Daily Devotions
John
Simple spiritual truths
Text: John 3:1-21
SIMPLE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
As Jesus explained the Gospel to Nicodemus, He saw him struggling with his faith. It is harder to “believe” than most people imagine. Nicodemus was one good example of how a person can struggle within his own soul, even if he came from a strong religious background.
“If I have told you earthly things
and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
John 3:12
Jesus considered what He had taught Nicodemus “earthly things”. What were some of these truths that He considered “earthly things? For easier comprehension, let’s outline what Jesus said to Nicodemus.
1. He spoke of God as having a Kingdom. He invites people to enter into His kingdom.
2. However, God being who He is demands that the sinner must first be cleansed. He must be washed clean. The symbol of water well represents the work of cleansing.
3. This work of cleansing should be very clear to Nicodemus, for they practise ritualistic cleansing daily!
4. John the Baptizer preached a similar message. He too emphasized the need to be cleansed from sin if one is to gain entrance into the kingdom of God.
5. This work of spiritual cleansing is done by the Spirit of God.
6. The work of the Spirit did not stop at cleansing. He creates new birth. He gives new life to the believer. He brings about the second birth.
7. This work of the Spirit may be invisible but it is nevertheless real and most important. How does one know whether the Spirit of God has given new life to the individual? He would make His Presence felt, even as the wind makes its presence felt.
These were truths that were simple and logical. Surely it would not take a whole lot to understand these spiritual truths that Jesus had explained, would it?
Nevertheless, the human heart still finds it so hard to exercise faith. The human heart finds it so hard to fully believe spiritual truths.
If so, how could the human heart hope to comprehend greater spiritual truths, here called “heavenly things”? What if Jesus were to reveal and discuss spiritual truths that were even deeper and even more difficult to comprehend? How would the individual be able to grasp deeper spiritual truths?
A GREAT SPIRITUAL TRUTH
Jesus then went on to give an idea of what a great spiritual truth was like. He spoke of Himself in this instance.
“No one has ascended to heaven
but He who came down from heaven, that is,
The Son of Man who is in Heaven.”
John 3:13
Did Nicodemus find it hard to believe what Jesus taught him concerning spiritual birth? How would he be able to understand Who it was who spoke to him?
How could Jesus speak with such certainty? One speaks with certainty and authority of things that He has full knowledge of, or great experience with. Who can speak of heavenly things except One who has ascended to heaven and then returned to earth to teach about heaven.
None has gone to heaven and then returned to earth to teach about heavenly things. However, there was another truth aspect not given due consideration. Jesus presented Himself as One who actually came from Heaven. He who came from heaven would of course be able to speak with great authority, for He came from God Himself.
Who was Jesus? He spoke of Himself as “The Son of Man”. If Nicodemus knew his Scriptures, he would have connected this thought with the eschatological Son of Man mentioned in the Book of Daniel. This famous prophecy was in the mind of Jesus when He called Himself, “The Son of Man”.
“Behold, One like the Son of Man
Coming with the clouds of heaven.
He came to the Ancient of Days
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory
And a kingdom… which shall not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:13-14
Jesus could speak with such clarity and authority concerning the Kingdom of God because that Kingdom was given to Him by the Ancient of Days. His was an everlasting Kingdom. He certainly knew the conditions for entering into His own Kingdom!
THE OFFER OF THE SECOND BIRTH
Even as Jesus took time to explain how a person may be born again, and then gain entrance into the Kingdom of God, He was gently inviting Nicodemus to respond to what he had heard. All it took was to admit that he was sinful. Surely, the heart that comes under conviction of sin would also naturally desire to be made clean.
Who would not want to have the Spirit of God cleansing the heart? Who would not want to have the Spirit of God giving the second birth?
What was there to stop a person from experiencing the second birth? The individual is required to “believe” all that Jesus said! It takes “GENUINE FAITH”! Do you have genuine faith?