Episode 25 - Is Knowing the Same as Believing?
John 3:1-2
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “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.”
In the last few episodes, the scene in the story is at the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and the event is the Passover Feast. Jesus had driven out the animals being sold and had turned over the money tables. John also mentions that Jesus had been performing signs and many people were believing in him. However, John has left us with a developing conflict. He mentions that Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew what was in mankind. The obvious implication is that mankind has a problem. So far, that problem has been most evident in the religious leaders of the Jews. They were the ones responsible for the interrogation of John the Baptist in chapter one. Now, they want Jesus to work a sign to demonstrate the validity of his actions at the temple. The question that leaves us with is, “Were not the signs that he was working that led others to believe in Jesus sufficient for them?” It helps us understand what it was that Jesus knew about mankind that led him to not entrust himself to the people. It’s “unbelief” or “rejection of what God has revealed” isn’t it?
This is important to be aware of as we read this next section in chapter three. Why? It’s because Nicodemus is a representative of that group that has already been presented as antagonists to Jesus. John is very specific to give us his name, his identity as a Pharisee, who is a “ruler of the Jews.” In verse two, John says that he came to Jesus at night. Without proceeding any farther at this point, we may have a number of questions pop up in our minds? What are Nicodemus’’ motivations in coming to Jesus at night? Does he intend to assault or kill Jesus? Why does he come at night and not during the day? Why does John even bother to mention that it was night when Nicodemus came to Jesus?
John doesn’t definitively answer some of these questions. However, it would appear that we could safely say that his motivations were not malicious. Nicodemus addresses Jesus as “Rabbi” and acknowledges his, and perhaps others, belief that God had sent Jesus as a teacher. But, many have surmised that his purpose for coming at night was to avoid being seen by his peers who were strongly opposed to Jesus. Therefore, he wanted to investigate Jesus himself without suffering the criticism of his fellow Jewish rulers. Perhaps he wanted to avoid being seen by the common people over whom the Pharisees had control, fearing that they might lose control over these people if everyone started following Jesus and not the Pharisees. This has merit as it stands in contrast to John the Baptist who pointed his own disciples to follow Jesus. Perhaps it’s both. Maybe he just desires to have a one on one conversation with Jesus and chooses a time that makes that possible.
I think John is not just reporting the facts. I suspect that part of the intent in mentioning Nicodemus coming at night is to invoke in our minds a scene with “darkness.” Nicodemus represents a group of people who have so far, not understood, and have rejected the light that came into the world that gives light to every man. This is not to question or challenge that it was actually nighttime when Nicodemus came to Jesus, or even the motivations he might have had in choosing that time. I’m suggesting that John saw a spiritual metaphor in the darkness of nighttime representing Nicodemus’ spiritual condition. If that’s the case, then the next question is “Will Nicodemus be illuminated by the light that shined in the darkness (John 1:5)?”
The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus reveals at least two basic things that Nicodemus, and perhaps some others of his colleagues, believe about Jesus. They are:
Nicodemus says, “We know that you are a teacher come from God.”
Nicodemus reasons that “No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.
It would appear that Nicodemus is not just coming for himself, but in fact, is representing others who are struck by the significance of the miracles Jesus is performing and recognizes the spiritual significance. He says, “We know” and not “I know.” What is it of which they are convinced? Jesus is a teacher come from God. If you were convinced that God had sent someone to teach you, you would want to hear everything they had to share wouldn’t you? Furthermore, you would be quick to believe that what was shared was truth and important for you because God wouldn’t lie or send information with no value. In light of this, I’m making the assumption that Nicodemus wants to listen to Jesus and believe his message.
The next thing Nicodemus says indicates the reason why those he’s representing believe he came from God is by the signs he was doing. They are convinced that these signs cannot be done apart from the authority and power of God.
I can’t help but notice the phrase “unless God is with him.” It evokes in my mind the first verse of this book which says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God . . .” John made it clear that it was Jesus who is the Word. So, Jesus was with God in the beginning. Now, Nicodemus represents those who acknowledge that God is with Jesus.
Here is the important question I have for you. Is knowing that Jesus is a teacher sent from God and knowing that God is with him sufficient to make Nicodemus or anyone else for that matter a child of God. Has Nicodemus “received” Jesus or “believed in his name?” Putting this another way, is knowledge the equivalent of faith?
I will answer this question from my perspective in the next episode as we see look at how Jesus responds to Nicodemus’ assertions.