By Dennis Edwards: YouTube Link Good morning. I am going to start today's meditation walking along the river here. I just ran 5 kilometers. Now, I'm going to do a leisurely walk along the river. Today's meditation is going to be on John chapter 3 verses 1-8 and 16-21.
Now this meditation, this chapter in John we see Nicodemus, well let's just start the meditation.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou does, except God be with him.[1]
The first thing we see is that Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. Why? Because he is ashamed to be seen with Him, because he (Nicodemus) is a ruler of the Jews and an important person in the society, in the government, the religious government, the religious and secular government, because the Sanhedrin did both in the Jews. So they were both the religious and secular government. So he's afraid, he doesn't want to be seen with Jesus, because this guy is from a sect, a cult. There's been other guys before Him that claimed to be the Messiah and they all turned out to be false, you know. So here's another Messiah claiming, and He's got a group of followers and He's brainwashed them and they are all going around and He somehow manages to perform some miracles, and which Nicodemus admits, "as we know you are a teacher that nobody can do things that your doing except God be with Him." So he's a bit bewildered because on the one side, he doesn't want to be seen with Jesus, but on the other side, he wants to find out more information. What is it with this guy?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.[2]
Nicodemus thinking in the natural says,
How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?[3]
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. that which is born of the flesh is flesh;[4]
Some people say that this means the water birth is referring to the flesh, when you're in your mother, you're in a water sack and the water breaks and out you come. Some theological professors say that this natural birth is related to the water birth and the second birth is of the birth of the Spirit.
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[5]
which is when you have the spiritual rebirth, the spiritual experience, the awakening, which many people experience in their lives. If you haven't, then I would encourage you to seek for it. Jesus says,
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind blows where it lists, and thou hears the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and wither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.[6]
Here's the most, one of the most famous verses in the Bible,
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, (Good Morning), that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God.[7]
So the question is in this morning's meditation,.. Are we coming to the light? Are we coming to the light of God's Word? Are we coming to the light of God's Spirit?..that enlightens our heart, enlightens our mind and exposes our sin and causes us to call upon the Lord? because the Bible says he that calls upon the Lord, they that call upon the Lord shall be saved.[8]
Are you calling upon the Lord? Have you called upon the Lord? We all need to call upon the Lord. He is our salvation. He is our help and He wants to be with us. He wants to be with you. He wants to help you today. Call upon Him. Don't just come to Him by night. Don't be ashamed to be seen with Him. But be like Apostle Paul who said,
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.[9]
Notes:
[1] John 3:1-2
[2] John 3:3
[3] John 3:4
[4] John 3:5-6a
[5] John 3:6b
[6] John 3:7-8
[7] John 3:16-21
[8] Romans 10:13
[9] Romans 1:16
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