Jesus’ Initial Response to Nicodemus : ‘One Condition to Peace with God’
Friday, February 1st, 2008Tuesday, January 29, 2007 : Jesus Sheds Light on the Comments of Nicodemus: One Condition
Max Lucado’s book, 3:16 . . The Numbers of Hope, puts the popular verse, John 3:16, into proper focus. The verse of course arises out of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus has just indicated why he risked his personal reputation and status by coming to Christ at nite. He had just verbally expressed a position that was out of sync with that of his fellow Pharisees. Simply put, he had acknowledged that Jesus was a “teacher from God” and that God was “with him” (Jesus) (John 3:2).
It is not clear whether Nicodemus sought a similar affirmation from Jesus, … or sought to establish himself as different from his fellow Pharisees and wanted Jesus to know that he recognized and respected Jesus as a man of God.
Jesus does articulate what was required to see the kingdom of God. I like the phrase used by Billy Graham in the title of one of his books, “Peace with God”. The Response of Jesus was to clearly and simply communicate what was required to be at peace at God, “Unless one is born again, one cannot see the kingdom of God”. (John 3:3) There are conditions and requirements before one can be at peace with God.
The articulation of the condition to be at peace with God is an issue we all must address. Each person present must have also wondered what was required to be at peace of God.
Certainly, Nicodemus, as a public teacher of spiritual matters, had developed ideas on what was required to be at peace with God. Jesus does not mention that there are many possible ways or many vehicles for one to achieve peace with God and see the kingdom of heaven. He also does not mention any particular effort or code of conduct… good or bad each man must pursue. Instead, he mentions the spiritual act of “being born again.”
One can ponder long and hard on the words of Christ. This is the context of the Great Conversation where Jesus says the words of John 3:16, ” “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).