The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 294

Nioodemus mRy get the firet chance or R good position. So the heart of the ml\n must be altogether alt-ered before he can listen sympathetically to the teaching of Jesus.-Y. Ver. 5.-" Born of water and of the Spirit." I. O11sERVE THE TRUE TlllA0HER, This verse is in answer to a question. The first word of Jesus to Nicodemus is a word that brings a question. The true teacher seeks to provoke activity of mind and curiosity in the l~arner. The question is certainly a most absurd one, but Nicodemus had no time to prepare a sensible one. It is ensy for us to be wise over the introductory decla- ration of Jesus, because we look at it with plenty of illustrations and explanations shining npon it. But Nicodemus, in all his previous thinking, had nothing to make him expect Jesus would thus speak; and so it is little wonder to find him staggered, con- fused, utterly bewildered, to hear Jesus speaking thus calmly of such a wondrous experience. The question, however absurd, leads on to a piece of most practical information. TI. TnE FURTHER EXPLANATION OF JESUS. We are not likely to suppose that being born again means to live natural life over again. Few would care for that, travelling over the old road, meeting the old difficulties, fighting the old battles. Jesus explains that to be born again is to be born of water and of the Spirit. Being born of water means, of course, passing through the experience of repentance. The true disciple of John the Baptist was born of water. He repented, changed from his old view of life, manifested that changed view by changed habits and practices, and, for sign of all this, was baptized with water. Nicodemus evidently had this experience still to go through. He had not been a disciple of John the Baptist. He had yet to see what a poor shallow affair an outward kingdom is. But being born of water takes us only a small way into the regeneration. You must follow up discipleship of John with discipleship of Jesus. You may cease to care for the old, and yet not have found your way to possession of the new. 'l'he only new creature worth calling such is the new creature in Christ Jesus. You must feel on yonr heart the lireath of him who hBB eternal life. By repentance, old things pass away; by spiritual birth, all things become new. The spiritual man looks on a virtually new world. The precious becomes worthless, and the worthless precious; the once neglected is sought for, and the once sought for is neglected.-Y. Vers. 14, 15.-The lifting up of the Son of man. These are probably the closing words of Jesus to Nicodemus. Jesus bas had to teach him great spiritual truths from the analogies of natural birth and the wind blowing where it listeth. Now he will conclude with an historical parallel. L .A:N HONOURED NAME IS MENTIONED. Nicodemus and his sect professed to glorify Moses. Jesus did glorify him in reality. l'erhaps Nicodemus is beginning to think that, after all, there is nothing in Jesus likely to be of much service, no correspondence between outward appearance and desired results. .And now he is made to unders~nd that Jesus is well acquainted with all the proceedings of Moses, and can use them Just when they are wanted. Moses is not only giver of laws, prescriber of ceremonies, fountain of honoured traditions; he is also a saviour, and a saviour by methods that to the natural eye look to have no salvation in them. IL A PRESSING NEED IS SUGGESTED. There must be deliverance from destruction. Something had to be done for the bitten, dying children of Israel, and God gave Moses instructions according to his own wisdom. Other means might have been employed, but those means actually were employed which served the largest ends. Why Moses had to raise the brazen serpent is not eecn till Jesus is lifted on the cross. Then we under- stand how God has his eye on perishing individuals still, Nicodemus is not yet bitten of a guilty conscience. His aims are earthly and limited. He wants something for hia own temporal advantage-something ministering to his pride as a Jew. And now Jesus hints to Nicodemus how he must discover his spiritual danger, if he is to get the full blessing from Jesus. Jesus is a Saviour as well as a Teacher. He would have men learn first their need of salvation, and then, being saved, they will go on to learn from him how best to use the life that has been saved, IlL THE DEMAND FOB SIMPLE FAITH. Such a demand must not be left out of such a discourse. There are many things Jesus cannot yet explain to Nicodemus. Even were NicodemWJ a spiritual man, he would have to wait while Jesus goes on through all cu. 111. 1-36.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 157