Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 16 October 2017 "Late Night Conversation" by Jonathan Trees - John 3:1-15
John 3:1 There was a man among the P’rushim, named Nakdimon, who was a ruler of the Judeans. 2 This man came to Yeshua by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know it is from God that you have come as a teacher; for no one can do these miracles you perform unless God is with him.” 3 “Yes, indeed,” Yeshua answered him, “I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 Nakdimon said to him, “How can a grown man be ‘born’? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit.”
9 Nakdimon replied, “How can this happen?” 10 Yeshua answered him, “You hold the office of teacher in Isra’el, and you don’t know this? 11 Yes, indeed! I tell you that what we speak about, we know; and what we give evidence of, we have seen; but you people don’t accept our evidence! 12 If you people don’t believe me when I tell you about the things of the world, how will you believe me when I tell you about the things of heaven? 13 No one has gone up into heaven; there is only the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.
-------John 3:1 There was a man among the P’rushim, named Nakdimon, who was a ruler of the Judeans. 2 This man came to Yeshua by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know it is from God that you have come as a teacher; for no one can do these miracles you perform unless God is with him.” 3 “Yes, indeed,” Yeshua answered him, “I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 Nakdimon said to him, “How can a grown man be ‘born’? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit.”
9 Nakdimon replied, “How can this happen?” 10 Yeshua answered him, “You hold the office of teacher in Isra’el, and you don’t know this? 11 Yes, indeed! I tell you that what we speak about, we know; and what we give evidence of, we have seen; but you people don’t accept our evidence! 12 If you people don’t believe me when I tell you about the things of the world, how will you believe me when I tell you about the things of heaven? 13 No one has gone up into heaven; there is only the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.
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You could not have slapped the smile off my face! It was permanent. Remembering the birth of my girls brings that same smile back every time. My joy comes from the amazement of observing the birth. As if in one moment, I caught a glimpse of life at its most perfect: birth and new life.
The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3 took place in the darkness of night, a living demonstration of John 1: "The light shines in darkness and darkness has not understood it" (verse 5). Night symbolized the misunderstanding many religious people had concerning Jesus. Nicodemus sincerely attempted to understand Jesus and his mission.
Jesus directed their conversation to the universal event of birth, then went beyond physical birth to the mystery of spiritual rebirth. This recalls the Genesis 2 creation story, where God breathed life into His creation, and God's promise through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you . . .And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (36:25, 27). The work of God's Spirit brings new life: amazing, joyous, and surprising life!
Jesus directed their conversation to the universal event of birth, then went beyond physical birth to the mystery of spiritual rebirth. This recalls the Genesis 2 creation story, where God breathed life into His creation, and God's promise through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you . . .And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (36:25, 27). The work of God's Spirit brings new life: amazing, joyous, and surprising life!
Hymn for Today:
"Breathe on me, Breath of God" by Edwin Hatch
1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with yours,
to do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with you the perfect life
for all eternity.
Thought for Today:
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!(2 Corinthians 5:17}
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Nicaragua.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with yours,
to do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with you the perfect life
for all eternity.
Thought for Today:
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!(2 Corinthians 5:17}
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Nicaragua.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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