An interview
with the Lord Jesus
Most
successful men seek to have power over others. Often done by force, sometimes
by political intrigue . Jesus was different. When they wanted to make Him a
king, he walked away. (John 6)
John
chapter 3 is very helpful to understand the mission of the Lord Jesus. It
records an interview with a very religious man. Nicodemus was a teacher of Moses’s law. Nicodemus acknowledged
Jesus as a man sent by God and Jesus replied – “ Unless a person is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.” To the puzzled teacher , Jesus explained- 'we
are born in the flesh (with all its
sinful tendencies), and we need to be born of the spirit ( with its heavenly
connection)'. Nicodemus was astounded to
know that all his religious works were not valid if he wanted to be accepted by
God.
Jesus then
revealed the true way. He said that no one can go up into heaven except himself,
the son of man, who had come down from heaven. He claimed to be able to speak
about things in heaven because he came from there.
In the
conversation, Jesus said that for people to be born again of the spirit,
something else must happen. Just as Moses had put a brass snake up on a pole
many years before, so Jesus, the son of man, must be lifted up on a cross. Then
Jesus made a promise, ‘all who believe in Him would have eternal life’.
The
record later describes Nicodemus seeing Jesus lifted up on the cross, and he believed
in Him, not so much as a king, but as the Saviour who died to take our sins
away and gives eternal life .(John 19)
To
understand that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us, makes all the difference. By
His death we receive forgiveness, born again by the Holy Spirit to live in
love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and
self control. That is so different to living in the flesh, the natural way. (Galatians
5)
Even
better it is to know that Jesus lives.
Today, look at the death of Jesus in this way and be
blest.
johnmckee@internode.on.net
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