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I. THIS MAN'S APPROACH TO CHRIST.

1. Who was he?

(1) A Pharisee; a member of the richest, proudest, most numerous, influential, and sanctimonious class in cur Saviour's time. Not only so, but "a man of them" — a full-blown representative whom the community and the sect acknowledged as a leader and light of the party.

(2) A ruler of the Jews, not a mere master of a synagogue, but (John 7:50) a member of the Sanhedrim — the supreme ecclesiastical and civil tribunal, the final court for the interpretation and enforcement of the law. No one could be a member of it without being well advanced in life, perfect in all his faculties, tall and impressive in appearance, wealthy, learned, and trained in judicial administration. Perhaps the sublimest visitor the Saviour ever had.

2. Why did he come? The Messiah's coming was generally expected. Christ had done some apparently Messianic deeds, and had been acknowledged. The Sanhedrim could not avoid dealing with Him. Nicodemus was therefore probably deputed to wait upon Him. This was not a worthy method of procedure. Instead of inviting Christ openly to hear what He had to say, or going as frank and faithful men to Him, they concluded to keep their impressions secret while one of their chiefs under cover of night stole away to catechise the Saviour.

3. How did he act?

(1) Very inconsistently. If he knew that Jesus was a Divine teacher it was not his business to raise up objections.

(2) He was crippled by his prejudices and pride of character. His very first word betrayed him. He must needs bring forward the official "we," as if the individual Nicodemus had nothing specially personal at stake. Then his difficulty about the new birth arose out of his prepossessions in favour of his own goodness and the non-necessity for him of a spiritual change.

II. CHRIST'S TREATMENT OF THIS DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

1. He met him with calmness and civility. He came to save great men as well as small. (John 6:37.)

2. He spoke at once to the point, and undeceived him in regard to the basis on which he and his fraternity were building their hopes. Jesus, who knew what is in man, knew the unspoken thought of Nicodemus. He knows what is in our hearts, and is able to suit His favours to our wants before we express them. Nicodemus wanted some decisive manifestation that Christ was the King of Israel. Christ responds that no one would ever be able to discern or enter the kingdom without a new birth. Thus, at a single stroke, Christ laid prostrate this renowned councillor's greatness, and dashed out for ever the loudest hopes of his race.

3. The Saviour expounded the unalterable condition of admission. That condition was —

(1)  A birth: mysterious, but

(2)  real (James 1:18; 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23).

(3)  A re-birth (2 Corinthians 5:17), a renovation in the springs of life, in the impulses and activities of the man, and in all the aims and endeavours of his being.

(4)  A birth from or out of the Spirit.

(5)  A birth conjoined with baptism (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:16).

4. In order to this renewal, Christ explained the true nature of the Messianic work. Hot to fight the Romans, confront Caesar with Caesar's weapons, subdue the nations to Jewish vassalage — but to die for sinners that they might live.

5. As underlying all, Jesus taught the right doctrine concerning God. Nicodemus believed in God, but had a very limited and inadequate conception of the higher mysteries of the Godhead. He needed to be taught that God was Three-One, and that in this same young Galilean the expressed Godhead dwelt, being come from heaven for man's redemption.

(J. A. Seiss, D. D.)

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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.