Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 3:2

"the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him." — John 3:2 (ASV)

And said to him, Rabbi,

He begins very respectfully, and so far, so good; but then, Judas said, Hail, Master, and kissed Christ, when he went to Gethsemane to betray him.

We know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Dear friends, if any of you do not know all about Christ that you wish to know, or that can be known, make use of what you do know about him. Nicodemus had not yet learned the truth of Christ's Deity, but he knew that he was a teacher sent from God, and that God was with him.

And said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.

It is always well to go as far as you can in your avowal of belief in Christ. Nicodemus confessed what he knew to be true, and he drew from it the thoroughly accurate conclusion that Christ must be a teacher come from God because of the miracles which he performed.

Dear hearer, if you do not yet fully know Christ, take heed that you do not trifle with the truth which you know. If God has taught you a little about him, prize that little, and you shall have more, as we have often said, "He who values moonlight shall yet have sunlight." Thank God if you know as much as Nicodemus knew, and ask him to teach you more.

And said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

He admitted the truth as far as he could see it. The miracles of Christ proved him to be a divinely-commissioned teacher. Always be willing to go as far as you can go in the pursuit of truth. If you cannot see everything at once, see all that you can see. Do not be of a cavilling spirit; be frank and teachable as this man was.

And said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

This was good reasoning on the part of Nicodemus. If he did not at first go as far as he afterwards did, it argued well for him that he went as far as he could. O you who are troubled with unbelief, believe as much as you can; and then cry, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief; and, especially, help me to get rid of it."

Confess to Christ what you believe, and he will add more to your belief.

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

The miracles were accepted as a proof of Christ's mission, and if they do not seem to be quite such a proof to us at this distance, they were a most marvelous and necessary proof at first. Perhaps they have ceased because, once that first work was done, the testimony can now stand upon its own strength, and people reading it may judge it to be from God if they wish. But to Nicodemus it was quite clear that Christ could not have worked his miracles, unless God was with him.