Nicodemus had come to quiz Jesus on theology, but it soon became clear that he did not understand the answers. This top theologian had no grasp of what it meant to be born again. He understood religious rules but had no concept of grace. His learning was academic but his understanding was not informed by God’s Holy Spirit. Even the simple analogy of God’s sovereignty over the wind (the word for ‘Spirit’ is the same in John 3:8) was impossible for him to comprehend.

So although Nicodemus was listening to Jesus, he could not hear what He was saying. The reason was that he was filtering what Jesus said through the grid of his own reasoning; he was deaf to the voice of God’s Spirit. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” But Nicodemus was willing to listen to Jesus and after the crucifixion was willing to be publically identified with Jesus, helping to take His body to be buried in the tomb (John 19:38-40).

Many people do not know how to find God or even hear from Him. The story of Nicodemus is helpful. Start with Jesus; read what He said and read about what He did. The gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are the best place for your friends and colleagues to begin to read about Jesus. As they do, those who are seeking Him will learn how to recognise God’s voice. Indeed there is no other way according to Jesus: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) So when people ask you about your faith and want to find out more, encourage them to read about Jesus!