Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” -John 3:1-3 NRSV
Without a doubt this chapter of John is my favorite in holy writ. I love this conversation between a leader of the Jews and the King of the Jews. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was a great teacher. He also acknowledged that he was a man sent from God. In saying this he uttered what so many have said about Christ since then - great teacher and prophet.
Yet Jesus saw through the flattery and went right to the heart of the issue. Nicodemus, like many of the religious leaders, was absolutely blind with regard to who Jesus was. He lacked the inner vision that comes only from a heavenly birth. Apart from this second, and spiritual, birth he was, and all of humanity is, unable to see who Jesus really is.
Dear Lord, thank you for the new birth. Praise you for the day that I my inner eyes opened to see your kingdom.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
I praise god for the new-birth. But lets continue on to "perfection," or spiritual maturity, as the writer of Hebrews admonishes to do.
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