In John 3 Once Again

There are a few times that I just have a desire to write something. I wish that I had that desire more often, but I don’t. Usually it comes from a time when I have been thinking about something and it feels like I need to hash it out by writing or at least share it with someone (even if no one else is reading). Usually, I have tons of outlets to pour out these things teaching, but every now and then I get something that I just need to put out there.

One morning this week I was in John 3 reading about Jesus and Nicodemus. I was just flying through it because the verses were so familiar to me. I knew the story. I knew what statements were coming next. I knew where the conversation was going. It became more of the game memory than listening to God. As I was going through, I was relieved to find it all as I remembered…except for one thing. My game of memory was boring. I read the chapter, briefly let my mind wander to some theological questions, and then got ready to move on. Before I moved on, I was prompted to stop and read it slower… read it like it is the first time. Really interact with it. So I went back to the beginning of the chapter, and within 3 verses I realized that this is NOT what I remembered. I was amazed at how much more was in these verses that I had not noticed before. It was strangely unfamiliar for something that I was very familiar with. (I hope that makes sense).

So here is what God showed me. Nicodemus comes to Jesus and he says that he knows that Jesus is from God because of the things that Jesus is doing. No one can do the things that Jesus did unless they are from God. It was the next statement that got me. Jesus responded by saying, “…unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Sound familiar? In the past I had taken this to mean that you cannot get saved unless you are born again. Although that is a true statement, I am not sure if that is what is going on here. Nicodemus says that Jesus is from God and then Jesus tells Nicodemus that he needs to get saved. That feels like an abrupt topic change. That flow of thought is not right. We don’t talk with each other with random statements like that.

So I looked back at what Jesus said. He said that no one could “see” the kingdom of God unless they were born again. He didn’t say at this point that no one could “enter” the kingdom of God...He said no one could even “see” or “perceive” the kingdom. So when Nicodemus says that he knows that Jesus is from God, Jesus response is saying something really strong to Nicodemus. “Nicodemus, how can you know that I am from God. It isn’t my works that will convince you of that. The only way a person will get this is if they are born again…if the Spirit is giving them life. So either you don’t really know that I am from God or God is doing a work in your heart. “ That makes more sense with how the conversation unfolds.

So here is how that fleshes out for me. When I do not seem to perceive God at work around me, then maybe it is because I need a work of the Spirit in me. I need God to show it to me and help me perceive and see Him at work around me. When I am talking with someone who does not seem to be getting the fact that God is working around them, then maybe I need to spend less time trying to convince them. Maybe I need to spend some time pushing them toward the fact that they need the Spirit of God to do a work. Maybe churches and ministries are operating too much by simply looking at facts and numbers instead of seeing with Spirit eyes that see where God is at work. That is what was happening as I read John 3. I just read through it and God had to call me back to read it and listen to the work of the Spirit through the Word. This is not some weird, out of control thing where we do whatever we want and follow or natural whims. This is about being in a relationship with God in such a way that you are walking with Him and listening to Him and being guided by Him throughout the day. This is intimate, personal, relational, dependant and submissive living. This is abiding in Christ.

So, are you following the Spirit? Do you even sense when He is at work around you? Would the statement that you have been “born of the spirit” accurately describe your walk with God?