A Teacher Becomes a Student
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?
can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:4-8
Read 1 Corinthians 2:7-14
A teacher who is used to giving instructions to others may not easily admit
that there are concepts he does not understand. But Nicodemus was honest
enough to acknowledge that he did not understand the Lord Jesus’ answer.
He asked: Surely one cannot be born a second time from his mother’s
womb? So, the teacher became a student.
Nicodemus was honest and did not pretend to understand what the Lord
was saying; he was willing to ask questions. If there are things that you do
not understand about the Bible and the life of faith, do not be ashamed to
ask questions about these important matters. Ask your parents or pastor,
but also direct your questions to the Lord Himself with the prayer of the
Psalmist: Unto me, O Lord Jehovah, Show Thy ways and teach Thou me; So
that, by Thy Spirit guided, clearly I Thy paths may see (Psalter 415.2).
The Lord Jesus began to lay out for Nicodemus the difference between one’s
natural birth and being born again. The rebirth is the work of the Holy
Spirit. The Lord Jesus compares this to the wind; we hear its sound when
it blows but cannot see it. A similar thing occurs when God gives new life
through the power of His Spirit. This is a mysterious, secret work of God’s
Spirit in your heart by which you begin to experience different longings and
desires. The Word of God, the Bible, becomes food and drink to your soul.
You begin to feel the weight of your sins, which previously you did not even
see. As a result, you begin to see your need of the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.
Thought: Have you found evidence of the rebirth in your life?
Psalter 428:2 (based on Psalm 119)
O let Thy Spirit be my constant aid, That all my ways may ever be directed
To keep Thy statutes, so to be obeyed, That from all error I may be protected.
I shall not be ashamed then or afraid, When Thy commandments I have e’er
respected.
