John 3:1, Nicodemus

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 

Chapter 3 of John contains the most well-known statement of Jesus in the New Testament (v. 16): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” It also contains an enigmatic character, Nicodemus, whose dialogue with Jesus introduces this fundamental Christian statement. What we know of Nicodemus and his background is contained in verse 1. He was a Pharisee, which means “separated ones.” Nicodemus and the others kept themselves pure, shunning the Greek and Roman culture of the day. He is one of 6000 men who held this title. To be a Pharisees one had to memorize the Hebrew Scriptures—what we call the Old Testament. He knew and loved God’s law. The Pharisees held three beliefs that separated them from another Jewish group, the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the body, angels and demons, and the immortality of the soul. Jesus’ beliefs were very close to this group. The area of conflict between them came from their devotion to the traditions of men that Jesus openly and often criticized, along with who and what the Messiah would be. 

Nicodemus was also a ruler of the Jews, meaning he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Ruling Council of 70 men. Presiding over the Council was the High Priest, who at this time was Caiaphas, a Sadducee. Pharisees were a minority on the Council, which was dominated by the Sadducees. The men on the Council belonged to three groups: the priests, who were Levites; the elders, who were tribal or family heads; and the scribes, who were experts in the Law. Among many, one of the jobs of the Sanhedrin was to determine the identity of the Messiah and then confirm him as such. 

Nicodemus comes to Jesus representing this group, whether officially—unlikely—or on his own, in a position of high power, influence, and respect. Symbolically, he comes representing the Old Covenant, seeking confirmation of Jesus as the true Messiah. In the account that follows, like the water of the Old Covenant being changed into the wine of the New Covenant in Cana, Jesus lays out how one is personally changed by God to enter into eternal life with him.