Nicodemus

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."  John 3:9-15

He [Joseph of Arimathea] was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.  Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:39-40

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, and from his conversations with Jesus we derive a phrase that is still used in our Christian culture today:  being "born again."

The conclusion of this conversation contains arguably the most popular Bible verse in the world:  John 3:16.  Let's read it in context:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.  John 3:16-21

In this passage Jesus concisely sums up God's plan of salvation.  We can thank Nicodemus for his question, for instigating this conversation.  We can thank him for his willingness to stand out among the others as someone unafraid to examine Jesus.  We can thank him for his genuineness in asking Jesus the question, how can one be born again? 

Truly, it didn't make sense in any kind of practical way.  So it is a legitimate question for Nicodemus to ask. 

How can we be born again?

It's simple - it's believing in Him.  That's all.  It's believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and He came to give us life.  Eternal life.

It's fitting that Nicodemus, who asks the question about life, is present at Jesus' death.  He takes Jesus' body along with Joseph, and he brings the burial spices.  He who asked about being born, is working on his loved one's death. 

There's another place in the gospel of John where Nicodemus is mentioned.  It's in chapter 7, when the Jewish leaders meet to discuss what to do about Jesus.  Nicodemus stands up for Jesus:  "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

Nicodemus showed a beautiful curiosity when he examined Jesus.  Nicodemus showed great courage when he questioned the council.  And Nicodemus showed great tenderness when he prepared Jesus for burial.

The key ingredient here is not Nicodemus.  It's Jesus.