“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was A PHARISEE. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus.” (John 3:1) He came to Jesus at night because most of the religious leaders were ANGRY WITH JESUS because, “In the Temple area HE DROVE OUT the merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; He also drove out the dealers at tables exchanging foreign money…He told them to, “Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” (John 2:14-16)
Nicodemus said, “Rabbi, we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that GOD IS WITH YOU.” (John 3:2) Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, unless you are BORN AGAIN, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) That puzzled Nicodemus and he wanted to know how an old man could return to his mother’s womb?
Jesus answered him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (natural birth) and the Spirit (spiritual birth), he cannot enter the kingdom of God…So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.‘” (John 3:5-7)
This Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee said, “How can these things be? (Jesus said,) “…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…” (John 3:9, 14) Then Jesus made this very profound statement, “For God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him MIGHT BE SAVED.” (John 3:16-17)
SAVED, BORN AGAIN, REDEEMED, FORGIVEN, HAVE ETERNAL LIFE…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham