John 3:4 (E)

It does not surprise me at all that Nicodemus sounds as spiritually dull as he does. In fact, given all the biblical passages on spiritual dullness, it would have puzzled me that so many commentators outright reject the possibility, if I had not noticed that these same passages explain why the commentators fail to understand spiritual dullness! The effects of sin on the mind cannot be overcome by education, even by seminary education, but they can be overcome only when God's Spirit enlightens the mind through Scripture.

In any case, some commentators are more honest with the text. D. A. Carson writes, "A more realistic view is that Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was talking about at all." Similarly, A. T. Robertson observes, "The learned Pharisee is as jejune in spiritual insight as the veriest tyro," and adds, "This is not an unheard of phenomenon."

I can cite many examples of extreme spiritual dullness from what I have encountered in ministry. I would explain certain spiritual concepts to people plainly, directly, and repeatedly, but they could not understand them. But then, for some of them, one day the Spirit illuminated their minds, and they understood. We are commanded to proclaim and to expound, but we have no direct access to the human heart, no direct control over the mind. It is up to the Sovereign Spirit to grant understanding to our hearers.

Nevertheless, examples from personal experience cannot prove anything – at best they can only illustrate what the Bible already teaches. Thus for us to arrive at a proper understanding about spiritual dullness, we should look at some of the biblical passages on the subject. One can consider this an excursus, but it is far from a waste of time, nor is it irrelevant, since what we establish here will help us better understand the upcoming verses in John 3.

Now, Jesus says in Matthew 11:25-27, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

We must realize the force of these words. Jesus is saying that true knowledge and perception about the Father and the Son are jealously guarded by them, and even deliberately hidden by them, except to those whom they choose to reveal themselves. So it does not matter how much natural intelligence a person seems to possess – to know God without divine revelation, one must first overcome God's omnipotence to hide himself, but if one could accomplish this, then it would not be omnipotence that we are talking about.

This passage alone should eliminate all questions as to whether someone with the learning of Nicodemus could be as spiritually dull as he appears. His ability to understand anything about the spiritual operations of God depends on whether God has chosen to reveal himself to him, and whether he has chosen to reveal himself at that particular time. In fact, Jesus says in our passage, "You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned," so that human wisdom and learning cannot penetrate the barrier between natural and spiritual wisdom.

(to be continued)

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