The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Feb. II, 1905 John fiji, 1-1S-Jesus
and NicOdemus.


The visit of Nicodemus to Jesus ought to be
viewed in the light OF events then transpiring.
This ruler of the Jews has been severely criti-
cised for the clandestine character of his visit.
He has been characterized constitutionally
timd (Westcott). having softness of constitu-
ton (Olshausen). and even despicable time
server (Eichhorn) But It should be renem-
bered that the overwhelming breach between the
officials of the Hebrew church and the reform
ing rabbi had already begun AS class they
his pronounced enemies Nicodemus
superior to the intense prejudice of his clique, at
least to the extent Of visiting the offending
Teacher and inquiring into His doctrine. The
wonder is not that he came at night, but that
he came at ALL Considering the perversity of
the human heart-especially the heart of ruler
of the Jews-the action of this master in Israel
is admirable. Jesus had sgnalized the
opening of His ministry by series of miracles
wrought in Jerusalem and at the feast-time.
Most conspicuous hour and place! Ncodemus
was one OF the many upon whom these signs had
had their designed effect. He refers at once In
his first polite address the miracles suffi-
cient seals to the supernatural origin Of Jesus
mission. Jesus knew what was in" His
visitor. his exact status. Here
perior to his class, but not wholly free from
their prejudices; one profoundly interested in
the kingdom of God, but not yet apprehending
it's spiritual character. The tenor of Jesus ut
tered word fits exactly into the mortise of Nico-
demus's thought. The metaphor of
new birth was familiar to the Hebrew mind
They considered all proselytes to their faith
having been born again. What nonpussed Nico-
demus to be told that he could only come
into the kingdom Of God as the proselyte came
into the Hebrew Church. He considered him
self a charter member OF that kingdom Now,
to find that 1t was not question of a higher or
a lower seat at the table. but Of any seat at
all-that was what dumfounded him. He
Abrahams son, and In addition Pharisee and
ruler. and yet to be shut out with heather
dogs'-it was incomprehensible!' Con-
fusion led this master in Israel to the silliest
possible rejoinder. He seeks to parry the thrust
and gain time by taking literally what he knew
to be figure of speech. His questions fairly
die upon his lips. Here is a lovely ex-
ample Of the gentleness of Jesus. He does not
break the bending reed. He amplihes his first
impression, born again. into born of water
and the Spirit" And further: "Depravity
only beget depravity, but the Spirit can beget
the spiritual. So the great need of humanity is
to be Spirit-born.' This only is the way into
the kingdom of God" This Spirit-birth
is incomprehensible. But this is no insuperable
objection to It: for there a good many
earthly things that cannot be understood The
invisible imponderable breath of nature-who
knows it exhaustively? But who doubts it's
istence, so long as II gives its audible token?
either his lungs or his sails because he cannot
know all about It? . AS Rudolf Sitter well
says. "A hard figure had humbled to the posi-
ton OF learner master in Israel In his very
question as to the manner. Nicodemus admits
the fact of new birth into the kingdom of
heaven
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
An old proverb says, go to the Jordan and
thou shalt see the Trinity" The reference is to
the simultaneous manifestation of the three Per-
at the baptism of Jesus-Father. voice:
Son, incarnate form: Holy Ghost, dove. So We
may say. Go to the Gospel Of John. third chap
ter. and you will find the three Persons of the
adorable Trinity engaged In the ineffable work
of human redemption The Father loves a lost
world and gives His Son. The Son is lifted up
to an expiatory death. Moses lifted up the
appointed sign amid the serpents and corpses of
the smitten encampment of the wilderness. And.
finally, the Holy Spirit cleanses and infuses the
principle of new spiritual and eternal life in the
soul heretofore dead. Well may Luther call this
1.-The Bible in miniature (Bbel i'm kleinen). and
Stier describe it as 1.-The most sublime and sim
pie expression Of the eternal mystery Of re-
demption which the Scriptures contain"
Nicodemuses abound to-day. They are deferen-
tial and even complimentary to Jesus But they
find in Him only a teaching Messiah. His word
and example the ladder to heaven, not His
cross. They understand not the imperative ne
ing up" nor its similitude to the lifting up of
the serpent by Moses. They stop short of the
atonement in Christ. They lose all. They
like that Saxon peasant boy Zeller tells of, who,
on being asked IL he learned anything OF Jesus
at school, replied: "Oh, yes,'' what, them"
THAT He was good teacher Of the people"
Bless mel This world has had teachers enough.
What it wanted Savior! Be born
again. That is the first sentence OF the Divine
catechism (Stier.) The very term Is, in itself,
enough to inspire hope. 1t is effect which.
by the utmost striving, we can not produce upon
ourselves. 1t is gift. . Sum and SUBJ
stance of the Christian religion is principle of
life in the human soul. 1t is not doctrine, but
life (Ebal) AS Luther paraphrases it: MY doc
trine is not OF doing or leaving undone, but of
being and becoming; that it is not a new
work to be done, but just the being new-cre-
ated' Or again, with Draseke: THE kingdom
OF God is nothing into which man can think or
study or read or hear or talk or discuss himself;