John 2:23 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
This verse sets the context for the story of Nicodemus in John, chapter 3. Jesus also knows what is in Nicodemus' heart. Jesus knows that as a Pharisee, Nicodemus was emersed in law as the means to righteousness and acceptance by God.
Jesus, therefore, knew that although Nicodemus had achieved great success in the world, yet Nicodemus had be a hypocrite because no one can reach righteousness by the law.
Probably Nicodemus felt the incongruity between what was in his heart and his outward appearance in the world. Thus, he came to Jesus - probably because he was among those who had seen Jesus' miracles.
Jesus knows that rather than try harder, Nicodemus had to start over on an entirely different foundation - the foundation of the faith of a child.
Jesus, therefore, said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again. And from verse 5, born of the water and the spirit.
Jesus is referencing Ezekiel 36:25-28
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
What Nicodemus needs is a new heart given by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what all people need. No person can find righteousness in themselves. All people must be born again if they are even to see the kingdom of God.
Finally, Jesus points the cross via that serpent lifted up in the wilderness.
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I am thankful for the privilege of being able to help care for the souls of God's people wherever they may be. Even being a very small part of applying the healing balm of the gospel to a lost world is a blessing beyond imagining.
Being married to my wife, Pam, for 42 years, we...
