Scripture Reflection: Nicodemus John 3:1-21

By Margaret Cullen

He came to Jesus by night, stealthily, furtively almost, careful not to be seen by his fellow Pharisees. He was an intelligent man this Nicodemus and Jesus treated him as such. He puts forward the argument that Jesus has done miracles so he must be from God. He butters him up a bit. In fact he was being clever. He didn’t however want to be seen by his fellow Pharisees consorting with Jesus, a humble Nazarene teacher but nevertheless something in Jesus’ teaching fascinated him and almost against his will he found himself one night knocking on Jesus’ door.

Jesus and Nicodemus

Was it just idle curiosity that brought Nicodemus to Jesus? Or was he searching for something beyond the pharisaic rules upon rules and regulations upon regulations. Was he just a little bit tired of all this outer religion and did he crave a deeper spirituality?

Jesus gives it to him. ‘You must be born again’, He tells him. Here is something deeper to ponder over. That  ‘born again’ made him think. Like one who likes a good discussion Nicodemus gives Him credit for being from God - there’s that buttering up again. ‘No-one can do the signs that You do unless God was with him’. But Nicodemus, ever a practical man, refuses at first to accept the ‘born again’ theory on spiritual terms.

He almost scoffs, as though to say, ‘Come on mate, how can a man enter his mother’s womb again? How ridiculous is this?’

One can imagine Jesus smiling to himself. He reiterates, ‘This is a spiritual birth that I’m talking about.’
Nicodemus eventually understands that which Jesus is putting forward -- that this way is a spiritual way. His followers must have a new spiritual birth.