“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:3, ESV)
John 3:3 is the verse that George Whitefield most often preached from during his life. When asked why he always preached that people had to be born again, he responded saying, “Because, you must be born again.”
Here in John 3 we are introduced to Nicodemus. The Apostle John calls him a man of the Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews. Later in John 3, Jesus gives Nicodemus the title of the teacher of Israel. The point here is that Nicodemus was no slouch when it came to thinking about God—he is the teacher of Israel after all. D. A. Carson is fond of calling Nicodemus the regent professor of Israel. Again, simply making the point that Nicodemus was not just a layman when it came to thinking about God—he had given his life to being trained in the ways of God and then teaching others what he has come to know.
We read that Nicodemus has come to Jesus at night to tell him something. The something that Nicodemus wants to tell Jesus is, “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” (John 3:2) The statement is significant for a couple of reasons. One, Nicodemus is telling Jesus that they have him figured out. And two, Nicodemus has told him this not just to walk away after but also to draw Jesus into a conversation about who he really is. Nicodemus is really asking a question but he is doing it in such a way as to sound like he is making a pronouncement of fact. He is the teacher of Israel after all.
We know where you come from, you come from God… It would be at this point where Jesus has all the opportunity he needs to correct this very misguided understanding that Nicodemus has come up with if indeed it were misguided. If Jesus were not of God he could quickly set Nicodemus straight. However, as it usually is with Jesus, he addresses the heart of the matter with Nicodemus instead of merely engaging with the surface of the statement.
Jesus responds to this statement from Nicodemus by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3) His response is in such a way that it is neither affirming nor denying the conclusion that Nicodemus has come up with. What he does say is much more helpful for Nicodemus and for us.
Without trying to put words into Jesus’ mouth, it is as if he is saying to Nicodemus, “My beloved Nicodemus. You say you see what is going on here but I am telling you, you are unable to see anything, that is, unless you are born again. Unless you are born again the kingdom of God is hidden to you.” This section of John 3 is sometimes understood in such a way that sees Jesus coldly rebuking Nicodemus for his arrogance in telling Jesus that he and his companions have figured out what he is up to. Granted, Jesus would be right in rebuking him for that and, honestly, it may be that this is what is happening. However, it seems to me that Jesus isn’t responding in exactly that way here. I say this because Jesus doesn’t call him a viper, as the Pharisees are sometimes called (Matthew 3:7). Jesus doesn’t call him a whitewashed tomb as he does in another encounter with the Pharisees (Matthew 23:27). Jesus doesn’t pronounce a woe upon Nicodemus, as Jesus has no problem doing in response to the scribes and Pharisees throughout Matthew 23. This encounter seems different and I think it is quite revealing in showing Jesus’ compassion with those who are just flat out ignorant in their declaration of realities that they no nothing about.
Nicodemus has come to the Incarnate One—the God-man—in order to let him know that he knows what’s going on. Jesus hears this and it seems as if he looks into Nicodemus’ eyes and has compassion on him. Jesus knows that Nicodemus has no idea what he is talking about and Jesus’ reasoning is that Nicodemus is not capable of knowing the things he claims to know because the kingdom of God—the power, rule, sovereignty, and workings of God within the world—is invisible to him. Nicodemus does not have eyes to see what he claims to see and Jesus knows it.
This is seen more clearly throughout the rest of the encounter in John 3. As we read through John 3 the reality of this encounter should land sweetly on us because, if we have been born again, then Jesus and, therefore God, has had compassion on us by opening our eyes to see the kingdom of God. Therefore, we can encounter Jesus within the pages of the Bible as well as encountering him in our lives through what he is doing and God the Holy Spirit testifies to our spirit in such a way that we know this Jesus is Lord and God because we have been given eyes to see. And if you haven’t been born again then this is sweet news for you as well because God can have compassion on you. You may have settled the matter in your head and heart and you may know that you are certain regarding the truth about Jesus, the truth that Jesus is not who Christians say he is. The sweetness for you is found in the realization that God has no problem opening the eyes of those who have thought and determined wrongly about him. God is by no means required to open your eyes to see the truth, however, he is patient and compassionate and he has never once savingly called someone to himself without having to open blind eyes and soften a hard heart in the process. You are no more difficult to save than anyone in the history of humanity. Therefore, come to Jesus like Nicodemus did by bringing all that you know about him and pray that he would have compassion on you as he has had with countless others so that what you think you know becomes the truth that only God can give.