with limited belief.”2 In fact, commentaries are nearly unanimous on this point.3 The general reconstruction goes something like this: Nicodemus comes to Jesus with a genuine openness, acknowledging that Jesus is credentialed by God. He seems to be guilty of nothing more than befuddlement before a confusing revelation, a befuddlement the reader can easily understand! At the end, Nicodemus does not argue with Jesus or depart in protest. He simply throws up his hands, asking helplessly, “How can this