Tuesday, May 21, 2013

May 22, 2013

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 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.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”“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!”Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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 this be?” Nicodemus asked.“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.  I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:1-16
 
Coming up on Memorial Day, the first holiday of the Summer season and the time to remember those who have died in service of their nation.
 
It is a good thing to remember significant events and people. As we close our study on Nic at night it is good to remember and celebrate the significance of what he discovered during his encounter with Jesus. He came in darkness but he left in the light! He came to discover the joys of salvation that many of us know.
 
Remember you don't have to yearn.
 
Nic was a highly educated, highly respected, powerful and influencial man. He had attained his professional goals and dreams. You would think he would have been totally fulfilled but when he came to Jesus it is fairly obvious he was yearning for something more.
 
It seems there is something in the human spirit that always yearns for more. Perhaps it is the subconscious longing for paradise lost.
 
That is why it is important to remember that when Nic met Jesus and became a follower there is evidence that his yearning stopped. If he yearned for anything it was more of God.
 
In this week-end of remembering one thing to remember is that, like Nic, when you find salvation you no longer have to live life yearning for something more. When you have Jesus you have everything you need!
 
Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
 
Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life’.” John 4:12-14
 
When Jesus fed the thousands, the 5,000 and the 4,000, they all ate until they were satified and had bread left over. No one went away yearning for more. In fact, there were baskets left over both times. With both of those miracles in mind, "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
 
Nic reminds us that though you come to Jesus yearning, you don't have to leave that way! Jesus satisfies like nothing else!