Joh 3:1-2 | PNT | STEP | Christ and Nicodemus SUMMARY OF JOHN 3: The Ruler Seeking Jesus by Night. The Necessity of a New Birth of Water and of the Spirit. The Son of Man to Be Lifted Up. The Love of God for Man. Condemnation for Unbelief. John at Aenon. John's Testimony. There was a man . . . named Nicodemus . Nicodemus is named only three times by John, and not elsewhere; (1) here; (2) in , where he protests against condemning Jesus unheard; and (3) in , where he aids Joseph of Arimathea in the burial of Jesus. Of the Pharisees, . . . a ruler of the Jews . He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin (a ruler), and "a master of Israel" (a rabbi) ( ).

‏ John 3:1-2

Christ and Nicodemus SUMMARY OF JOHN 3: The Ruler Seeking Jesus by Night. The Necessity of a New Birth of Water and of the Spirit. The Son of Man to Be Lifted Up. The Love of God for Man. Condemnation for Unbelief. John at Aenon. John's Testimony.

There was a man . . . named Nicodemus. Nicodemus is named only three times by John, and not elsewhere; (1) here; (2) in Joh 7:50, where he protests against condemning Jesus unheard; and (3) in Joh 19:39, where he aids Joseph of Arimathea in the burial of Jesus.

Of the Pharisees, . . . a ruler of the Jews. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin (a ruler), and "a master of Israel" (a rabbi) (Joh 3:10). The same came to Jesus by night. He probably chose the night in order to escape observation. He did not dare encounter the hostility of the priests, filled with rage over the cleansing of the temple, and yet he wished to know more of one whom he believed to be sent from God.

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God. Nicodemus confesses, not only his belief, but that of his fellow Pharisees and rulers. The miracles of Jesus convinced them, even if they would not admit it, that he was a teacher sent from God. He came for information, and Jesus recognized it in what follows.