John 3:1-8 – Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”
Yesterday as I was drove up to the window of a fast food place I saw a young man who seemed very joyful. He had his back to me as he was responding to a coworker. The only thing I heard was “Why not? After all, you only live once! Right?” I understood that he was likely talking about doing something fun and perhaps daring. I smiled as I thought that I often had that attitude when I was about his age. But then the young man’s words echoed within me. The Lord inclined my heart to the words. I felt a very urgent need to tell him that I hope he does not only live once, but that He lives twice. I could have told him about these verses, but I would only have a few seconds, not enough to explain. So after he gave me my food, as he was turning away from me, I said to him “You know I hope it is not true for you that you only live once. I hope you live twice.” He smiled at me and I could see that he was amused and intrigued. He was waiting for the punchline. I told him that I got that from the Bible. He smiled at me. There were a lot of cars behind wanting their food. I said goodbye. I hope that the Lord brings those words back to Him and that some Brothers and Sisters come along and water and feed that seed.
Nicodemus, a man who was considered an expert in scriptures could not understand what we as Christians understand as something very basic. We understand that the Lord was giving him insight about spiritual matters. Really, Jesus was giving Nicodemus what he had come to know. He wanted to know if Jesus was indeed from God and what Jesus could tell him about being right with God. Yet, when Jesus did, Nicodemus was not ready to understand. Sometimes we can be so deep in wrong information which we have received that we are buried so that the light has a hard time breaking through. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he indeed was physically born into this world but that now there is an important and absolutely necessary next step. To every person physically born they receive life as a gift from God. However, after being born into this world there is another life that is an absolute necessity for all who want to live in peace with God, a second spiritual birth that again, is provided only as a gift from God through Jesus Savior and Lord. God gives the births of water and Spirit. The first is necessary to be alive on earth, and the second is necessary to be alive spiritually. The first is fleeting, the second is eternal. True is the saying “Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once.”
“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.” We know that when we may read in the Bible spirit in the lowercase or Spirit in the uppercase. One means the spirit of a person, the other meaning the Spirit of God. The context is everything. One word is used in this verse for wind and for Spirit. They both are right and again it determined by the context. Yet Jesus is also pointing out the similarities. These people could feel the wind and they could see the effects of the wind, but they did not know much more about it. Those in the world knew little about the wind and those who are born once know little about the Spirit, if they even know about the Him. Unless a man gives His life to over to Jesus, He may see the Spirit move upon a man, but will not understand it. A man cannot understand the things of the Spirit unless the Spirit lives within him. But when a man walks in the Spirit, He knows what the natural man cannot know. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16) Family, God has called us to walk in the Spirit that we may understand. Let us seek to do so.
Praise God for the gift of being born from above (again)! Praise God for the gift of Jesus to us. Oh, just praise God! He deserves it! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withGalatians 1:8-10 – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Deuteronomy 4:2 – You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
To all who call themselves Christians, who are we. If asked who we most are, what is our response? Let’s not give the acceptable and appropriate answer, but the honest one. After all whom we are shows. Many who know us could probably tell us what is most important about us, to us, because it shouts loudly from our actions, from the passions we live out. So who are we? Are we first of all parents, spouses, a daughter or son, an employee, a patriot, an athlete, a doctor, an engineer? Or what do we work the hardest at and what do we want to be best at? We all know what we should first think of our identity. It is that we are Christians, saved by God, through Jesus our Savior and Lord. That we are His children and the thing that we most want is to please Him and walk in His love and pleasure. Us who call ourselves Christians should be, not in name only, but Christians in heart, intent and actions. (1 John 3:18)
As we look at the world that seems to be becoming overtaken by confusion and yes evil, what are our thoughts? Do we blame the people who don’t agree with us? You know the ones with different opinions, different politics and those who lobby for evil? Family and Friends, it is not they we should be looking at, we should be looking in the mirror. And not only the mirror but at generations of Christians who held the love of the world or their children and grandchildren, or any of their friends and associates, as more important than obeying the Word of God and the Lord Himself. Didn’t Jesus tell us that any who loved family more than God is not worthy of living eternally with Him. (Matthew 10:37, Luke 14;26) Hasn’t the Lord called us to love God first and foremost? Hasn’t He said that we should have no idols before Him? (Isaiah 42:8) After all our Father God did not spare the life of Jesus His Son in order to save us. (Romans 8:32) So He has every right to, as He did with Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19), ask of us full love and loyalty beyond to any other. (Mark 12:30) Full love and loyalty to God should, to us, sound like truth and treasure that rings in our hearts.
