I AM: Nic at Night
Speaker: Pastor Neil Lindwall
Additional Resources: Extra readings are available on this page and appear indented like this. Extra Readings and Study Materials can be found here.
NIV John 3:1-2 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 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.”
The Gemara in the Talmud says that the Best time to learn from God is at night (says), because there are less distractions. Some of the traditions contained in the Gemara may extend in some form back to the time of Jesus and may therefore be valuable in understanding the Judaism of Jesus’ time. But be cautious for not all do. See the resources link for more on Gemara, Mishnah and the Talmud.
Importance of learning Torah at night:[1]
It is a Biblical Mitzvah and command to learn Torah both by day and night.
[2] Furthermore, one must be careful in his Torah study at night even more than during the day, and one who is not careful in this, his punishment is great.[3]
Fire consumes:[4] Any home from which words of Torah are not heard from at night, a flame consumes it.
Acquiring wisdom:[9] Although it is a Mitzvah to learn Torah both by day and night, most of one’s wisdom is attained specifically through learning Torah at night. [This is due to several factors: 1) At night one is able to learn Torah in tranquility without disturbances. 2) At night, there is a special Segula (a special treasure or protection, like a Jewish lucky charm- P. Neil) that the quality of one’s attachment to Hashem through learning Torah is greater than the quality of attachment experienced during the day’s learning.[10]]
281/amēn ("amen") is an "emphasis marker" which introduces a statement of pivotal importance, i.e. essential to interpreting the over-all passage. – HELPS Lexicon.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
AMP John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
It was taught widely among the Jews at that time that since they descended from Abraham, they were automatically assured of heaven. In fact, some Rabbis taught that Abraham stood watch at the gate of hell, just to make sure that none of his descendants accidentally wandered in there. – David Guzik :: Study Guide for John 3
The Kingdom of God Is Truly Exclusive.
Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus shattered the Jewish assumption that their racial identity – their old birth – assured them a place in God’s Kingdom. Jesus made it plain that a man’s first birth does not assure him of the kingdom; only being born again gives this assurance. – David Guzik :: Study Guide for John 3
John 3:4 “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!”
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Common Opinions: What Does Born of Water Mean?:
- Born of Water = Natural Birth. (i.e. breaking of the water sack. Fits verse 7).
- Born of Water = Baptism. (But Jesus did not require this of the thief, Lk 23:43).
- Born of Water = Renewed by the Holy Spirit, the “Living Water”, Jn 7:38-39.
- Born of Water = Washed in The Water of the Word, Eph 5:26.
- Born of Water = Accept the Prophesied Water of Cleansing, Ezekiel 36:25-28.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Some have thought that born of water means to receive the water of cleansing prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25-28 as part of the New Covenant. This approach has the most weight (though it is a tough call), because of its firm connections to Old Testament prophecy – which Jesus says Nicodemus should have known to understand these things. – David Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary. See the articles on the New Covenant in the resources link.
John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
KJV John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Pastor. Neils’ take on John 3:7 =
Don’t be amazed that I said to you, (Nicodemus), ‘All Y’All must be born again’.
John 3:7-8 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”
[Any of the above renderings (spirit-Spirit, wind, breath) of 4151 (pneúma) is always theoretically possible (spirit, Spirit, wind, breath). When the attributive adjective ("holy") is used, 4151 (pneúma) always refers to the Holy Spirit. "Spirit" ("spirit") is by far the most common translation (application) of 4151 (pneúma). The Hebrew counterpart (rûach) shows the same range of meaning as 4151 (pneúma). Likewise it can refer to spirit/Spirit, wind, or breath(depending on the context).] – HELPS Lexicon.
John 3:9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
John 3:10-12 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 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. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
The Truth of God Is Essential.
John 3:13-15 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Numbers 15:39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
Numbers 21:4-9 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
John 3:16-17 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:18 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.
True Belief Is Our Birthright
John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 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.
Come Out of the Darkness & Into The Light
