We continue our way through the book of John. And my prayer today is that we abandon our belief in ourselves and others and look to Him for all things that He may open our eyes and guide us to understanding of His will.
Jhn 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jhn 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jhn 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Jhn 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
Jhn 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
- What does Nicodemus’s question in verse 9 demonstrate?
- What does the solemn statement made in verse 10 demonstrate?
- What is the contrast is between earthly things and heavenly things?
- What attributes of God is present in verse 13?
So far already in this chapter we see in plain English the necessity of the new birth of the Spirit. Within this analogy we also see the Lord demonstrate and explain the characteristics and nature of the flesh and the holiness of God. We see without doubt in the phrasing that regeneration was not a process of or an improving in, but a sovereign work and an all-together new birth of a new creation in Christ. We see with the simplicity of His speech the likened of the Spirit to the wind and how it amplifies the sovereignty and immutability of God. All this while keeping in mind He is speaking to a master and teacher of the Jews. This was a man who most likely knew and memorized much of the Old Testament. And though it taught solely of God and he heard all these things Christ spoke he understood and believed nothing. What is the reason for man’s ignorance and stupidity? How humbling or shocking this can be. How it demonstrates the boosting of men in their belief in their own wisdom or pride to think they have a free will that could choose God. With all the evidence and scripture the natural man without God’s intercession is still deaf, dumb, and blind and will remain in darkness and desire to rest there. I pray God will be the light and through Him we may hear, know, and see (Prov 4:19, Eph 4:18).
