John 3:9
ESV
Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
NIV
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
NASB
Nicodemus responded and said to Him, 'How can these things be?'
CSB
"How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus.
NLT
How are these things possible?' Nicodemus asked.
KJV
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
NKJV
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
What does John 3:9 mean?
Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin court. He is well educated, intelligent, and extremely interested in moral behavior. He knows the law of Moses and the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures very well. At the same time, Nicodemus came to Jesus looking for answers. In verse 2, he indicated that seeing miracles is what led him to believe Jesus was from God. However, as a Pharisee, his perspective is very legalistic.From Nicodemus's point of view, what Jesus is saying about "the flesh" and "the Spirit," or being "born again" is completely upside down. What Nicodemus needs to realize is that knowledge and moral behavior aren't enough to make him right with God. So long as he thinks he can make things right by himself, he's going to be lost. So, Jesus lovingly humbles the renowned teacher. Jesus even points out that despite Nicodemus being a "teacher" of Israel, his knowledge is clearly incomplete (John 3:10).
John 2:24—3:15 describes a meeting between Jesus and a Pharisee. The last two verses of chapter two highlight the fact that Jesus knew men better than they knew themselves. Nicodemus was the ancient equivalent of a politician, cleric, and professor all rolled into one. Jesus proves that this man doesn't understand religion as well as he'd like to think. In contrast to the loud, public spectacle of clearing the temple, this encounter is a private, nighttime meeting. Their actual conversation was probably longer than the summary recorded here.
John chapter 3 is one of the most important passages in the entire gospel. Many crucial ideas are explained here, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud, public commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion. The speakers are Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who is sincerely interested in understanding Jesus' ministry. These verses make it clear that Christ—and Christ alone—is the means of salvation for the entire world. This text also states that those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.