So when we Christians are looking for the reason the world is sliding uncontrollably into evil, we should look at ourselves. Are we not charged to be a preservative to the world? (Matthew 15:13, Ezekiel 3:18) But we make excuses for wrong action. We think we ought to “be nice” and not call out error and sin even though that is not what Jesus and the Apostles did. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Revelation 21:8) A large portion of the population, and sadly many in the church, actually believes the nonsense of “Cancel Culture” insisting that we cannot use pronouns such as “he” or “she.” Well the Bible is full of pronouns and God uses them. We can find them throughout the Bible. God called men “he” and women “she” and He is never wrong. He Himself does not change and since He is never wrong, neither does His Word. (Malachi 3:6, Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-18) Can’t we see the evil smile of the devil behind this? Many in the world seek to attack God and His Word. This is part of it. It has risen to the level that it is now publically proclaimed that it is not possible to determine the gender of the child at birth. Yet this is what God has done. He even determined the gender of the child before birth. (Luke 1:13-17, Psalm 139:13) Will we believe this foolish talk before God? No, we will not! The one who contradicts God manifestly displays His foolishness.
What about us “Christian” parents? If our child drinks too much, we don’t want anyone saying they are a drunk as the Bible does. They think it is not nice. We don’t want little Joey or Buffy to have hurt feelings. Family and Friends, we mollycoddle them by telling them it is not sin and that they will be okay. So we fool ourselves into contradicting God’s Word to make our kids, or our friends feel better. To do that is not pushing them to Heaven but dropping them off on Hell’s doorstep. .
People are filled with lusts and we accept the world’s explanation of them walking in the various sins of the flesh. “That is how they were born” we agree with the world and say. That’s not what the Bible speaks of it. The Bible plainly identifies it as sin and states that all who do it will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Revelation 22:15)
Dear beloveds, let’s not side with anyone or anything over God. If we love them, let us not pacify and so deceive them, let us speak truth to them and lead them to the Lord that He may redeem them from an evil world. That is His desire for them. (2 Peter 3:9) True love is not telling them “I’m okay, you’re okay.” True love is telling them God’s opinion. After all, at the end of all, only God’s opinion matters.
Now maybe some will find what I wrote as too harsh. I stand with everything I write today. I will stand with God and His Word and everyone else can decide with whom and with what they will stand. (Joshua 24:15) In the end, the Lord will judge who and what is right. In fact, He already has. (John 3:18)
None of us are perfect, we all sin. I do and that much too much. Many a day I have cried over them and some still burn me with deep regret. Yet, I will not, and will allow anyone to tell me, that my sin was not, or is not, a sin. Let God be true and all men liars! (Romans 3:3-4) I stand with God, even when that calls for repentance on my knees before Him. I run before the Lord to the altar of repentance and by His love and grace joy is restored to me. Being right with the world seems nice, but only being right with Him is what matters. God before the world, before all family and friends, before all possessions and circumstances, God is God and there is no other. God comes first. Since we proclaim that, let us truly live that without exceptions for others or ourselves. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, first all the time. That is what loving Him is about. After all, He has first loved us in this way. Besides loving Him this way is the best way to love each other. Oh praise God! Glory to God! Thank you God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 3:1-8 – Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” The Bible is very clear that God has provided only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus. How to be at peace with God is the question that burns in the heart of Nicodemus. It has burned in hearts of all people either all their life (until answered), or some of their life. If the burning question no longer burns within then that means that the person has either received and responded to Jesus to be born again, will later receive Jesus, or they have rejected Jesus.
All of creation is a testimony of God and it is the duty of all men to seek out the answer, which God has made available to all. Certainly throughout the Western World the name of Jesus is known and who He is, and what He has done, can be easily found out, if one seeks. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” What is important to anyone who reads these words is that you already know someone who knows Jesus so all you have to do is ask. Those who don’t already personally know Jesus, and do not seek Him, have already, or are, chosing their path. (John 3:36, John 8:24)
Family and Friends, God did not save the world through an anonymous person. Though Jesus was born to worldly parents of humble means, even the sky above us could not contain the truth about the glorious birth of the Savior of the world. Didn’t the Wise Men see the sign in the sky and follow a star that led them to the child who was the Savior of the world? Though Father God gave Jesus a humble entrance, He and His angels could not help but rejoice and proclaim the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2:9-14) The Holy Spirit moved on people who loved God and longed for the Messiah. (Luke 2:25-33, 36-38) Word about the arrival of the Savior was spreading. Excitement was growing. John the Baptist came and began shouting out in the wilderness that the Christ was imminently to show Himself. It would be Jesus whom he would point out as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) Jesus was revealed and throughout His earthly ministry His fame grew throughout the known world. After Jesus ascended back to Heaven His Apostles and disciples continued to tell the world about Jesus. Then those whom the Apostles had testified to spread the message throughout the world, and still do today. (Matthew 28:20) No, there is no excuse for those who never find Jesus, they made a choice on purpose. (Romans 1:18-20) In these verses God has made it clear that no one is with excuse not to seek and find the Lord. God said it, I believe it and to me, that settles it.
