Coming to Jesus
Coming to Jesus
Rabbi, we know you are teacher who has come from God … (John 3:2)
I don’t like being lost. Most of us don’t. Yet often in life, we are left with a sinking feeling that we just aren’t where we ought to be. Something is missing. We concluded yesterday’s story with Nicodemus “in the dark.” He came to Jesus by night. He was lost.
Nicodemus Needed Change
Now, the second half of verse two offers a clear indication that Nicodemus is not just curious. He is searching. His comment in the verse above is complimentary, but Jesus discerns a deeper meaning.
Jesus understands there is something missing in this important man’s life when he says: “… no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”
Throughout the Gospel of John, the author uses not only darkness and light, but also above and below, flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, death and life.
Here, Jesus’ wording of “born from above” is often translated from Greek to English as “born again.” While the wordings are slightly nuanced, the idea is the same: God is not finished with Nicodemus. And Nicodemus seems to be aware of this, too.
He needs a change that he can’t manufacture on his own.
Peace and contentment don’t usually just happen. True fulfillment in life usually comes with a good bit of struggling, hard questions, and sometimes, dead ends.
I once had a man in a previous church share with me: “I’ve spent my whole career, killing myself to climb that proverbial ladder of success. And you know what? I’ve discovered finally that my ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.” This is a common dilemma.
Helpful Reminders
Sometimes, hard work in the wrong direction yields nothing but lost time and misspent energy. But not always. For Nicodemus and for us, these are helpful reminders, especially when Jesus is involved:
Knowledge is transferable.
Experience is translatable.
Lives are transformable.
It is never too late to be recalibrated. Nicodemus comes to Jesus recognizing his lostness, his lack of enthusiasm, and perhaps his new curiosity for something more.
And as we will see, being with Jesus begins a whole new adventure we will cover tomorrow.
Reflect:
What about you? Is there anything about Nicodemus that feels familiar? Has your own ambition left you wondering? Spend time today reflecting on what might be missing in your life, and consider what God might be calling on you do about it.
CONSIDER:
God, you have made us for yourself. And our hearts are restless until they find rest in you (St. Augustine of Hippo).
Dr. David Jordan is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He is author of several books and regularly contributes to Baptist News Global.