Let’s continue looking at what Jesus tried to teach Nicodemus in the darkness of that important night as recorded in John 3:1-21. By the way, it’s admirable that Nicodemus came to Jesus, since He probably saw in Jesus the type of teacher he’d like to be. Jesus used the opportunity to equip Nicodemus, for he was a key person to get the leaders of Israel to understand the new dispensation of salvation through Jesus. Jesus Himself worked among the ordinary people, His followers among their peers and Nicodemus was chosen to work among the church leaders of the time. You read these postings, not only as interesting articles, but because the Lord needs you to work among your peers and, even though you may be born again and okay, you may need this kind of direction to teach or help someone else.
“Jesus answered him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (9-15).”
Because John 3:16 is such a well known passage, the message and importance of the passages around it are often missed. Jesus made a significant statement here. Jesus gave Nicodemus the reason why he didn’t understand these things. These were spiritual things which could only be understood by those who were born into the Spirit and received revelation from the Holy Spirit. That’s why He first told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again i.e. born in the Spirit. Even though Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel in the old dispensation (which was the time up to the minute that Jesus started with His ministry), he needed to be born into the Spirit in order to understand the new dispensation. Before Jesus, the Old Testament law applied for salvation, which Nicodemus understood and taught, but now Jesus is the way to salvation, which is why Jesus referred to Himself as having to be lifted up so that those who believe in Him could have eternal life.
Nicodemus had to understand that lifting up Jesus in the Spirit is now the only way to salvation. This fact is the crux of the gospel. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6).” There is no other way for man to be saved. Salvation is not a selfish thing of I accept Jesus because I want to have a good life and go to heaven. It’s about exalting Jesus both on earth and in the spiritual realm by living a God glorifying life.
Lord, I want to lift you up with my lifestyle.
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