In today’s edition of The Vine, a spin off of the Sunday Branch feature, my notes refer to John 3 (Amplified Version).
Currently Listening To:
“Dare to Believe” by Colton Dixon
Note: While most posts will reference the verse that goes with each note, some posts, like this one, will not. You can read John 3 first and then the notes below, vice versa, or interchangeably.
Nicodemus (in the high council of the Pharisees) visited Jesus at night because he didn’t want anyone to see him doing so as the Pharisees were well educated in the law of Moses and had very hardened hearts. They were prideful, pompous, and so on. So for Nicodemus to be seen seeking out Jesus…that wouldn’t be good for his reputation, now would it?
Nicodemus approached God in a delicate, sincere manner asking God questions. It takes Nicodemus awhile to accept Christ. Give people time to chew on the Word. Proverbs says that you can’t reason with a fool. Unless you’re born again, you can’t see things in the spiritual realm. Spirit can be known only by the spirit. Show the spirit. Give people time and space to know the spirit.
Many people hate the light because darkness is an excuse to do we want to do when we don’t want to do the work to grow. The light robs people of the good opinions we have of ourselves. It’s quite something to see how conflicted Nicodemus was. The tug of war here. But the bottom line is…we are limited. Jesus is boundless. God’s gifts to us are boundless. Nicodemus had that revelation eventually and it’s quite something when we have that same revelation. It’s life changing. Truly.
Note: John 7 (50-52) and John 19 (39-40) also tells the story of Nicodemus and Jesus. Talk about a character arc. Nicodemus’s journey is quite fascinating. From seeking out Jesus in the dark to taking care of His body in death.
Being born again = being born into a communion with God
Born again = begin again = see anew =
Take on a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims
God’s aim is your heart. What’s yours?
Tomorrow…John 4.