Jesus clearly told the world that He is the only way live eternally with God (John 14:6). The Apostles and disciples repeated that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. (Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 10:9-10) Anyone who refuses Jesus has chosen eternal spiritual separation (death) from God. (John 3:18, Romans 6:23) All who seek Jesus find Him. After all, it is not as if Jesus is not already knocking at one’s door so that they may invite Him in to receive spiritual life from Him. God wants us to have eternal life with Him so He sent Jesus to hand deliver the invitation. Jesus wants us to have eternal life with God so He came to demonstrably deliver the love and grace of God. The Holy Spirit wants us to have eternal life and so He resides in the heart and spirit of the one who loves Jesus. The Holy Spirit stays with us and teaches and guides us. God has given Himself for our eternal salvation. We just need to listen, to receive, and to cling to Jesus. We will find that once with Jesus, He eternally keeps us. Praise God!
So Jesus was telling spiritual truth to Nicodemus. Words that Nicodemus could not yet understand. He was trying to understand with worldly reason. But the Master Fisherman was only beginning to reel him in.
The words of Jesus still resonate throughout the world. His words are life to us (Proverbs 4:22), but most still reject Him. Family we must be born again to go to Heaven. Jesus was unequivocal. May we all know the meaning of His words and once we do may we share them to everyone who will listen. And always, and in all ways, let us praise the Lord who loves us so greatly. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 19:30 “When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Ephesians 1:3-14 “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, 10 regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Praise our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who so completely had a plan in place to manifest His love on all of us in the form Jesus our Christ. Every spiritual blessing we would ever need He gave to us before we would see the need for it. Before the world was created He lovingly looked upon us and delighted that we would respond to His love with our hearts offered humbly and trustingly to Him. Yes, those whom He foreknew He predestined to be with Him. On those, on us, He poured the power of His mighty love and drew us with indelible power and unerring precision that we might come to Him and that we willingly would give to Him what He intended for us, life. We offer to Him a physical and perishing life and in return He gives to us eternal vibrant life with Him. We give back what is not really our own, He owns even the life within us. As we do we find that He who gave us life is the meaning of life. To hand over to Him what He created and owns is what is right and proper.
Through the shed blood of Jesus that was shed from His obedience to the Father, and out of His love, we are blessed, safe and secure. Without reserve we shout out His praises! We who were utterly defeated He has made ultimate and eternally victors!
He has given freely given love and grace to all people of all lands, both man and woman, to woman and man. He gives to all! His grace is offered to all. The only ones who cannot receive His grace are those who refuse it. (John 3:18)
After Jesus had completed the work of our salvation He returned to His throne in Heaven that was beside His Father. But God (such wonderful words) did not leave us alone and vulnerable to the wiles of the enemy. To those who came to the Father through Jesus He placed His precious Holy Spirit within us to guide, teach and keep us. He did not leave us unguarded. We are His loved and protected. He sent His Spirit within us to protect us, teach us, and to guide us.
Jesus did not come to partially complete the plan of God. Jesus came to utterly complete it and that He did. When He cried out “It is finished” the meaning was that everything that was needed for our salvation was completed. Loving Jesus and having faith in His work, in Him, is all we need to do. The Work for our salvation was completed by Jesus. To think that there is something we can add to His salvation is insulting to Him. It is folly. It is finished! We don’t need to add to it, any book that says differently is a lie. Any false prophet who preaches anything different is either a liar, a delusional person, or both. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the way, above Him there is no other, Jesus is the way. He left nothing undone for our salvation. We only need Jesus. Look to Him and keep our focus on Him. That is everything, that is all. He and no one else. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob with1 John 4:7-13 – Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in Him and He in us, because He has given to us of His Spirit.
Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When it comes to serving the Lord we see that love is everything. Love is why Jesus came to die for our sins. Love is why He allowed Himself to suffer and die for us. Love is the reason that mankind still exists. (John 3:16)
All who love Jesus and each other are of God. No one who does not love is from God. These two commandments of love cover every promise and every law in the Bible. Anyone who has the love of God, not the love of the world, but the love that comes only from God, will continue to be purged from sin. Love really is the answer. “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” “Love the Lord your God.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love is the power that saves us. Love is the power that unites us. God’s love. Come to God and let Him teach us about His love. It’s different than the love of the world. Learning and growing in His love is a lifelong journey. A journey one will never regret and which has rewards every day it is traveled.
Love God. Love each other. Grow in the meaning of these powerful words. Praises to God along this journey will flow out from us. Love. Praise God. And so fulfill the will of God for our lives. Love God! Thank God and yes, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withLuke 22:63 – Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him.
Mark 15-16-20 – The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they *called together the whole Roman cohort. They *dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him.
Matthew 27:22-26 – “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:50-54 – And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!”
The Savior knew what was coming, it was going to savagely hurt His body and He knew it. The people who would do it would laugh and every time He hurt they considered it their personal success. They wanted to break Him. Not just His body, but to sap His mind of any strength and reason. Also their goal was to destroy His emotions. They wanted the pain to destroy Him inside, they wanted to squeeze His heart and cause Him to cry out and agree to anything to just make the physical, mental and emotional pain stop. They wanted to embarrass Him, they wanted HIs soul. When He would look at them He would see they have no sympathy for Him. If their cruel hands brutalizing Him with horrific weapons were not enough, their eyes showed an evil hate of inhuman origin. They showed an evil not of this world but from dark souls with a dark lord pushing their hate to a fevered pitch.
Only their evil lord stops them from just running their sword through His heart. He does not want Him to have the relief of death. He is drunk on His pain. Right now he must do all he knows to do to humiliate Him. Jesus smelt the evil lord’s fouls breath and heard his whispered hate in His ear. Jesus heard “No, you cannot die yet, I will break you. You will bow to me.”
This evil lord makes the people whom He loved hate Him and turn against Him. They call for His death. They demand His death.
Near His last breath some who watch Him die, whom He still loves, taunt Him, defame Him, and long to see His final breath. They would cut open His chest and tear out His heart if they were allowed. In a long history of human evil and hurt the Savior witnesses the lowest level of human depravity as it is focused against Him. And yet, Jesus Christ is one hundred percent innocent of any wrong. In fact, He is beyond innocent as He has not only never committed wrong but has only done all things to help, for the good of others, and has loved. But His reward was their hate. Then.
The few who loved Him cried at His feet and were helpless to help. That hurt Him worse to see their pain. Oh, if only they fully understood. But He knew that the time for them to understand would come. He knew their overwhelming sadness would turn to the highest joy. But just not yet.
He could have stopped the pain and sorrow. But He was following a plan for the benefit of those who loved Him and incredibly, even for those who participated in His torture and death. He was obedient to the one whose plan was working out perfectly. He had not been defeated, He had begun the next step to the ultimate victory. He asked for forgiveness for the perpetrators. He willingly breathed His last breath and part one of His victory march, veiled to most, if not all at the time, was over and then He triumphantly moved forward.
I thank God I’ve never had a day like that. And I will never have to have one because Jesus did it for me. For all of us. Jesus had the worst day possible looking forward to the best day for all that He loved. Also for all mankind. Amazing Grace! Thank you Jesus! And now, throughout the world, the day of remembrance is known as Good Friday. Perhaps it should be called The Best Friday. Only God could plan it and make it work out exactly as planned. Only God! Praise God! Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withHumbled in my spirit
I kneel before the Risen King
Joyous in my spirit
I laugh as grace is upon me
Rapturous in my spirit
As I know His love
Transported in my spirit
Because of my God
Humbled in my Spirit
The Love of the Risen King
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 3:1-8 – Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.”
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.” It has been said that three words describe Nicodemus: 1) Religious 2) Rich 3) Ruler. He was a Pharisee so we know he was very religious and meticulous about living out the Law to the minute details. At least to the best of their understanding and tradition. He was rich as we read in John 19:39-40 that he was the one who bought the large amount the mixture of myrrh and aloes for Jesus’ burial. Also there is Jewish Tradition that names him as one of the three wealthiest men in the nation. He was a ruler because he was identified as a member of the “Jewish ruling council.” As a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court, he was in a position of respect and authority.
