Read This: John 3:1-3

A non-sequitur is a statement that doesn’t logically follow from the previous statement.

Nicodemus wouldn’t have come to Jesus if he wasn’t looking for something. He was trying to understand who Jesus was. God must have sent him because he’s doing things only God can do.

“Acts of God” were nothing new. The Scriptures were full of such stories, from His creation of the universe to His delivering their nation from Egypt. God provided for them in the wilderness, protected them from their enemies, and revealed His presence through the prophets. There were stories about jars of oil not running out, multiplying food to feed groups of people, and facing kings down with righteous indignation. Nicodemus recognized in Jesus the power and authority of God.

The difference was, God typically communicated His will and revealed His power through men — and He had promised to send another such man in the future. A Messiah, who would restore the kingdom of Israel. God’s king, God’s kingdom.

When you read Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus’s question, it seems a non-sequitur. Actually, it was exactly what Nicodemus was looking for — but could not yet see.