A Conversation with Nicodemus

Intro

Big Misunderstandings

Here are some of the biggest and most persistent historical misunderstandings (or myths/misconceptions) that have endured for centuries, often spread by popular culture, propaganda, outdated education, or dramatic storytelling. These appear repeatedly across historical sources, Wikipedia compilations, and debunking lists.

Medieval people believed the Earth was flat - Educated Europeans (and many ancient civilizations before them) knew the Earth was spherical since at least the time of the ancient Greeks (Eratosthenes even calculated its circumference fairly accurately around 240 BCE). The "flat Earth" idea as a widespread medieval belief was largely popularized in the 19th century.

Vikings wore horned helmets - No contemporary evidence or archaeological finds show Vikings wearing helmets with horns. The image comes from 19th-century romanticized art, costume design for operas (like Wagner's Ring cycle), and later pop culture. 

Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake" (Qu'ils mangent de la brioche) - There's no evidence she ever said this. The phrase predates her (appearing in Rousseau's writings when she was a child) and was likely attributed to her later as revolutionary propaganda to portray her as callous and out-of-touch.

Nero "fiddled" while Rome burned - The Great Fire of Rome happened in 64 CE, and Nero was not in the city when it started (he rushed back). The violin/fiddle didn't exist yet, and ancient sources say he helped relief efforts (though he later scapegoated Christians). The "fiddling" myth grew centuries later to paint him as a tyrant.

Columbus proved the Earth was round / People thought the world was flat in 1492 - Similar to #1—educated people already knew the Earth was round. Columbus's voyage was controversial because he underestimated the distance to Asia (thinking the Earth was smaller), not because of flat-Earth fears.Christopher

Slaves (especially Jewish slaves) built the Egyptian pyramids - The pyramids were built by skilled, paid Egyptian workers (evidence from workers' villages, tools, and records shows they were well-fed and organized laborers, not slaves in the biblical sense). The biblical Exodus story is separate and much later.

Witches were burned at the stake in Salem - The 1692 Salem witch trials resulted in 19 people hanged and one pressed to death—none were burned. Burning was more associated with European continental witch hunts (e.g., in Germany or France).

The Great Wall of China is visible from space / the Moon - This myth predates spaceflight; astronauts have confirmed it's not visible to the naked eye from low Earth orbit (let alone the Moon). It's a persistent exaggeration of its scale.

Misunderstandings can be costly; that’s why we need God’s revelation. We need to know exactly what God is saying to us and what it means.

Lesson

Who Was Nicodemus?

In our present-day culture, people tend to pay close attention to those who are deemed to be “celebrities.”

Now… something like 50 years ago, “celebrities” were people who achieved a certain degree of status because of their outstanding work in their specific fields, but that is not necessarily true today.

A person may not be a star actor, basketball player, or singer; they might be famous for entertaining on YouTube. Social media influencers are achieving a level of stardom that once was a lot more difficult to get.

For people who are at this star status, going about their daily lives is somewhat challenging. Just a simple trip to a theme park with their families can be overrun with people in a short time.

This kind of attention also means that nothing they do gets overlooked; everything is scrutinized to the highest degree.

If that same celebrity everyone was fawning over just a moment ago misses the trash can when throwing away a plastic cup and fails to pick it up within thirty seconds, the same social media platforms that made the person famous will demonize them as a “litterer.”

So, how does all of this apply?

We’re going to zero in on Nicodemus for a minute. And he was somewhat of a “celebrity” in his community. He was a ruler of the Jews, but even though he had status and authority, he felt that something was missing.

And he felt a push that he needed to find Jesus, even if he had to be careful how he approached Him.

John 3:1–2 NLT

1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

So Nicodemus recognized the miracles Jesus performed, but there was great controversy surrounding Jesus, who some claimed was the Messiah.

So because of Jesus’ miracles, Nicodemus was confused. Jesus’ message didn’t line up with what Nicodemus understood about God, yet Jesus performed works that no one could do except by the power of God.

Under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus met with Jesus to learn more.

Question: Have you ever had a preconceived idea about someone or something?

Maybe you just knew that given the history of a situation or circumstance, you knew exactly how it was going to work out or you knew exactly how that person would act.

In our minds, we are experts at seeing the outcome before something ever begins. But we have to be careful about that.

There are sometimes that we get it right, but sometimes we can have the wrong idea entirely. This is when we should let the Holy Ghost guide us and always allow our thoughts to be filtered through His Word and brought into captivity by His Spirit.

Let me give you an example:

There was a woman who got the Holy Ghost at a women’s prison in Oklahoma. She received in a service being held at the prison… while sitting in a plexiglass box.

