John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
His reply to Nico's (Nicodemas) question "can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
He then says the same thing again, in a different way...
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
He then adds further in His counter to Nico's failure to simply take Him at His Word...
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Meaning, just as the breath of the wind comes and goes and you accept that without question; accept what I am saying to you without question.
Again, Nico expresses his failure to simply take Him at His Word.
3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
This time, the Lord reprimands him.
3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
The Lord then again asserts that Nico should simply take Him at His Word; that what He is asserting is true...
3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Meaning?
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
I used an everday example - the breath of the wind - and you still don't see.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
He then reminds Nico of the very words of Moses that Nico is supposedly an expert on.
3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Hunh?
In other words, take Me at My Word - that I Am the Christ - Nico, He basically says to him .
How so?
He is speaking to him in what should be Nico's own language - the Scripture!
(remind any one here of anyone on TOL?)
Ol Nico had been satisfied with the traditions of men Israel's spiritual leadership had turned the Word of God into none effect by their tradition.
Later, the Apostle Paul will relate something similar as to how Israel fell.
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: ) 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
As when the parents of that blind man the Lord had healed, chose to deflect, when confronted by His enemies, rather than confessing that Jesus was their Prophesied Christ....
John 9:20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 9:21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
The Lord was calling ol Nico out on his having failed to know Moses on this, and as a result; having failed to simply take Him, at His Word...
Deuteronomy 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Nico is dealing with this very Person Himself!
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Malachi 3:1 Behold....the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
All that on that in just that seemingly tiny exchange between them...
What a Book!
