The Pharisee was surprised out of his self-possession by these words, the meaning of which he partially comprehended; for he had heard John the Baptist preach repentance and baptism, and also the coming of One who should baptize with the Holy Ghost. Nicodemus had long felt that there was a want of spirituality among the Jews; that bigotry, pride, and worldly ambition guided their actions in a great measure. He had hoped for a better state of things when the Messiah should come. But he was looking for a Saviour who would set up a temporal throne in Jerusalem, and who would gather the Jewish nation under his standard, bringing the Roman power into subjection by force of arms. {2SP 127.1}

Farisæerne blev forbavset og tabte sin fatning ved disse ord, hvis betydning han til dels forstod; thi han havde hørt Johannes døber, da han prædikede omvendelsens dåb og vidnede om den, der skulle komme efter ham, som skulle døbe med Helligånden. Nikodemus havde længe følt, at der var stor mangel på åndelighed blandt jøderne, og at hykleri, stolthed og verdslig ærgerrighed i en høj grad havde ledt deres handlinger. Han havde håbet, at der ville blive en bedre tilstand, når Messias kom; men han ventede på en Frelser, som skulle oprette en jordisk trone i Jerusalem, og som ville samle det jødiske folk under sit banner og undertvinge det romerske rige med våbenmagt.