"3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:1-8
It would hardly be possible to find a more fruitful chapter to study in all Scripture, or one better known, than this. It is important not only for the words Jesus speaks to Nicodemus and the emphasis on the new birth, but also as a revelation of the method He uses in dealing with the ruler. We are coming to it in the best possible way and with the best equipment when we do so having first of all studied the first two chapters of John. For we must see this encounter with Nicodemus in the light and in the context of John's general purpose in writing the gospel. The gospel, John has been saying, is about the giving of life, life through His Name. This Jesus of whom I speak (says John) is the Eternal Word made flesh for our sakes. He who in the beginning made all worlds and has come down as Man, to remake man and give him new life - He it is who now confronts Nicodemus. And this is what explains the nature of Jesus' words to him about rebirth. That is one point. The other is this. In the context of presenting the message of grace, there are problems and difficulties and complications; there is active opposition and antagonism to the gospel - the darkness versus the light, and the clash between them. This also we see in the story before us. Then, having laid down the principles, so to speak, in the Prologue - the theology of the situation, John proceeds to illustrate them, by recording the signs in the second chapter - turning the water into wine and cleansing the temple. First, principles, then signs illustrating these, and now in this chapter an exemplification of all this in concrete terms in a man, Nicodemus.