When the lady who prayed her through was walking out, a guard asked, “Do you know who that woman is???” She said, “I don’t care - God touched her!” And as it turns out, that woman was awaiting sentencing for stabbing her husband 37 times.

Some of us might struggle with that and what we though about her. But Jesus didn’t struggle. Jesus didn’t have any preconceived notions. He just had grace and He filled her with His Spirit.

So with Nicodemus… what thoughts might he have preformed?

He could have based his thoughts off of what the other Pharisees were saying. There was plenty of talk.

But instead, he placed aside what he heard, and he sought Jesus for who he was. He came to Him saying, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher come from God.” And he opened himself to a conversation that would lead him to amazing revelation.

So the question for each of us is: What thoughts do you have that could be hindering conversations with someone at your school or in your family? Put the preconceived ideas away and see what could happen!

What Did Jesus Teach?

So here’s this moment with Nicodemus and Jesus…

And Jesus knows our hearts. He knows what we’re thinking and feeling, even before we express it to Him.

Nicodemus was confused when he met with Jesus. He might not have really known what question to ask. He knew:

John the Baptist baptized unto repentance.

Jesus approved of John’s baptism.

Jesus’ preaching called people to repentance.

And although to him and others it appeared blasphemous, Jesus performed miracles that were only possible by God.

So the question that was rising in Nicodemus’s heart seemed to be this: How can I be in need of salvation if I am already a believer in the one true God and I am in covenant with Him through Abraham?

And Jesus answered that question:

John 3:3–5 NKJV

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:6–8 NKJV

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Jesus was teaching that Nicodemus needed to be born again.

Here’s the deal: in Nicodemus’ mind, he was a Hebrew. He was a descendant of Abraham and a child of promise. He was already a part of God’s covenant people. His forefathers were chosen by God, and God made a great nation out of them.

So why would he need to be “born again” if he was already “born the right way” the first time?

Like most Jews in Nicodemus’s day, he believed the path to salvation was being born into the right family. He believed his natural birth saved him, basically.

But Jesus said he needed to born again of water and Spirit.

Nicodemus’ heritage was not enough. He had to be spiritually born again.

Multiple times in the book of John, we see a connection. And that connection is between water and Spirit. And in what we’re reading, Jesus directly links them to salvation.

We must be born of the water.

Baptism, which was previously a ceremonial cleansing, would now become part of our spiritual cleansing.

Baptism didn’t stop with John the Baptist. We see again in the Book of Acts that the New Testament church emphasized the importance of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:12–14 NKJV

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

Acts 8:15–16 NKJV

15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 10:47–48 NKJV

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 19:5 NKJV

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 22:16 KJV 1900

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

We also must be born of the Spirit.

Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost). We see the Spirit poured out throughout the Book of Acts, and it’s accompanied with a sign (speaking in in a language the person receiving the gift has never leaned). Scripture calls that “speaking in tongues.”

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44–46 KJV 1900

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God….

Acts 19:6 NKJV

6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Now here’s what’s interesting about tongues… when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus about the Spirit, he compared it to the wind… do remember what He said about the wind?

John 3:8 NKJV

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Pretty cool!

But our homie Nicodemus was still confused.

He was kind of like someone who has been sitting in darkness for a long time (eyes trying to adjust to the light).

Jesus’ words were difficult to hear, but Nicodemus wanted to understand. So he asked, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9).

And jesus explained by using a story from the nation of Israel’s time in the wilderness, before they entered the Promised Land.

Numbers 21:5–6 NLT

5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” 6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.

The things of nightmares!

Numbers 21:7–9 NLT

7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

Now Moses represented the old covenant.

When he obeyed God’s command - making this brass serpent and lifting it up - the people of Israel were healed.

They received a physical healing, but their hearts were not changed. They would continue to challenge Moses throughout all the time they travelled.

And Jesus explained to Nicodemus that this snake on a pole was pointing to something bigger:

John 3:14–17 NKJV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

What Jesus was saying was, just as the bronze serpent saved Israel from physical destruction, Jesus would be crucified on a cross, lifted up for all to see. And those who placed their faith in Him would be saved from spiritual destruction.

We have the choice to “lift up our eyes,” to come out of darkness and into the light.

We start by placing our faith in Jesus and choosing to be born again through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

Nicodemus’s encounter with Jesus was not the end of his story.

Having stepped into the light, he couldn’t go back to spiritual darkness. Later in John, when Jesus was in Jerusalem, Nicodemus defended Jesus to the higher religious leaders (John 7:42-51).

After Jesus’ death, we see Nicodemus appear again when he personally helps to prepare Jesus’ body for burial!

So Nicodemus went from this curious religious leader to becoming a dedicated disciple. He very likely gave up his power and influence to follow Jesus.

Conclusion

REVELATION - “a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way; the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.”

God wants to give you revelation!

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