day 3
Closer to Jesus
Closer to Jesus
Jesus teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’
3 Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’
4 ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’
5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.”
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’
9 ‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked.
10 ‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things?
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
13 No-one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John testifies again about Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptised.
23 Now John also was baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptised.
24 (This was before John was put in prison.)
25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.
26 They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – look, he is baptising, and everyone is going to him.’
27 To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
28 You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.”
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.’
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no-one accepts his testimony.
33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
People admire old wise men and often seek advice, especially during the hard moments of their lives. Nicodemus was an old rabbi. Not once did people turn to him for help in their turmoil, but now Nicodemus had questions himself. Since this young rabbi Jesus appeared, he couldn’t find peace. He was so radical in what He said and did, yet it was clear no one could perform that kind of signs if God were not with Him. As dangerous as it felt, one night Nicodemus took the risk to meet with Jesus.
“I see Your signs, but Who are You? What is it all about? I don’t understand.” Nicodemus’ eyes were not able to distinguish Jesus through the spiritual dark. He needed enlightenment. He needed help. An old man needed to be born again. Praise God, he eventually did!
When we read Jesus’ explanations to Nicodemus about what is needed to see the Kingdom of God, we enter the realm of “things from above”. This kind of wisdom leads you to believe in the Son of God and, by believing in Him, to life eternal.
Remember the day when you believed in Jesus Christ. Who led you to faith? What circumstances did God arrange in your life so you could understand the “things above”? Ask Jesus: “What do You have in Your Word for me today?” Listen and pray.
📖 INTERCESSION
“ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. “
1 Peter 1:23
🙏 PRAYER
Ask the Holy Spirit to remove the spiritual veils that hinder people from understanding the Gospel.
Ask that for your city, for your country, for your continent, and the whole world.
Continue praying for the people on your list. Continue praying for the miracles on your list.