Nicodemus came to Jesus saying, “We know you are a teacher from God, because no one could do these miracles, if that weren’t true” (John 3:2), but who is the we that Nicodemus tells us he represents? We are informed in John 3:1 that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. That is, he was a member of the Sanhedrin court in Jerusalem. He was saying that **we** know—that is, the rulers of the people had been discussing what Jesus had been doing, and they had concluded that Jesus was sent by God! Nevertheless, they held back their endorsement of him as their Messiah and sought a sign (John 2:18). Jesus had already done many miracles (signs), which they accepted as the work of God, so what other sign could they possibly want? It seems that they wanted Jesus to perform a miracle at their command, perhaps even stating what miracle to perform (cp. Matthew 4:3, 6, 8-9). Nevertheless, Jesus wouldn’t deal in their petty desires, which did nothing but keep them in authority, even over the Messiah.
It seems that Nicodemus wished to heal the ever-widening breach between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. He came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, because political expediency demands secrecy. One wants to be able to have something to offer before he shows his hand to his colleagues. He doesn’t want them to misunderstand and perhaps take away his power in the Sanhedrin. Otherwise, nothing would be done to heal the breach between the authorities and the man whom all agree was sent by God. What, therefore, could be done?
It seems Nicodemus wanted Jesus to give him something to bring back to his powerful associates. Telling Jesus: “We know…” alludes to the supposition that he was seeking some kind of reconciliation. He wanted Jesus to bend a little, but Jesus told him unless a man is born again he is unable to even perceive the Kingdom of God (John 3:3), which surprised Nicodemus. Remember, he was a Pharisee, and Pharisees love a good fight, according to Josephus. Many zealots were Pharisees, and they sought to bring in the Kingdom of God by violently overthrowing the Roman presence in their homeland.
Therefore, when Jesus claimed many folks wouldn’t even be able to perceive the Kingdom of God, that begged the question: what kind of kingdom did Jesus have in mind? Nicodemus thought he could broker a deal between his colleagues and Jesus, but suddenly Jesus didn’t make sense. For folks to come to agree on anything, it is presumed they speak the same language or at least understand one another, if interpretation is needed. Nevertheless, Nicodemus hadn’t a clue about his need for a spiritual rebirth (John 3:4), and the other Jewish authorities had no understanding of the concept of a man being the Temple of the Lord’s Presence (John 2:19-21). So, how could they come to agree on anything that pertained to the Kingdom of God or the Messiah as its King?
Nevertheless, they should have known these things, because the prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah being the Temple of God. He claimed: “He shall be a sanctuary…” (Isaiah 8:14). Ancient Jewish literature, Targum Jonathan, paraphrases this as “The Word of the Lord… [shall be a sanctuary]” (cp. Isaiah 4:5-6; Psalm 27:5). Therefore, the concept was understood by at least some Jews, so these who were the rulers and teachers of the people, should have also understood Jesus’ statement in John 2:19-21.
Although “We know…” nevertheless, agreement between the rulers and Jesus seemed to be more difficult than anticipated. The breach couldn’t be healed, if a mysterious new birth was required. I find it interesting how Jesus uses the personal pronouns in John 3:1-12. He is speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:3 & 5 “Truly, truly I (singular) say onto you (singular)…” The discussion at this point is simply between Jesus and Nicodemus, and it continues as such to verse-10. Then in John 3:11 Jesus changes the personal pronouns to the plural, saying: “…we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we have seen…” Notice the plural. Nicodemus told Jesus: “We know, you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these miracles which you are doing, unless God is with him” (John 3:2), so Jesus replied using the plural. The authorities admit God is with Jesus, so Jesus said: “We speak what we know…” (John 3:11). Then he adds the condemning conclusion: “…you (plural) are all rejecting our testimony. If you do not believe the earthly things I tell you (plural), how can you (plural) believe the heavenly things, if I tell you (plural) about them? (John 3:11-12; parenthesis mine)!
Once one admits: “we know…” that Jesus is sent by God, it then becomes necessary for that one to submit to his Messiah and Lord. There are many things that we don’t understand, but understanding begins at the feet of Jesus. We cannot demand understanding before submission. That’s the demand of a rebel, seeking equal authority at the table of the Lord. We don’t have equal authority, but understanding and ultimate satisfaction is found in submission at Jesus’ feet!
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2 responses to “We Know…”
Now if we as a people could just learn this truth without mixing it with the detritus of religion! We might then find the true church! But, what seems to happen, even among us evangelicals is that we experience one of the fruits as you wrote in your comments to me, and we take that fruit and worship it.
Whether that fruit is a healing or other miracle; even being overwhelmed by the spirit (slaying in the Spirit in common vernacular), we seek that experience rather than the Master. In that way, not much has changed since the Israelites were wandering in the desert!
God Bless you Ed.
Thanks, Dave, and Lord bless you, as well.