Moment with christ

Nicodemus remains at a disadvantage in this conversation with the Master as he asks, “What do you mean?” (v. 9). As a student of the Old Testament, he has never heard of a New Birth. He was looking for the Messiah to come, but to him the Law was all he needed to see God’s Kingdom. He sees the evidence that Jesus could be the Messiah, but now he can’t comprehend the truth of God’s word.
The natural man cannot understand the things of God.The natural man cannot understand the new birth.The natural man cannot see how a new birth will help him to get to heaven.The natural man believes he should have something to do with New Birth. But the New Birth must come from the Spirit, by the Spirit, through the Spirit and because of the Spirit.
I am afraid that the natural man reading this today is not born again. You think you are born from above, but you are still the same old you.
I am afraid that the natural man is all dressed up, but God is still far away from you.
The natural man can’t see that he can’t get to heaven just like he is. He can’t see that the Holy Spirit does not live in the one who has not welcomed him and won’t claim him if He hasn’t been claimed. The Holy Spirit lives nowhere inside the enemy of God, nor does He lead or guide them.The tragedy in this is that you are living a lie. The tragedy in this is that you act religious, but there’s no righteousness within. The tragedy in this is that religion can’t save you and church can’t help you.
“You must be Born again,” born from up above!
In the closing verses, Jesus recognizes that Nicodemus has unbelief! As a teacher of the Old Testament he should have realized the fulfillment of scripture in the coming Messiah.
10Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe us. 12But if you don’t even believe me when I tell you about things that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven? 13For only I, the Son of Man, have come to earth and will return to heaven again. 14And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
Jesus clarifies again for him who he is; “I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe us.” He is speaking for and of the triune God! In this observation, Jesus informs Nicodemus that earth is not his home, but heaven is. And if he does not believe the things he is talking about doing in the earth, how will he understand and believe the things he is doing in heaven.
In closing this conversation Jesus then reveals one last time what his purpose for coming to earth is, and what his plan fully entails in redeeming lost men.
Jesus says ‘I have come down from heaven and will return back again’!Just like Moses, who offered a sacrifice in the wilderness to save man, I have come to be the final sacrifice for mankind.To further drive home his point, Jesus brings up the Old Testament (Num. 21:5-9) in verses 14 and 15 to show Nicodemus his need for a savior and reveal who He truly is; so everyone that believes in Him will be saved and have eternal life.
Nicodemus didn’t get it, but he was looking in the eyes of the Savior.Nicodemus didn’t get it, but he had his moment with the Master.Nicodemus didn’t get it, but one day he would!Nicodemus didn’t see, but one day it would come into view.This was an amazing moment with the Master, and this moment would define and change his entire life. Have you had a moment like this with Jesus? I pray that you have and that the encounter is very real in your soul.
For Christ and His Kingdom.