Nicodemus, like many of us, has some faith. His Jewish background helps him to believe in God and the Scriptures. He even has a growing faith in Jesus. He confesses to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.” He admits that God is the power behind the miracles and wisdom of Jesus. This is a step forward.
Yet the faith of Nicodemus is many steps away from the full truth. Jesus is much more than “a teacher.” He does not use borrowed words, as teachers do. He speaks from personal knowledge of heaven.
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.… No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man (John 3:11,13).
This is vital truth Nicodemus has missed. Therefore Jesus accuses Nicodemus of unbelief:
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12).
It is not enough to think of Jesus as a good man, a fine teacher, or even a great prophet. Faith should not stop short at half-truths. True faith rests on the full truth of Jesus as Savior.
“…so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3: 14-15).
What does it mean to “believe in Him”? And why is this faith so important to God?