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by Sandy Shaw
We are in John Chapter 3 and reading of this religious leader, this theological professor, who at that present time was spiritually blind. That is a serious condition for anyone to be in. Nicodemus and Jesus Christ are having a profound conversation. And Jesus has begun to explain to Nicodemus that he requires a radical change and transformation in his life and it would be like being born again, or born anew, or born from above.
Nicodemus asks “How?” Is he saying – I am too old to change? I cannot start all over again, and I have my position to think of. I have my reputation in the community to consider. Many are in this situation. Some prefer to hold onto position and reputation – and spiritual blindness!
Jesus is saying, You must be born again, and you CAN be born again. Nicodemus is so open and honest and unprejudiced. I just do not understand all this. Surely he cannot go back into the womb and emerge anew.
Can you explain the wind? NO! You just feel the invisible power. You hear its sound. Nicodemus it is like that when you are born again of the Spirit of God.
And when things happen spiritually you do not know at the time where it will all lead to, but you do know that is God who is doing the leading.
Again, Nicodemus asks, HOW? Verse 9. Nicodemus, you are Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand these things. What I say to you is true. I am revealing to you truth. I am teaching you about how to experience life!
Do not get your faith second hand. Do not get your experience or opinions second hand, and don’t get your answers second hand.
Nicodemus, I am teaching you about spiritual life here and now. If you do not believe me on this, how will you be able to accept what I say about heaven? Nicodemus, I am going to explain everything to you very simply.
Jesus turns to Numbers Chapter 21 and at verse 4. Jesus always loved to point people to the written Word of God. Jesus has no problem with the Old Testament. Do read the passage because if we do not grasp the significance of what Jesus Christ is explaining here we will miss the whole point of John 3 verse 16!
When Moses was leading the Children of Israel, they became distressed and depressed, and they grumbled against God and against Moses. They spoke against God and they spoke against the man God had given to lead them.
“Why have you brought us here? We have no bread and we have no water! We loathe this MANNA. The Lord God sent a plague of fiery serpents. They bit the people and many of them died.
This is what can happen. Speak against the Lord and the Lord’s servant and you can get bitten! When they came to their senses they confessed to Moses. We have sinned. We have spoken against God and we have spoken against you. Pray to God that He may take away these serpents and Moses prayed.
God said – Make a serpent and put it on a pole, so that everyone can see it, and when anyone is bitten, if he looks to the pole, he shall live.
Verse 9 – Moses did exactly as God had told him.
Jesus said – I will be lifted up, and whoever looks and believes will not perish, but will live eternally. Nicodemus, I am giving you a way to be saved. Look at it and live! Nicodemus, from that cross will flow life. Look to me and I will give you mercy and forgiveness, and healing, and a new beginning.
Just look to ME and I will do the rest.
Old mistakes – sins – grumblings – complaints – failures – even barren teaching – can be forgiven – if you look to ME.
I cannot explain it. All I know is that it works. It is God’s chosen way of saving men and women.
God does not take away all the snakes. They remain to remind the people, but He provides a way to be rescued and saved. “I will hang My Son up on a pole. How unconventional!
Nicodemus, you will see me lifted up, and if you look you will be saved and rescued and forgiven.
Turn to John Chapter 19 and verse 39, where we learn that he looked. Nicodemus is there, helping to carry away the dead body of the crucified Christ, Who within three days is to rise from the dead!
For God so loved, that He allowed His Son to be hung up on a pole – on a tree. Or rather, “For so God loved the world!” This is how God loved the world.
Look and live. Look and believe. Some turn and walk away. Look and live. Look and believe. Look and be born again.
If you have not been born again there will come a day when you will wish you had never been born.
Nicodemus came to Jesus in all kinds of darkness, but the light and love of Jesus Christ broke through, when he looked at the cross – the Saviour on a pole – the Saviour hung up on a tree.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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