17 A Visit by Night

John 3:1-36; Matthew 4:12-17, TBC Book Two, Chapter 17
Jesus heard a knock on the door. Who could be coming to visit at this time of night? There in the doorway stood one of the Pharisees, the most powerful religious group among the Jews. Nicodemus entered, wondering just what to say. He had many questions.

“Rabbi,” he began, “we know you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform such miraculous signs unless God has enabled him.”

Jesus just looked at him. Finally, he said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“What do you mean?” Nicodemus said. “How can a grown-up man be born again? Surely he cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time!”

Jesus answered, “There is physical birth and there is spiritual birth. But it’s the Spirit who gives birth to spirit. When the wind blows you know it’s there, but you cannot explain where it came from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with those who are born of the Spirit.”

“I don’t understand,” Nicodemus said. “What do you mean? . . .”

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 17, for the rest of the story.)​

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Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: “He must increase, I must decrease.” So says each one who has been born again—born of the Spirit.
     A promise to cling to: “ ’Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. . . . The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. . . . For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ “ John 3:6,8,16 NIV
     A praise to fill you: Could It Be  Michael Card     [Can skip ad after first 3 seconds]

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