(By Mike Hoskins, mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org)
[Edited]
John 3:7 "Marvel Not that I said unto thee, 'You must be born again.'"
For Nicodemus, the simple truth called to him and still eluded him. He had studied under the finest teachers of the Law. His prayers were as regular and as proper as the clock by which they were measured; morning, midday and evening. His skills of debate were refined by hour upon hour of questioning and reply with his peers and his mentors. But this itinerate Rabbi, from Nazareth of all places, struck a chord deep inside. That chord reverberated inside, an empty place that had never been able to be filled with all the hours of study and the wisdom of his elders.
Taking a considerable risk, his need to fill that hollow space had driven him down dark streets in common clothes. No one who saw him quietly passing from shadow to shadow would know that this was a member of the Council of Elders. If he had been recognized, it would have caused many questions to be raised. His position would be in jeopardy especially if he were caught with this Rabbi Jesus.
And so Nicodemus became an unexpected house guest of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus, as the Son of God, knew that there would be a guest with many questions late this evening. The disciples would be slack-jawed to watch this Doctor of the Law come slipping in through the door. Nicodemus had honest, searching questions, unlike the ones that his fellows would raise. These were not traps set to trick, but probes into a darkness that Nicodemus could not pierce. When Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again he is floored. Totally confused, Nicodemus pensively asks how this can be.
Matt 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
To those who would scoff, or not even entertain the question in their minds, it would never be answered. To those like this man, who would admit that he did not have all the answers, the answer came simply and honestly. "Don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again'" (Mike's paraphrase). Jesus must have said it with a smile. The second birth is of the spirit of God. It is a renewal of the spirit of man that died when Adam and Eve sinned millennia ago in the Garden of Eden. Even though all of us are physically alive, we are born dead in spirit. To be born again is simply to have life restored to your spirit. There is no mystical mumbo-jumbo, nothing you or I can do at all in fact, except ask. If you ask with a sincere heart, Jesus has promised not to turn you away.
John 1:11-13 "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Over the years before Jesus came, the truth had become buried in laws and interpretations of those rules and guidelines. Since then, there has been much the same happen again. The simplicity of God reaching out to mankind with compassion has been lost to most. To the majority of the world, God is a big "Thou Shalt Not" in the sky. Just what any of us need is one more rule book to follow. Who would want to get mixed up in that? But a God who says:
Matt 11:28-30 "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
This is something totally different. When you have a friend helping, everything is easier.
"Lord Jesus, Help us to live out the life of compassion to others that You did. We are not perfect, but help us to better represent You and your grace and mercy to everyone around us. Help those who are seeking, or may be curious to come and ask questions. Give us honest, simple answers to help them understand and experience the new birth that Nicodemus did. Amen."
Note from Chris (based on text written by Mike): For those of you who know this compassionate Jesus, give thanks. Let this Jesus be what shows through Your heart and life to others. If this is not the Jesus you've heard of before and would like to know more, please write. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have including the question Nicodemus had for Jesus. This could be the best gift you have ever received.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: Such a message of hope for our lost world. It convicts me that I need to be showing this Christ to others in my life. I am afraid that has been lacking for quite some time in my life. Thank the Lord that He can cleanse and renew our lives and send us back out to serve Him again.
John 3:7 "Marvel Not that I said unto thee, 'You must be born again.'"
For Nicodemus, the simple truth called to him and still eluded him. He had studied under the finest teachers of the Law. His prayers were as regular and as proper as the clock by which they were measured; morning, midday and evening. His skills of debate were refined by hour upon hour of questioning and reply with his peers and his mentors. But this itinerate Rabbi, from Nazareth of all places, struck a chord deep inside. That chord reverberated inside, an empty place that had never been able to be filled with all the hours of study and the wisdom of his elders.
Taking a considerable risk, his need to fill that hollow space had driven him down dark streets in common clothes. No one who saw him quietly passing from shadow to shadow would know that this was a member of the Council of Elders. If he had been recognized, it would have caused many questions to be raised. His position would be in jeopardy especially if he were caught with this Rabbi Jesus.
And so Nicodemus became an unexpected house guest of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus, as the Son of God, knew that there would be a guest with many questions late this evening. The disciples would be slack-jawed to watch this Doctor of the Law come slipping in through the door. Nicodemus had honest, searching questions, unlike the ones that his fellows would raise. These were not traps set to trick, but probes into a darkness that Nicodemus could not pierce. When Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again he is floored. Totally confused, Nicodemus pensively asks how this can be.
Matt 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
To those who would scoff, or not even entertain the question in their minds, it would never be answered. To those like this man, who would admit that he did not have all the answers, the answer came simply and honestly. "Don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again'" (Mike's paraphrase). Jesus must have said it with a smile. The second birth is of the spirit of God. It is a renewal of the spirit of man that died when Adam and Eve sinned millennia ago in the Garden of Eden. Even though all of us are physically alive, we are born dead in spirit. To be born again is simply to have life restored to your spirit. There is no mystical mumbo-jumbo, nothing you or I can do at all in fact, except ask. If you ask with a sincere heart, Jesus has promised not to turn you away.
John 1:11-13 "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Over the years before Jesus came, the truth had become buried in laws and interpretations of those rules and guidelines. Since then, there has been much the same happen again. The simplicity of God reaching out to mankind with compassion has been lost to most. To the majority of the world, God is a big "Thou Shalt Not" in the sky. Just what any of us need is one more rule book to follow. Who would want to get mixed up in that? But a God who says:
Matt 11:28-30 "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
This is something totally different. When you have a friend helping, everything is easier.
"Lord Jesus, Help us to live out the life of compassion to others that You did. We are not perfect, but help us to better represent You and your grace and mercy to everyone around us. Help those who are seeking, or may be curious to come and ask questions. Give us honest, simple answers to help them understand and experience the new birth that Nicodemus did. Amen."
Note from Chris (based on text written by Mike): For those of you who know this compassionate Jesus, give thanks. Let this Jesus be what shows through Your heart and life to others. If this is not the Jesus you've heard of before and would like to know more, please write. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have including the question Nicodemus had for Jesus. This could be the best gift you have ever received.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: Such a message of hope for our lost world. It convicts me that I need to be showing this Christ to others in my life. I am afraid that has been lacking for quite some time in my life. Thank the Lord that He can cleanse and renew our lives and send us back out to serve Him again.
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