John 3:1-17
Jesus and Nicodemus
3 There was a Pharisee
named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. 2 He came to Jesus at
night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from
God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with
him.”
3 Jesus answered, “I
assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s
kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus asked, “How is
it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb
for a second time and be born, isn’t it?”
5 Jesus answered, “I
assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible
to enter God’s kingdom. 6 Whatever is born of the
flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised that
I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 God’s Spirit blows
wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from
or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said, “How are
these things possible?”
10 Jesus answered, “You are
a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? 11 I assure you that we
speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you don’t
receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about
earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about
heavenly things? 13 No one has gone up to
heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. 14 Just as Moses lifted up
the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up 15 so that everyone who
believes in him will have eternal life. 16 God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish
but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son
into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through
him.[1]
Reflection:
Many of us have something in
our life that we know really well and like to spend time doing. I always find it amazing when I
learn something new about something I thought I already knew a lot about. I can
only imagine how Nicodemus felt when Jesus gave him a new understanding of God.
Perhaps Nicodemus was already nervous, if not scared, about speaking to Jesus
since he came to him secretly at night. Then Jesus points out that God moves
according to God’s plans not ours. I am not sure if Nicodemus grasped what
Jesus was telling him, but I think Jesus was challenging him to face his fears
and to follow God’s movement despite the other religious leaders.
Reflection Questions:
Morning: How have you seen God move in your community?
Noon: What are some ways you can support the movement of God?
Evening: How will you join God’s movement in your community?
Morning: How have you seen God move in your community?
Noon: What are some ways you can support the movement of God?
Evening: How will you join God’s movement in your community?
Prayer:
Lord, help
us to face our fears and follow you.
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