Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-01

CONTEXT.-If Johns gospel fur
nishes a continuous account OF this period
in the life of Jesus, and most scholars
think it does. He went to Capernaum i'm
mediately after the marriage at Cana, ac-
companied by His mother. His brethren
and his disciples. Gohn. ii:l9 After a
short stay there He went up to Jeru-
salem to attend the passover. the first of
the great national feasts which He at
tended after His baptism. 1t was on that
visit that He cleansed the temple. driving
ont of it those who sold oxen. sheep and
doves, as studied last week. This action
naturally brought Him to public notice.
and the officials desired to know by what
authority He did such things. His
speeches in public and private, as we'll as
His miracles, none of which, however,
are recorded, increased His fame and
caused many to attach themselves to Him
as disciples: that Is, as anxious TO learn
more OF Him and His doctrine. Gohn,
ii:l3-25D AS the passover drew many
from all parts Of the land. He had OPP
portunity to exert a far-reaching In
fluence.
INTERVIEWS general and pro-
found was the impression made by the
ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem that the
attention of men in high places was d.
rected to Him. OF these. Nicodemus
sought personal interview that he might
obtain fuller knowledge of the wonderful
Galilean. Nicodemus was of the Phari-
sees, the most. numerous and exacting
sect (Acts. xXvi:J), a member of the San
hedrin. before which body our Lord was
afterward summoned. Uohn. vii:JO. He
came at night, perhaps, like Joseph. fear
ing the Jews John. xix $50. but probably
because more privacy might then be had
oversees 1 and p. The formal salutation
being over, the ruler addressed Jesus with
the complimentary title Rabbi. the pest
tina. at that time he knew. Then followed
q noble confession that he believed TINS
teacher no ordinary man: that He had
come from God: what might have been
confessed, however, of any OF the OLD
prophets. In fact, this was precisely the
character assigned to all the prophets
Nicodemus also gave the reason for his
faith-namely. the display OF Christ's
miraculous power. This salutation and
confession we're equivalent to request
for instruction.
KINGDOM.-Immedia Jesus re-
sponded to this expressed desire for in
formation by referring to the one great
subject upon which John the Baptist
Matt, iii:2) and He had been preaching
(Matt. iv:1D. the kingdom of God, which
He came to establish John. xviii: s6). and
which the nation expected under the Mes
siah Dan., vii:2O. Nothing could be
more interesting to a Jewish ruler. but,
what was more startling. Jesus announced
that no man. unless born again from
above. could see that kingdom (verse -,
sentiment in direct conflict with all the
popular notions. 1t prescribed conditions
for the subjects of that kingdom which ut
terly ignored descent from Abraham and
the rite of circumcision (Gal. vi:15). Mic
ing. In his surprise he did not attempt
any defense of the idea of inherited privi
lege, held SO tenaciously by the Jews
John. vii:39 nor yet did he express the
be restored and become the kingdom of
heaven. with Jerusalem as the capital
But he seized upon the subject of new
birth as a great mystery (verse A.. How
was it possible to comply with the pre-
scribed conditions for entrance into the
kingdom?
TEACHING.-The answer of Jesus
to the question of the ruler was adapted
to his state Of mind. and it was as full as
he was able to receive under the circum-
stances. There was first reassertion of
what was said before. but in words de-
signed to explain somewhat the nature of
the second birth oversees 90. It was to be
birth of the spirit. and not of the flesh.
as NicodenlHs seemed to think, but a
birth symbolized by water baptism mark.
xvi:16). The spiritual change made the
man ready for the kingdom, the baptism
was the ceremony of Introduction to the
kingdom (Acts. ii:3S). Jesus asserts here
the interior and outward conditions, and
bids His hearer not to marvel at what
had been previously said Still, our Lord
intended to be very faithful with His
distinguished visitor. and informed him
that this spiritual change of which he
had spoken was mysterious matter. and
likened 1t to the action of the wind. whose
course could not be traced. but whose eff
fects were apparent to all Verse -. In
this way. He referred the subject to each
mans personal consciousness, where it be-
longed.
KNOWLEDGE.-Th faithful in
struction had not helped matters very
much. Nicodemus was confused There
had been presented to him lines of
thought with which he was not familiar,
and he confessed ignorance by asking,
How can these things be?" verse 81.
1t was a gentle but deserved rep-oof
which Jesus administered. Verse 1O).
Judaism was a matter Of the heart Oeut
v:29. and that which Jesus had pre-
scribed for the new kingdom. conversion
and baptism, was precisely what had been
required of proselytes in becoming Jews.
How strange that member of the high
est ecclesiastical body, one trained in all
laws and usages. should not understand
this matter? Having thus chided His
pupil. Jesus asserts His own knowledge
(verse y, as against the others igno-
rance. and does so with a very positive
assertion. Verify. verify" He did not
say how He knew Matt. ken. whether
by experience. intuition or instruction.
The declaration of personal knowledge on
a matter about which Jewish law-give-
had confessed ignorance. set the two far
apart in point of ability, and gave ground
for our Lords added remark that one
who had acknowledged at the outset His
ability had declined to accept His teach
ing.
DIFFICULTY-There must be some
change in the attitude Of the rulers mind