MUSINGS ON THE BOOK OF JOHN Truth Shared BY CONNIE HECKER JOHN 3: 1-3 NIV Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 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.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
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et there be no doubt. The religious rulers understood the signs. God was speaking to Israel after 400 years of silence. Four hundred years is 15 generations to forget the experiences of history. But those religious scholars had not given up their faith. God would speak again. So, when Jesus showed up, they showed up. Nic (I like to call him that for short) - at night (pun intended) - addresses Jesus as “Rabbi.” Was Nic a seeker? Of what was he certain? He was certain that Jesus was a teacher and that God was with Jesus. Nic also used the words “we know,” showing that other members of the ruling council were also aware that the signs Jesus was doing proved that God was with him. How does Jesus respond to Nic’s statement? Is he questioning Jesus? Challenging Him? Showing honor? Giving an appeal? Jesus skips over all the political implications of who Nicodemus represents
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