Friday 12 December, 2014

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John 3:1-10

3 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish rulers. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. We know that God is with you. If he weren’t, you couldn’t do the miraculous signs you are doing.” 3 Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can see God’s kingdom without being born again.” 4 “How can I be born when I am old?” Nicodemus asked. “I can’t go back inside my mother! I can’t be born a second time!” 5 Jesus answered, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can enter God’s kingdom without being born through water and the Holy Spirit. 6 People give birth to people. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised when I say, ‘You must all be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wants to. You hear the sound it makes. But you can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born through the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus. “Don’t you understand these things?

Jesus had gotten some attention from the ruling council. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and a member of the council. He paid a visit to Jesus at night and said “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God…”

Jesus replied frankly to Nicodemus “…no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”, even though Nicodemus is a man of influence, a ruler, he was so confused by what Jesus was telling him.

After saying “No one … unless he is born of water and the Spirit”, Jesus told Nicodemus you should not surprised at my saying, because flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

The challenge of this passage to me is:

  1. Do I always speak to others frankly, no matter if they are in a high position or not?
  2. How many times do I see the things by flesh not by Spirit?
  3. Am I ashamed of being a Christian and only talk about Jesus by “night”?

Dear Lord, thank you for your word which always reminds me to see the world by the Spirit and not by flesh. Help me to be your witness in private and public. Amen.

Written by Allen Liu

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