Wednesday, March 4Psalm 119:49-72
Deuteronomy 9:13-21
Hebrews 3:12-19
We can imagine the shock of Nicodemus in being met in the seemingly abrupt manner by Jesus when he approached him at night. He was after all, "Israel's teacher"! He had risked his reputation and standing to come to speak personally with Jesus. He was just in the process of presenting his introduction to his conversation with this new Rabbi when he was cut off by Jesus saying this extraordinary thing - "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".
I can imagine his inner turmoil, when all of his rehearsed objections and arguments evaporated in the face of what Jesus had to say. His reply revealed his insight. Could the established system of religion that he represented as a Pharisee be totally renewed? Could he as a person enter into a completely new way of understanding his life and his ministry?
Of course what Jesus was saying wasn't new! Rather, He was cutting to the essence of what it meant to live in the fulfillment of the prophetic promises of God revealed throughout the Old Testament concerning the kingdom of God. The Messiah would usher in a newness of life that entailed a life in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a dimension of life that would be extended to all who would respond to him in faith as their Lord and savior. The Old Testament offices of priest, prophet, and king were all to be revealed in the person of the Messiah. He would be the first fruits of the new creation.
Jesus was to be lifted up on the cross to bring life to those who looked to Him in faith just as the snake had been lifted in the desert to spare the lives of the Israelites.
This Nicodemus knew. What he had difficulty in understanding was that this newness of life was actually appearing before him in the person amd teaching of Jesus. His life and heart were being changed forever. This was the Nicodemus who later had the courage to defend Jesus before the Sanhedrin, (John 7 50-52) and who prepared his body for burial (John 19: 38-42)
This was truly a man who came in the night, but who was met by the light.
Pastor Linda
John 2:23-3:15
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
No comments:
Post a Comment