John 3 part 1: Jesus Teaches a Religious Leader

John 3: 1-12

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

 ³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

 ⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

 ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are 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 Very truly I tell you, 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?

Daniel’s Thoughts:

In Jesus’ ministry he spoke and interacted with Jew, Gentile, “sinner” and Pharisee. Jesus taught the religious elite of the day particularly the Pharisees. Jesus and the Pharisees may have had similar theology but Jesus calls into question their heart and application of their understanding of God and his word.

In this passage Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Pharisee what it means to be born again of water and of the Spirit. Yet Nicodemus does not understand. Even a religious leader of the time who knew the law intimately failed to understand one of many lessons Jesus had for us. As Jesus asks, how can you understand more even heavenly things if you can not understand this?

What does this say for us today? How are we the church and Christians hard hearted. What lessons does Jesus have for us today. Are we open to listen? Do we really believe in what Jesus says and not what we want Jesus to say?

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Humble us

To listen and hear you

To seek your will and wisdom

Not ours.

As the church and Christians

Help us to listen for what

You say Jesus

 in scripture

And in our life

In our life of prayer

Not to what we want

or think you meant

But only to you Lord!

Amen