Bible ReadingJohn 3:1-21 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 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.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “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!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 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. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
[00:28] [00:40] [01:09] [13:59] [14:19] [27:23] [32:06]John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 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. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
[23:58] [24:16]John 7:45-52 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
[12:22] [12:48]John 12:42-43 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
[19:17] [19:21]Observation questions- In John 3, what details show that Nicodemus respected Jesus, yet still came to him cautiously and privately? [08:23]
- In John 7, how does Nicodemus speak up for Jesus, and what does he actually say in that moment? [12:48]
- According to John 12:42-43, why did some leaders stay quiet even though they believed in Jesus? [19:21]
- In John 19, what actions make Nicodemus’ identification with Jesus public and costly? [24:16]
Interpretation questions- Jesus does not let Nicodemus stay at the level of admiration or curiosity. Why does Jesus move the conversation so quickly to new birth, belief, and eternal life? [14:19]
- Nicodemus appears to move from curiosity to conviction to courage across the Gospel of John. What does that slow unfolding suggest about how faith sometimes develops in a person’s life? [02:33]
- John 12 says some leaders believed but stayed silent because they loved human praise more than praise from God. What does that reveal about why a person can be spiritually convinced and still remain in the “almost” place? [21:14]
- John 3 connects darkness, fear, and hiding, while John 19 shows Nicodemus stepping into public view. What does his final appearance seem to say about what it means to come into the light? [27:26]
Application questions- Curiosity can be the first step toward real faith. What questions, tensions, or missing pieces first started drawing you toward Jesus, and are there still questions you have been afraid to bring honestly into the light? [10:42]
- Conviction can grow while fear still keeps a person quiet. Where is it easiest for you to keep faith private—at home, with friends, at work, or somewhere else—and what do you fear losing if you are more open about belonging to Christ? [22:25]
- Some people know a great deal about Jesus and still hold back from surrender. What might “almost” look like in your own life right now? Is it delay, secrecy, disobedience, fear of people, or something else? [22:48]
- Public faith carries real cost. Has there been a moment when following Jesus affected your relationships, reputation, comfort, or plans? How did you respond, and what did that reveal about your heart? [29:50]
- Jesus was not half-hearted in going to the cross. When you think about Christ being fully committed to save sinners, what part of your response to him needs to become more wholehearted? [34:03]
- Nicodemus eventually stepped out of the shadows and let his allegiance be seen. Is there a next step of obedience you have been delaying—repentance, confession, baptism, reconciliation, serving, or speaking openly about Jesus? What makes that step hard? [36:23]
- The gospel does not call people to wait for a more convenient time. If “today is the day” is taken seriously, what would need to change now rather than later? [35:34]
