|
|
|
|
Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus, Part V, John 3:8-12
The Apostle Paul wrote these inspired words in 2 Corinthians 4:18, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This was Paul’s life ministry, to look on things eternal.
This too is our Pastor’s life ministry to proclaim things eternal.
In fact looking on things eternal is the life ministry of any servant of God.
Jesus said take no thought of things temporal, meaning Seek ye first the kingdom of God.
But those of the world, those without faith have only to look on things which are seen and therefore things which are temporal, things which are only connected to time.
And that was the state of Nicodemus.
He came to Jesus by night expecting to discuss the things which are seen, wanting to discuss the miracles that Jesus did.
But again we see the desire on the part of those in the flesh to study the results of a world not seen, rather than to grasp that world, that eternal world, that is beyond the senses.
So Jesus snatches the mind of Nicodemus and brings it to the absolute need for a divine transaction to take place in order to have eyes that are able to look on things eternal.
And therefore not yielding to the direction that Nicodemus desires the conversation to go, says: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
And in this new direction, Jesus Christ takes Nicodemus to look at God’s creation; that which is physical to help explain that which is spiritual.
A new direction of looking at that which is temporal to help explain that which is eternal.
This Christ did in much of his teaching.
So Jesus Christ brings Nicodemus to ponder the wind for he says in:
John 3:8, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou heareth the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that it born of the Spirit.
Here we see our blessed and patient, ever teaching Lord Jesus, who made all things including the forces of nature, use the nature of wind to describe one who is born of the Spirit.
He says: The wind bloweth where it listeth.
Wind itself cannot be seen, only the effects of wind can be seen.
When a tree moves, we hear sound whistle through the leaves.
We know by experience that the wind is acting upon the tree for no tree of itself can shake its leaves.
Wind of course, is merely the movement of air, caused by the expansion and contraction of air molecules due to temperature changes.
We cannot see air nor can we see air molecules and therefore we cannot see wind.
When the sun heats up the air, air molecules expand and each molecule, requiring more space than previously, bumps into its neighboring molecule.
And when it does it says give me some space, sometimes loudly and sometimes quietly, and this increased space requirement causes movement of the air, hence we have wind.
Great concentrated temperature changes occur in the warm waters near the equator and the air at the equator heats and rises rapidly causing great air masses to move over the earth.
This causes the movement of clouds and establishes weather patterns throughout the earth.
Generally the worldwide patterns are predictable.
But wind is not of itself.
It listeth, which means that it leans or inclines, toward a prescribed direction due to temperature differences or pressure differences.
Wind is not haphazard but follows laws that God has established.
It is so complex to us that we assume that the wind goes where it pleases.
Jesus Christ made the wind and he does not use words lightly.
He uses the word listeth.
A ship lists due to unbalanced weight in the hold; perhaps water shifted to one side.
In other words the ship does not list in and of itself.
Likewise the wind does not go in a certain direction in and of itself.
It follows natural laws in its course.
Jesus Christ is saying here that the new birth is of water and of the Spirit.
The Spirit is like the wind.
It reacts in response to the working of the water of the Word like the wind reacts in response to the temperature changes.
The Spirit gives birth to those who have responded to the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit does not act alone in the new birth.
A man is born of water and of the Spirit, not the Spirit only.
The new birth is much like the pattern of the physical birth.
The Word of God is sent forth by the Father to be planted in good soil, and the Holy Spirit is the agent whereby the new person, the child of God, is brought forth.
We, with our limitations, can only see the effects of the new birth.
We cannot see the wind but we know it is there by what it affects.
We are only given to see the results of the wind.
Jesus Christ is saying that the results of the Spirit should be just as much a proof of the fact that the Spirit exists as are the effects of the wind.
We have never seen wind but we believe in wind because of its effects.
He is also saying that the Spirit works in mysterious ways much like the wind but those ways are not mysterious to God because the Spirit follows and honors God's word and brings forth the fruit of the Word.
The Lord uses this analogy of the wind to the Spirit so wisely.
The Spirit is not answerable to human demands, neither is the wind.
The Spirit’s paths are mysterious, so is the wind.
The Spirit is not seen but his effects are, so too the wind.
Both can be sensed and both have a great range of power.
The wind can blow gently or with gale force.
It can bring rain, tempest, and storm, or it can drive the clouds away, so too the Spirit.
Jesus clearly taught but Nicodemus was flabbergasted.
For we read in Verses 3:9,10, Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Basically Jesus replied as surprised, if the Son of God could be surprised, in how a master of Israel could be astounded about these things.
Nicodemus was ignorant of this fundamental and primary spiritual truth.
He was a natural man and the natural man does not understand the things of the Spirit.
The natural man thinks in a natural way.
He has no capacity to rise above the physical.
Look at the attempts by man to know God.
Look at the myths and legends that abound in the world; inventions of the natural mind.
Paul described these attempts in Romans 1:23, They changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
You would think a ruler of Israel, with the highest education available would understand spiritual things.
Nicodemus had taught the minute details of the Pharisaic legalism.
All this learning and no understanding.
Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For Truth must be revealed and God reveals it unto babes!
Jesus shows that the natural man, regardless of his standing, or background, or intelligence must be given the key to the knowledge of spiritual things by God himself.
Ye must be born again, Nicodemus!
You must be given a new nature, you must be born from above.
To Nicodemus' credit he asks how.
How can these things be? He admits his ignorance and asks questions. He wants to know.
He doesn't argue with Jesus Christ because of foolish pride.
The seed of the Word that has been planted in Nicodemus is causing him to seek light.
Jesus Christ tells us, by his question to Nicodemus, to put no confidence in man.
Here was a member of the Sanhedrin, trained in the highest theological school of his day having no spiritual discernment.
Our lesson is that even if a preacher has graduated with honors from a top theological school, that is no proof that he is a man taught of the Holy Spirit.
We should not put dependence on human learning.
Education is no guarantee of spiritual discernment.
The test of any instruction is the Word of God.
We are to emulate the Bereans, and compare any teaching, any writing, with God's Word and reject anything that does not match up with the Word of God.
Unless you believe in the inspiration of the scriptures and the infallibility of the Word of God you will fall for anything.
You are open to any doctrine of demons and of the devil.
Study to show yourself approved unto God.
No one has to tell you. God tells you through his Word. |