What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 14

"And the Passover, A Feast of the Jews, was Nigh" (continued)

Thus, it was after the Lord Jesus had cleansed the temple, during this same Passover season, that Nicodemus "came to Jesus by night" and said: "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him." Nicodemus said, "we know," so there must have been others who knew deep within themselves that this was "THE CHRIST." And the Word says that Jesus responded to his question. Now, if we examine John 3:2, we will find that Nicodemus had not asked our Lord a question, but the Word of God says, that Jesus answered his question. We find our answer to this in John 2:25. Remember, in the original writings there are no chapter divisions or verses, chapters and verses have been supplied by scholars of the Bible to help us in our study of God's Word. Therefore, in John 2:25, we find that Jesus "needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man." And many  times He manifested this knowing in the way He answered them.

Consequently our Lord knew that, although Nicodemus had not voiced a question, there was a question in his heart. The Lord knew what was in Nicodemus' heart just as He knew what was in the hearts of the Jews when, after He had driven out the merchandisers, they asked Him: "What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?" And Jesus knowing that they had murder in their hearts toward Him, answered their question accordingly: "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up ... but He spake of the Temple of His body."

The Jews who asked Him this question had murder in their hearts, but Jesus knew that Nicodemus had something else in his; He knew that Nicodemus was saying in her heart: "Rabbi, Teacher, Master, I come to Thee that You may teach me the way of salvation." And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee ... ye must be  born again - ye must be born from above" (John 3:1-7).

John 3:1-21 is one of the most important passages of Scripture in the Word of God, so we are going to quote it in detail. Because  this passage of Scripture is so familiar to many of us, let us ask the Lord to help us to read and pray it "IN THE SPIRIT," for these Words "are Spirit, and they are Life" - they are "Words of Eternal Life." And through the miracle of God's inspired Word, we are privileged to participate and to share in one of the most wonderful and personal conversations ever recorded between our Lord and man; a conversation so personal that it not only answered what was in Nicodemus' heart but it answers every heart that will ever cry: "Lord, show me the way of salvation." So let us listen with our heart, let us "hear what the Spirit saith," for these Words "are Spirit, and they are Life" for all who hear and believe.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 15)