【读圣经学英语】人若不重生,就不能见神的国

约翰福音-John 3 章1~5

3:1 但有一个法利赛人,名叫尼哥底母,是犹太人的官。
But there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the JEWS.
3:2 这人夜里来到耶稣那里,对祂说,拉比,我们知道你是从神那里来作教师的,因为你所行的这些神迹,若没有神同在,无人能行。
This one came to Him 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.
3:3 耶稣回答说,我实实在在的告诉你,人若不重生,就不能见神的国。
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 尼哥底母说,人已经老了,如何能重生?岂能再进母腹生出来么?
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?
3:5 耶稣回答说,我实实在在的告诉你,人若不是从水和灵生的,就不能进神的国。
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.

亮光

三章一节的『但,』指明尼哥底母的事例,与前几节(约二23~25)的事例不同。前面的事例都是人因看见主所行的神迹,才信入祂。主不能将自己信托给这样的人。但尼哥底母的事例,是一件在重生里生命的事。这启示约翰福音不是为着神迹奇事,只是为着生命。

尼哥底母是最上等社会的人,我们需要来看他的德行与品格。首先,他是一位教师,在教育上有最高的成就。他是犹太人的教师,他教导人旧约的圣言。第二,尼哥底母是『犹太人的官,』他的地位相当尊荣,有权柄。第三,他是一位老人,有不少阅历,满了经验。第四,无疑他是道德人,是一位君子。如果你看他说话的方式,你便知道他是有道德的人。第五,尼哥底母也是真正寻求神的人。他虽然有点怕法利赛人,可是他还在夜里来见主耶稣。这指明他是寻求神的。第六,他非常谦卑。尼哥底母也许是六、七十岁的老人;可是他来见不过三十出头的主耶稣。这样一位有经历、受过教育的老人,肯求教于一位比他年轻许多的人,指明他的谦卑。再者,虽然尼哥底母是教师,他却称主耶稣为『拉比。』在犹太人中,称人为拉比,就是说你降卑自己。第七,尼哥底母是个诚实人。他的话说出他的诚实。你能找到比尼哥底母更好的人吗?他是有超等标准,有高超造诣和道德的人。

当尼哥底母来见主耶稣,主就抓住机会启示人类真正的需要。在祂与尼哥底母的对话中,主启示出不管我们有多好,我们仍然需要重生。重生是人的头一个需要。道德的人与不道德的人一样需要重生。

 

Enlightement

The word “But” in 3:1 indicates that the case of Nicodemus differs from the cases in the foregoing verses, 2:23-25. All the cases there are cases of people believing in the Lord because of seeing the miracles He did. The Lord could not commit Himself to such people. But the case of Nicodemus, a case of life in regeneration, reveals that the Gospel of John is not for miraculous things, but only for life. This is why even the miracles done by the Lord are called signs in this book, signifying that the Lord came for life, not for miracles.

Nicodemus was a person of the highest class, and we need to consider his virtues and attributes. Firstly, he was a teacher with the highest attainment in education. As a teacher of the Jews, he taught the Old Testament, the Sacred Word. Secondly, Nicodemus was “a ruler of the Jews.” He had a position with a certain amount of honor and authority. Thirdly, he was an old man. As an old man, he had a good deal of experience. He was a man full of experiences. Fourthly, he was undoubtedly a moral man, a good man. If you look at the way he talked, you will realize that he was a moral man. Fifthly, Nicodemus was a man who was truly seeking after God. Although he was somewhat fearful of the Pharisees, he still came to the Lord Jesus by night. This indicated that he was seeking God. Sixthly, he was very humble. Nicodemus was an old man of perhaps sixty or seventy years of age, yet he came to see the Lord Jesus, who was only a little over thirty years of age. That such an experienced, educated, and elderly man would come to see someone much younger than he indicates his humility. Furthermore, although Nicodemus was a teacher, he addressed the Lord Jesus as Rabbi. Among the Jews, to call a person Rabbi means that you are humbling yourself. Seventhly, Nicodemus was an honest man. His speech reveals his honesty. Can you find a better person than Nicodemus? He was a man of a superior standard, high attainment, and morality.

When Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus, the Lord took the opportunity to reveal the true need of mankind. In His conversation with Nicodemus, the Lord revealed that regardless of how good we are, we still need regeneration. Regeneration is the first need of man. Moral people, as well as immoral people, need regeneration.