"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.'"
John 3:1-2 ESV
Notice Nicodemus' use of the plural pronoun we. Although he is engaging Jesus in a personal conversation, he references the observations and beliefs of his brotherhood. Nicodemus states plainly that they know Jesus has come to them from God! Yet they do not relate to Jesus as such. They do not receive him as the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. How can they know what they know and believe what they believe and not open their lives to Jesus and receive him as Savior and Lord? Why can't they see? Because their hearts are hardened. They can't see Jesus for who he really is. What is the remedy? Being born again. That is why Jesus' declaration in verse 3 is crucial: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." God must supernaturally change the sinner's heart. As we consider the spiritual condition of those around us, we need to pray with absolute dependency on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that only God can cause a Pharisee to really see.
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