JESUS said to Nicodemus, "Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can this happen?" Jesus answered and said to him, "You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."

Nicodemus — Nicodemus (Greek for "conqueror for the people") is mentioned only in John’s Gospel (see also 7:50, 19:39). The Jewish equivalent is "Naqdimon." He is "a ruler of the Jews," that is, a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest governing body of the Jewish people composed of the priests (Sadducees), scribes (Pharisees), and lay elders of the aristocracy. Coming to Jesus at night is probably a stealthy, expedient move since he would not want to risk the ire of his fellow leaders. In the perspective of the evangelist, Nicodemus is a figure who little by little comes out of darkness — the realm of evil, untruth, and ignorance — into the light, none other than Jesus, the light of the world.

In their conversation, Jesus is addressing not only Nicodemus, but also Judaism which Nicodemus represents. Contrast is made between Nicodemus who is a teacher of Israel and Jesus who actually comes from God and therefore can speak about God with finality. Nicodemus is attracted to Jesus because of the signs (miracles) He is doing, which reveal Jesus as an agent of God. But Nicodemus is told that if he believes in Jesus, he will know and see more amazing things, things not of this earth but of heaven.

In the beginning, Nicodemus shows an incipient faith. Later, as he shows more courage in defending Jesus before the Sanhedrin, he is suspected as coming "from Galilee," that is, as a follower of Jesus (7:52). At the "hour" of Jesus — His passion which is the start of His glorification — the timid Nicodemus comes out in the open: He comes bringing an immense amount of embalming spices, to prepare for Jesus a burial fit for a king (19:39). Jesus has prophesied that when He is raised up, He would draw people unto Himself (12:32). This is now being fulfilled in Nicodemus who shows himself as a follower of Jesus in public. Nicodemus has now fully come to light.

SOURCE: "365 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.