Sons and Daughters of the Living God (2)

Wednesday, July 29: John 3:1 – 15

            What do you see in this passage? Are there any mysteries here?

            Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council and a teacher – so in one sense he was well – versed in what we call the Old Testament, but perhaps in another sense he wasn’t so well - versed. What Jesus had to tell Nicodemus created a struggle within Nicodemus, yet, unlike many of Nicodemus’s peers who rejected Jesus, Nicodemus struggled in good faith to understand what Jesus was saying. Nicodemus didn’t attack Jesus as many other Jewish leaders and teachers did – here is an example for us; when we don’t understand something we can trust our Father and Lord Jesus to help us understand and experience the Word and to draw us deeper into themselves. (Note John 7:50 – 51, and 19:38 – 42 – Nicodemus became a disciple of Jesus).

            Here again the idea of “birth” is presented. There is a whole other “world” beyond what our natural eyes see, the Kingdom of God, but to see this kingdom we have to be born again, or born from above, which means being “born of the Spirit”.

            Note the principle of verse 6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Compare this with John 1:13.

            Also compare with John 6:63 where Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

            We are dealing with our “core identity” here. Are we flesh or spirit?

            What’s is your wallet? Who are you?