What does not start with an “R” but is something else we know about him is that He was sincere. At the end of Chapter 2 we saw that Jesus did not entrust everybody who was clamoring around Him because of the miracles that He had performed. However, Jesus spent time with Nicodemus and saw that He was different. Nicodemus was sincerely wanting to find out more about Jesus and saw something in Him beyond the normal. He was sincere. Not yet fully committed, but definitely seeking with honest curiosity.
“He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Many say that he came at night because he did not want it known that he had come to Jesus. Possibly. However others say that he came at night for a more practical reason. One reason could simply be that Jesus had crowds around him during the day and so visiting him at night would afford them more privacy to talk. And since it was during the days of the Passover Nicodemus would also be busy teaching during the day. Another reason is that having conversations on the rooftop was a normal Jewish occurrence at the time. The days were often very hot and the evening rooftops were cooler and more likely to have cool breezes to enjoy. So, while it is easy to assume the less complimentary reason for the evening visit, it is just as easy to believe that Nicodemus had chosen the evening to visit because Jesus would less likely to busy, he would be less busy, it was cooler, and it was a common Jewish practice for evening visits on the rooftop. Actually, that sounds quite nice!
Since the “we” that Nicodemus mentioned likely was speaking of others of Jewish leadership, it is a remarkable statement for him to say that they understood that Jesus was a “teacher” from God. It was a frank, honest and powerful truth. His fellow leaders would try to falsely accuse Jesus, to kill Him by stoning and finally have Him condemned to death. At every turn they would challenge what Jesus taught. Yet, underneath all their actions to oppose Jesus was the truth that they knew that Jesus was a “teacher who has come from God.” That being true, that being exposed, it showed that truth and loving protection for the people was never true of them. No, it was the evil in their hearts that opposed Jesus, and therefore opposed God the Father, the one they called their God. See the parable of the Two Tenants in Matthew 21:33-46. The Jewish leadership never fooled Jesus. He knew the evil in their hearts. He knew that underneath, they knew that He was from God. They were just denying it for their own selfish needs. And so they would, in the end, receive the due sentence for their evil. But Nicodemus, he was different. He sought Jesus out to know the truth and to learn. He came humbly to Jesus.
Nicodemus was the same as us. A person who heard the call, sought after Jesus and submitted himself to learning from Him. He went to Jesus who had already called him by the Spirit, in his spirit. He went in the evening to talk with Jesus on the rooftop. Just him and Jesus. In a sense, so have we. And as He did, we are privileged to do the same daily, throughout the day. What a blessing to humble ourselves before Jesus and receive God’s grace. What a blessing to receive God the Holy Spirit. How wonderful to talk with Jesus! Oh Lord, cause us to continuously spend alone time with You and in that, be blessed in the highest of ways. May we crave those rooftop conversations with You! Thank you Lord! Praise God!
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withHow awful my shame, How Glorious His Love.
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob with1 Corinthians 2:12 “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
John 14:26 ” But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Matthew 16:15-17 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Divine truths are revealed only by God to those who seek them. We are so blessed because we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 “For, who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Praise God for these promises that are filled with hope and truth from Him who never is wrong and who never lies! We understand scripture through the Holy Spirit. It is a miraculous imparting of God’s knowledge and wisdom that is given through He Himself, God the Holy Spirit. And for all of us, including those of us who were not blessed with formal training, how wonderful that the Lord has not forgotten us. To all of His He has given this great promise in 1 John 2:27 “As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him.” We still need pastors and teachers. We all have a purpose which God has given us. The Lord speaks through each of us to speak to each other. We need each other. First God and then others. It all starts and ends with the Lord God!
The truth of Christ, abiding in us is a means to sever from sin, and unites us to the Son of God, John 15:3-5. God gave us His Word to reveal Himself and as a guide to us. Spend time listening to God. Have conversations with Him in private and when out and about. Why waste time by not being in conversation with Him. But we need to listen to Him. If we don’t understand, ask Him. (James 1:5)
Want to know more about God? Read the Bible. Want to push forward to the goal of not sinning. Read the Bible. Want a roadmap for life. Read the Bible. Want to understand the Bible? Talk with the Holy Spirit. Especially listen, and then do. In that is surpassing peace, joy, love and quietness of soul. Know that God is good all the time and that He loves us. Know that and know peace. So, in that, peace to you! Praise God!
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
by Bob with