Quests

John 3:1-15

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'you must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life."

Here was a Jewish teacher and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night, with the assurance of His coming from God. Then, why was he asking Him at night, not a day? He did not want to interrupt Him, or he could be timid, but I do not think so. As a teacher, he didn't want others to see him asking any questions about Him, for it is the nature of a teacher or a perfectionist itself. He must have known about the Messiah, reading the book of the Law, and he could have been sure that Jesus could be the Messiah whom he was looking forward to seeing for long. 

As he expected, he was being criticized by Jesus, "You are an Israel's teacher, but you do not understand these things." He could be embarrassed at these words, as he did not understand what Jesus was talking about. But later, he showed his faith to Jesus at the time of Jesus' judge, showing a favor of Him and trying to protect Him. Anyway, he looked like a little timid person, like a coward, but I understand him. As a teacher and a council member, it was not easy to show his ignorance or foolishness to others, but we should acknowledge the limit of humans, who do not know much or well about this earthly things, neither the heavenly things. 

Therefore, if we want to know about something on earth and in the heaven, we should, first, ask challenging questions, though it makes us embarrassed and oftentimes shameful, for It is the first step to know a little about. This saturday morning, I think that Nicodemus was a brave and a truth-seeking honest man who could tell his own limit of knowledge honestly.