Of all good people in the Bible Nicodemus was chosen by Jesus as a good example of religious person. A good man. Highly and well educated in the Holy Scripture. Never missed a prayer meeting. Never missed a temple worship. Paid all his tithes and gave his offerings. A teacher and the model of all good men. What a high standard of righteousness. The one thing wrong in him was he was blind. He could not see the kingdom of God, and of course the God of the kingdom. All he had was religion. He closed his eyes when he prayed to see an imaginary God. He closed his eyes when he worshiped to sing to an imaginary God. Jesus was straight to the point to him and said, “unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Until we can see the kingdom of God all we have is plain religion.