SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/19/2016
10:05 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The
Indictment
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: John 3:9-10
Message of
the verses: “9 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these
things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and
do not understand these things?”
I have mentioned in an earlier SD that Nicodemus was
not a believer at this time, and that is why he came to Jesus, but I am sure
that he did not realize that at this time as the Holy Spirit had directed
Nicodemus to go and talk to Jesus which was a part of the process of him coming
to realize that he was in need of salvation.
Nicodemus did not realize to whom he was talking to for if he did he
probably would not have asked Jesus “How can these things be?” Which brings me to the point of saying that we
as believers ask the Lord the “Why Question” at different times in our walk
with Him, but probably should not do that for since He is our Lord and our
Savior there has to be that element of faith that He will work all things out
for our good and for His glory, although this is very difficult to believe at
times when we are going through difficult times in our lives.
Ok back to Nicodemus and the question that he asks
Jesus and the response that Jesus gives to him.
Nicodemus shows that he had made little progress since verse six and
after all he was “the teacher of Israel,” so one would think that he would
catch on more quickly, but as mentioned in a earlier SD his spiritual condition
was dead just like all people when they are born and so that is the reason he
is not getting it. The problem is that
Nicodemus could not let go of his legalistic religious system and realize that
salvation was a gracious work of God’s Spirit.
John MacArthur writes “Jesus found it inexcusable
that this prominent scholar was not familiar with the foundation new covenant
teaching from the Old Testament regarding the only way of salvation (cf. 2 Tim.
3:15). Sadly, Nicodemus serves as a
clear example of the numbing effect that external, legalistic religion has on a
person’s spiritual perception—even to the point of obscuring the revelation of
God.
Now since Jesus calls Nicodemus “the teacher of
Israel,” and we see the bankruptcy of his faith, how much more can we see this
situation in the people of Israel when Jesus was on the earth, and sadly to say
it has not gotten any better in 2000 years.
Oh yes God still has a remnant of the people of Israel, but the majority
of them do not believe that their Messiah has already come to earth and paid
the price for their sins. Paul writes “1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their
salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in
accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and
seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the
righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
everyone who believes (Romans 10:1-4).”
John MacArthur concludes: “Although nothing in this passage suggests
Nicodemus was converted that evening (and v. 11 strongly implies that he was
not), he never forgot his discussion with Jesus. Later, he boldly defended Him before the
Sanhedrin (7:50-51), and helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare His body for burial
(19:38-39)—actions that indicate the presence of genuine faith in his life. Sometime after the memorable evening he spent
with Jesus but before the crucifixion, Nicodemus came to understand sovereign
grace and experience the reality of the new birth.”
Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes “Nicodemus came ‘by night,’
and he was still in the dark! He could
not understand the new birth even after Jesus had explained it to him. Our Lord stated clearly that Nicodemus’
knowledge of the Old Testament should have given him the light he needed (John
3:10). Alas, ‘the teacher of the Jews’
knew the facts recorded in the
Scriptures, but he could not understand the truths.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: Walking with Jesus is to be done in the same
way that we are born into the family of God that is by grace through faith and
so to understand how we are saved is to understand how we are to walk. Being reminded
of how we are saved should remind us how we are to walk. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him (Col. 2:6),”
My Steps of Faith for Today:
Col. 2:6.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Jonah” (Jonah 1:12).
Today’s Bible question: “Where did the Levites dispose of the
uncleanness found in the temple of the Lord?”
I think we need a hint and so look in the 29th chapter of 2
Chronicles.
Answer in our next SD.
1/19/2016 10:37 AM
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