What would you think if someone was coming by night to meet with a controversial figure? Perhaps not much. We do a lot by night with our electric lights. (Sometime I wish we could do sun-up to sun-down days.) But in Jesus day, night was dark. That might sound really obvious, but I’d be willing to bet many of us have not experienced this kind of darkness in a while with all the ambient light – aka light pollution – we have in a community like ours.
Nicodemus comes by night because he is hiding. He is hiding from his fellow members of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish High Council. They’ve heard about Jesus. Some people see him as a false-Messiah who needs to be dealt with. Some of those leaders see him as a dangerous and aggravating teacher who needs to be gotten rid of. Nicodemus, however, is intrigued – but doesn’t want anyone to know it! Knowing Jesus could ruin his reputation.
He comes to get answers, but he leaves with more than he expected. Jesus talks to him about being born again, about the Spirit doing what it wants (not what we expect), about the purpose of the Son of Man (to be lifted up), and about God’s love (which is so great He gave his only Son).
Make no mistake! Jesus is intentionally challenging Nicodemus and shaking the foundations of his faith. He knows that Nicodemus is a teacher in Israel. He knows he has some wrong ideas of who God is and how He deals with His people. Jesus also knows his own purpose – to help people to know God and how much He loves us.
At this time the Jewish faith consisted largely of trying to keep God’s Laws perfectly. Much of what was taught was about morality and behavior. Nicodemus had probably taught many lessons on those topics. Jesus now looks him in the eye and says, “It isn’t about what you do, it’ about what I will do.”
God loved the world. God gave the Son. For what purpose? So we might believe. God does not want to condemn the world. God wants to save the world. How will that happen? The Son of Man will be lifted up on the cross and die for our sins.
People have always been drawn to the idea that we have to earn our salvation. It’s just not so. Salvation is a gift from God – it’s 100% his work. The focus is not on our behavior but on God’s love and what He does!
Now, am I saying that what Nicodemus taught about moral living and good works didn’t matter? No. But these flow from having received God’s love. Salvation changes us. Knowing God and knowing His love for us is a new birth, it’s new life. Receiving Jesus’ salvation is like stepping out of the dark into the light. We can see. But the behavior flows from the faith that receives God’s gift – Jesus – His one and only Son.
Meditate on that today. Are you trying to do things to earn God’s love? Is God shaking your foundations? Are there some preconceived notions that the Holy Spirit is challenging in your life? Perhaps you will walk away changed like Nicodemus did.
How do I know Nicodemus changed? He came out into the open. When Jesus was crucified, he helped bury the body. I wonder if he thought back to this conversation then – and again when the news came that Jesus had risen. After all, the wind blows where it wishes, and you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus comes by night because he is hiding. He is hiding from his fellow members of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish High Council. They’ve heard about Jesus. Some people see him as a false-Messiah who needs to be dealt with. Some of those leaders see him as a dangerous and aggravating teacher who needs to be gotten rid of. Nicodemus, however, is intrigued – but doesn’t want anyone to know it! Knowing Jesus could ruin his reputation.
He comes to get answers, but he leaves with more than he expected. Jesus talks to him about being born again, about the Spirit doing what it wants (not what we expect), about the purpose of the Son of Man (to be lifted up), and about God’s love (which is so great He gave his only Son).
Make no mistake! Jesus is intentionally challenging Nicodemus and shaking the foundations of his faith. He knows that Nicodemus is a teacher in Israel. He knows he has some wrong ideas of who God is and how He deals with His people. Jesus also knows his own purpose – to help people to know God and how much He loves us.
At this time the Jewish faith consisted largely of trying to keep God’s Laws perfectly. Much of what was taught was about morality and behavior. Nicodemus had probably taught many lessons on those topics. Jesus now looks him in the eye and says, “It isn’t about what you do, it’ about what I will do.”
God loved the world. God gave the Son. For what purpose? So we might believe. God does not want to condemn the world. God wants to save the world. How will that happen? The Son of Man will be lifted up on the cross and die for our sins.
People have always been drawn to the idea that we have to earn our salvation. It’s just not so. Salvation is a gift from God – it’s 100% his work. The focus is not on our behavior but on God’s love and what He does!
Now, am I saying that what Nicodemus taught about moral living and good works didn’t matter? No. But these flow from having received God’s love. Salvation changes us. Knowing God and knowing His love for us is a new birth, it’s new life. Receiving Jesus’ salvation is like stepping out of the dark into the light. We can see. But the behavior flows from the faith that receives God’s gift – Jesus – His one and only Son.
Meditate on that today. Are you trying to do things to earn God’s love? Is God shaking your foundations? Are there some preconceived notions that the Holy Spirit is challenging in your life? Perhaps you will walk away changed like Nicodemus did.
How do I know Nicodemus changed? He came out into the open. When Jesus was crucified, he helped bury the body. I wonder if he thought back to this conversation then – and again when the news came that Jesus had risen. After all, the wind blows where it wishes, and you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
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