January 19, 2026 | Be Connected
Jesus and Nicodemus
Scripture: John 3:1-8(NIV)
1 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.”
Devotional
Nicodemus is only mentioned in the gospel of John. I find this rather interesting. As you read through this devotional, see if you can find a reason why none of the other gospels talk about Nicodumus.
In John 3:3-4 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me, unless a person is born from above, it not possible to see what I am pointing to--- to God’s Kingdom.” Nicodemus asked, “How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t reenter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” (MSG translation)
Jesus was surprised that Nicodemus, as a member of the Jewish Council, did not understand this whole idea. Jesus proceeded to explain that being born again is not from your mother’s womb but that you are reborn spiritually by the Spirit, being like the wind which can come from anywhere, anyway and anytime. The wind, like the Holy Spirit, is unseen but its work is always noticeable and, like the Spirit, it has no human control.
The belief of the Holy Spirit is a spiritual rebirth from God to guide you into eternal life. I remember when I was confirmed, my sponsor placed her hand on my shoulder and I immediately felt this strange feeling. I never could understand or explain it, but after years of thinking about it and studying the Bible, I began to understand that it was the Holy Spirit taking me into adulthood and He would be with me forever, as I needed, to guide me through my spiritual life and into the eternal, hopefully.
It seems Nicodemus began to understand all that Jesus was telling him as it states in John 19:39-40, “He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of Myrrh, and aloes, about seventy-five pounds….” These verses show that he probably had begun to accept all that Jesus explained to him earlier about Jesus’ death.
As I stated at the beginning, Nicodemus is only mentioned in John’s gospel. I feel like John is trying to tell us that Nicodemus could be any of those unbelievers in the Bible days or from today. What are your thoughts about the Holy Spirit?
