3:1
Nicodemus was both a Pharisee and a member of the ruling council, the Sanhedrin. Most times when Pharisees and the Sanhedrin are mentioned it is in a negative context, this is one of the exceptions.
So Nicodemus was a privileged and influential man. So why is he coming to see Jesus? We should also be aware that because a particular group of people or organisation has a certain viewpoint, it does not mean that all people in that group have the same standpoint.
3:2
Nicodemus had come at night. Now in John’s gospel night normally has bad connotations, night being a time when one cannot see properly. Nicodemus had probably come at night because he did not want the rest of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin to know what he was doing.
We also see that the public face of the Pharisees was not revealing everything that they thought. The opposition and suspicion of Jesus was not the whole story. Nicodemus refers to Jesus as a Rabbi, recognising His teaching role. Notice that Nicodemus says we know. It was not a peculiarity of Nicodemus to realise that there was something special about Jesus. As well as knowing He was a teacher, they also knew He was from God. Now remember all the opposition that Jesus received, leading ultimately to the cross. The Pharisees could not say that they were acting out of complete ignorance, they knew there was something special about Jesus, and they could have chosen to seek to learn from Him if they had wanted to. Instead they chose to oppose Him. In the same way just because atheists make bold and proud statements, on the last day it will be shown that they were without excuse, despite all their protestations.
It was the signs that Jesus did that convinced them He was special. The miracles are important, for they show who Jesus is.
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