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I. THE DESCRIPTION HERE GIVEN OF THE MAN.

1. His religious profession, "a man of the Pharisees."

2. His official position, "a ruler of the Jews."

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCE RECORDED CONCERNING HIM.

1. Why he came.

(1) Negatively.

(a)  It was not to ensnare or oppose Jesus, as was the case with his co-religionists generally.

(b)  Not out of curiosity like Zacchaeus.

(2) Positively, to know the truth.

2. When he came, "by night."(1) It might have been from a feeling of shame or timidity; but what we know of him does not favour this supposition. Our Lord does not blame him, why should we?

(2) From necessity, his duties forbidding during the day.

(3) From choice as well as convenience. He wanted a private interview, such as Christ's busy life could not afford during the day.

III. THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT MADE BY HIM.

1. To what it refers — to the character of Jesus as a teacher come from God.

2. The ground on which it rests. Nothing can be more reasonable than the inference. It will be seen —

(1) That the miracles of Christ are here spoken of as things of general notoriety. They certainly were not done in a corner.

(2) Their reality is represented as being above all suspicion. They are spoken of as "these miracles," and no doubt was, or could be, entertained concerning them.

(3) Their wonderful nature was such as clearly indicated that they were wrought through a Divine interposition. The feeling of all who were not blinded by their prejudices, on witnessing each mighty act in succession, was, "This is the finger of God."(4) Their express design is recognized as confirmatory of our Lord's character and claims. What He says should therefore be attended to, and the important truths He uttered on this occasion are especially worthy of the most serious consideration.

(Miracles of Our Lord.)

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KJV: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

WEB: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.