READING: 2 Kings 15-16, John 3:1-18
“Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
I wonder why Nicodemus chose the nighttime to come to Jesus. It wasn’t like Jesus was hiding somewhere during the day. In John’s gospel, the “night” often suggests spiritual darkness, so perhaps the night visit was figuratively indicative of Nicodemus’ heart at the time of his encounter with Jesus. Maybe he, being a Pharisee, came at night because he didn’t want his fellow Pharisees to see him with Jesus. The night is the best time to visit if you want a “secret” meeting.
Or, he might have simply wanted some private time with Jesus, and he could not get that time during the day. The crowds around Jesus simply prohibited it without great effort. I even wonder if Nicodemus’ soul was simply in an uproar, perhaps under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It’s really hard to sleep when the Spirit’s dealing with you. Whatever the reason for his coming, this religious leader came to Jesus after hearing something about Him: “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him” (John 3:2). Word about Jesus’ power had reached Nicodemus, and that word was enough to drive him to find Jesus at night.
There, Nicodemus learned that his first birth was not sufficient to be God’s child. True, he was a Jew, one of God’s chosen people. He was a Pharisee, in fact, a significant religious leader of that day. So strongly, though, did Jesus want him to know his need for redemption that He immediately hammered him with the call to be born again. Nicodemus started the conversation by seemingly complimenting Jesus as one “come from God,” but Jesus did not respond with a “thank you.” Instead, He likely surprised Nicodemus with His forceful statement about the need to be born again. He did not try to build a relationship with him. Nor did He seek a means to transition the conversation to the gospel. Instead, He simply gave him this truth: “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
John 3 does not tell us whether Nicodemus responded to Jesus in faith, but we do know that he heard the gospel call to be born again. “Nicodemus,” Jesus said, “your birth as a Jew is not enough; you must have another birth from on high.”
Today, I am grateful for the 12-year-old classmate who blatantly and forcefully told me that I needed to be born again. God knew that I needed to hear the gospel “in my face,” and He sent just the right person to do the job. I praise Him for that gift.
ACTION STEPS:
- Ask God to keep you awake tonight if you need to turn back to Him.
- If you are born again, praise Him for the gift of life He has given you.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for giving me eternal life. I do not deserve it.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 17-18, John 3:19-36
