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Nicodemus

Gospel
John 3:7-15
No-one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man who has come down from heaven

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘Do not be surprised when I say:
You must be born from above.
The wind blows wherever it pleases;
you hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.’

‘How can that be possible?’ asked Nicodemus. ‘You, a teacher in Israel, and you do not know these things!’ replied Jesus.

‘I tell you most solemnly,
we speak only about what we know
and witness only to what we have seen
and yet you people reject our evidence.
If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world,
how are you going to believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven;
and the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’

In this passage, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the mystery and necessity of being "born from above"-a spiritual rebirth that cannot be controlled or fully understood by human logic, much like the wind whose effects we feel but whose origin and destination remain hidden16. Jesus challenges Nicodemus, a respected teacher, for his lack of understanding about spiritual matters, emphasizing that faith is required to grasp the deeper truths of God27.

Jesus then reveals his unique authority: only he, the Son of Man, has come down from heaven and will be lifted up (a reference to his crucifixion), just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert. This act is the means by which all who believe in him may have eternal life17. The passage invites us to trust in Jesus, even when we do not fully understand, and to open ourselves to the transforming power of the Spirit, whose work in us is often mysterious but always life-giving36.

Question for Reflection:
How open am I to the movement of the Spirit in my life, even when I do not fully understand where God is leading me?

Short Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You came down from heaven to bring us new life. Help me to trust in your love and to welcome the Spirit’s work in my heart. Give me faith to believe, even when I do not see, and courage to follow wherever you lead. Amen.


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