Post by intojoy on Mar 15, 2014 7:33:35 GMT
There is a Jewish way of teaching, a style of giving a lesson that is overlooked by most commentaries and teachings when the famous encounter between Yeshua and Nicodemus occurred. The method goes like this; If I want to give a lesson I first begin a conversation by speaking about something commonly known and then begin to speak about what is in know to the student.
This is what took place between Yeshua and Nick.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John 3:2 NASB)
First we read that Nick approached Yeshua to get a closer look at the man and to observe Yeshua's doctrines.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NASB)
This statement is how Yeshua begins His lesson that He will now share with the Rabbinic Teacher of teachers. If you will, look carefully at Nicodemus' response. It will reveal more than meets the eye.
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4 NASB)
Nicodemus is asking the question of "how" because within first century Pharisaic Judaism there where six new births and Nick was born again on four previous occasions. This is seen by the additional question of how can he be born again when he is old. Whether old or young, entering one's mother's womb is not optional. It makes no difference, it cannot be done.
The six ways to be born again that nick was familiar with were his bar mitzvah, becoming a Pharisee, marriage and becoming a Rabbinic leader of the Pharisees, all four nick had done and the final two he did not qualify for. They were a gentile proselyte and a direct descendant of king David ascending upon the throne in Jerusalem.
So why is this important?
Well the fact that Yeshua has opened up with a known subject with Nick is important because remember Nick is a leading teacher of Israel and nick's soteriology went like this; if a man was born a Jew that meant that he was automatically saved and would go to heaven because of his nationality.
This is what Yeshua will break down now by saying
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8 NASB)
Being born of the flesh or born a Jew did not qualify nick for heaven, Nick needed spiritual regeneration, spiritual rebirth.
Next having had his theology attacked by this miracle working man who was claiming to be the Messiah nick says this:
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"
Yeshua responds and drives His point home (that pharisaical Judaism was a false teaching) by questioning nick's authority to teach.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? (John 3:9, 10 NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (John 3:11-13 NASB)
Yeshua will be going out of His way taking every opportunity to break Pharisaic tradition in order to get a response from the Jews. On every occasion the Pharisees try and trap Yeshua by accusing Him of breaking the law. The law that Yeshua breaks is the Mishnaic law that was added to the law of Moses by the rabbis. Every time we read in the gospels the "tradition of the elders" that is a synonym for Mishnaic law. The only instance that the Pharisees challenge Yeshua on in context of Mosaic law was the woman taken in adultery and in that case they fail miserably and never attempt to catch Yeshua breaking the Law which of course He never does.
This is some of what I've learned from studying the life of the Messiah from a first century believing Jewish perspective. I hope you find it edifying like I did.
This is what took place between Yeshua and Nick.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John 3:2 NASB)
First we read that Nick approached Yeshua to get a closer look at the man and to observe Yeshua's doctrines.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NASB)
This statement is how Yeshua begins His lesson that He will now share with the Rabbinic Teacher of teachers. If you will, look carefully at Nicodemus' response. It will reveal more than meets the eye.
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4 NASB)
Nicodemus is asking the question of "how" because within first century Pharisaic Judaism there where six new births and Nick was born again on four previous occasions. This is seen by the additional question of how can he be born again when he is old. Whether old or young, entering one's mother's womb is not optional. It makes no difference, it cannot be done.
The six ways to be born again that nick was familiar with were his bar mitzvah, becoming a Pharisee, marriage and becoming a Rabbinic leader of the Pharisees, all four nick had done and the final two he did not qualify for. They were a gentile proselyte and a direct descendant of king David ascending upon the throne in Jerusalem.
So why is this important?
Well the fact that Yeshua has opened up with a known subject with Nick is important because remember Nick is a leading teacher of Israel and nick's soteriology went like this; if a man was born a Jew that meant that he was automatically saved and would go to heaven because of his nationality.
This is what Yeshua will break down now by saying
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8 NASB)
Being born of the flesh or born a Jew did not qualify nick for heaven, Nick needed spiritual regeneration, spiritual rebirth.
Next having had his theology attacked by this miracle working man who was claiming to be the Messiah nick says this:
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"
Yeshua responds and drives His point home (that pharisaical Judaism was a false teaching) by questioning nick's authority to teach.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? (John 3:9, 10 NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (John 3:11-13 NASB)
Yeshua will be going out of His way taking every opportunity to break Pharisaic tradition in order to get a response from the Jews. On every occasion the Pharisees try and trap Yeshua by accusing Him of breaking the law. The law that Yeshua breaks is the Mishnaic law that was added to the law of Moses by the rabbis. Every time we read in the gospels the "tradition of the elders" that is a synonym for Mishnaic law. The only instance that the Pharisees challenge Yeshua on in context of Mosaic law was the woman taken in adultery and in that case they fail miserably and never attempt to catch Yeshua breaking the Law which of course He never does.
This is some of what I've learned from studying the life of the Messiah from a first century believing Jewish perspective. I hope you find it edifying like I did.