There are some interesting contrasts and parallels between the Gospel narrative concerning John the Baptizer (John 1) and the Pharisee named Nicodemus (John 3). All Scripture quotes are from the NASB-1995.
Apostle John’s description of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the spiritual battle | Jesus-Nicodemus Conversation |
| John 1:6 “There came a man from God, whose name was John” John—sent from God The Baptizer came to draw people to repentance, in order that they live faith-saving, God-honoring lives. | John 3:1-2 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees , named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night” Nicodemus—went to God [John 17:5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was] Being a Pharisee was not wrong, but the emphasis on separation led many of them to negate and neglect the heart aspect of God’s Law, and thus to reject the prophesied Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) |
| John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” | John 3:3,6 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” |
| John 1:5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” | John 3:19-20 “his is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” |
| John 1:7-9 “He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” | John 3:21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” |
