The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-01-26
Jesus and NicOdemuS.


Jesus and Nicodemus.
The visit of Nicodemus to Jesus
ought to be viewed in the light of
events then TRANSPORTING The ruler
of the Jews has been severely criti-
cised for the clandestine character of
his visit. He has been characterized
as constitutiOnallv timid lWestcott),
as having softness of constitution (Ol-
shausen), and even a dispicable time
server tElchorn). But it should be
remembered that the ever. widening
breach between the officials of the
Hebrew Church and the reforming
rabbi had already begun. AS a class
thew were his pronounced enemies.
/ Nicodemus rose superior TO the in
tense prejudice of his clique, at least
/ to the extent of visiting the offending
/ Teacher and inquiring into His doc
( trine. The wonder is not that he
came at night, but that he came at
all. Considering the perversitY of
the human heart-especiallythe heart
/ of ruler of the Jews-the action of
this master in Israel is admirable
Jesus had signalized the opening of
His ministery by series of miracles
wrought in Jerusalem and at t he
feastiug time. Most conspicuous
hour and place. Nicodemus was one
of many upon whom these signs had
had their designed effect. He refers
at once in his first polite address to
the miracles as sufficient seal TO the
supernatural origin of Jesus mission.
Jesus knew what was in" His visi-
tor, his exact status. Here was man
superior to his class, but not wholly
free from their prejudices; one pro
foundry interested in the kingdom of
God, but not vet experimenting its
spiritual character. The tenor of
Jesus uttered word fits exactly into
the mortise of Nicodemus thought.
The metaphor of new birth was
familiar to the Hebrew mind. They
considered all prOselytes to their faith
as having been born again. What
nOnplussed Nicodemus was to be
told that he could only come into the
kingdom of God as the proselvte came
into the Hebrew Church He con
sidered himself a charter member OF
that kingdom. Now, to find that il
was not question of higher or a
lower seat at the table, but of any
seat at all-that was what dumfound.
ed him. He, Abraham's son, and in
addition a Pharisee and ruler, and
yet to be shut out with heather dogs
it was incomprehensible!"
Confusion 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 example of the
gentleness of Jesus. He does not
break the bending reed. Heamplifies
His first expression. Born again, .
into born of water and the spirit. .
And further: "Depravity can 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 incomprehensi.
bic. But this is no insuperable OBJ
lection to it; for there are good many
earthly things that can not be IN
derstood. The invisible, imponder.
able breath of nature-who knows it
extensively? But who doubts its
existence, so long as it gives its audi
BILE token? Who would refuse to
avail himself of it for either his lungs
or his sails because he can not know
all about it?
AS Rudolf Stier we'll says: "a hard
figure had humbled to the position
of learner, a master in Israel" In
his very question as to the manner
Nicodemus admits the fact of a new
birth into the kingdom of heaven.
Well may Luther call this 1.-The
Bible in miniature" (Bibel i'm kleinen)
and Sitter describe it as 1.-The mos
sublime and simple expression of the
eternal mystery of redemption which
the Scriptures contain
nosaic from Comm entarles.
A man; From the people collective
ly, to whom Jesus had addressed
Himself, transition is now made tt
His dealing with an individual.-Lu
thardt. Pharisee, ruler: Circum
stances account for prominence Civ
en- incident.-NewC Century. Came t.
Jesus by night: In secret, SO as no
to be observed. This he could easil.
do, because the steps to the guest
chamber, the upper room, were on tn
outside of the house, as today in Pal
| actipa and OftaY, in Ttallv Ha ivan