-To the Jew First
Ezekiel 36:22-38

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council."
--(John 3:1)

The nighttime conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus is recorded only in this Gospel, falling just before John 3:16 and the story of the Samaritan woman. Here Jesus is telling Nicodemus of his need to be born from above, or 'born again' (the Greek word actually can mean both). Nicodemus should have recognized the Messiah because of Old Testament passages he surely had studied and memorized. Jesus' words about being born from the Spirit should have made Nicodemus at least consider, "Is this the One?"

Jesus also reminded him that as Moses raised the serpent in the wilderness to save those that were bitten by a snake (Numbers 21:8-9), so also the Son of Man would be lifted up. The raising of the serpent on the pole gave life to those who were doomed to die, and now the Son of Man would be lifted up on the cross and give life to many, including us.

We have the privilege and blessing of being able to understand the full meaning of Jesus' words to Nicodemus when we look on Jesus and believe.
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"...The Gospel...is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)