God is the sovereign ruler of His Kingdom. Although He rules with absolute authority, it is tempered with love and grace. It is His pleasure to bestow favor, the riches of His Kingdom on those who are willing to abide by His Truth.
It was this search for the Truth that compelled Nicodemus to secretly visit Jesus. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin— the ruling body of Judaism and its highest court. His wealth, influence and association with Jesus’s most critical and vocal opponents made a secret meeting under the cover of darkness his only option.
The signs, wonders and miracles performed by Jesus had convinced Nicodemus that God had indeed sent Jesus. Discerning Nicodemus’s desire to know how he too could personally experience the miraculous. Jesus told Nicodemus that to see the Kingdom of God one had to be born again.
Nicodemus was dumbfounded. How could he be born when he was already old? How could he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?
Jesus gently responded. “I tell you for certain that before you can get into God’s Kingdom. You must be born not only by water but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet, only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don’t be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God’s Spirit gives new life.”
Nicodemus was still mystified as are many today. How is this possible? How can God change a man of flesh into someone who resides in the supernatural realm— in God’s Kingdom? One has only to believe that Jesus was sent from heaven to earth as an expression of the Father’s love for all of mankind.
“For this is how God loved the world. He gave His one and only Son. So that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Although Scripture never documents Nicodemus’ conversion, he became a follower of Christ. It was Nicodemus who personally provided the expensive spices that were used to anoint Jesus’s body following His crucifixion. This act of love and devotion would never have been possible if Nicodemus’s heart had not been transformed by God’s Truth and His grace. No longer dwelling in the darkness. Nicodemus now lived in the Light of the Kingdom— in Christ because he chose to abandon deceit and embrace God’s Truth.
May it be with each of you today!
John 3:5-8 Contemporary English Version
John 3:16-17 New Living Translation
Thanks for listening to my voice! Feel free to like and share it with your friends.
Have a great day! Rita
Be the VOICE heard amidst the deafening sound of sameness!
letsloveothers 