all the qualities of a great and good citizen, one whom any community would be glad to own. Yet here was a man, who under the scrutinizing eye of Deity was found to be like all other men in one respect. He lacked the one necessary thing to qualify him for entrance into and experience of the Kingdom of God. Here was intellect and character at its best, as far as the natural man is concerned, but still a man deficient in that which is essential for entrance into the Kingdom of God.

In this article we shall look at this man with more careful scrutiny than in the previous thoughts. His meeting with Jesus was strange and singular. This master teacher in Israel has sought out the wandering peasant from Galilee. And he has done so after the shades of night have fallen. The meeting must have made an unforgettable im­pression upon the apostle John, and with the artistry of an eye-witness some of the details are woven unobtrusively into the account.

For one thing, this man trampled underfoot a whole series of barriers in order to get to Jesus. The urgency of his mission impelled him to surmount every obstacle that stood in the way. He stepped outside the realm of Pharisaic isolationism to get to Jesus. He descended from the perch of political prestige to reach Him. He trampled underfoot professional pride. And he completely ignored the customary proprieties of time and place. Though the labors of day were over, he made use of the night for prolonged personal consultation. And he did an unheard of thing when he condescended to seek out Jesus amidst the plebian society where Jesus was staying.

We see them now, as John saw them, face to face. First impressions are often last­ing impressions, and they are often true ones. At least that was true upon this occasion. Jesus took the measure of this man. For "he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). This man took the measure of Jesus and was attracted to Him. With unhesitating, unstudied, and unrestrained description, he gave voice to his evaluation and the emotion that had been piling up within him.

In the following article we shall note two movements of thought: first, the startling ad­mission from the lips of Nicodemus set forth in verse 2; and second, the amazing declaration from the lips of Christ as set forth in verse 3.