Summoned By Jesus

Imagine, if you will, Nicodemus sitting before Jesus. He had come at night to meet the “teacher come from God” …Jesus.

The whole city was stirred-up by the events of those days: many people were going out to the river Jordan to see John the Baptist, who, baptizing many, was saying “the Kingdom of God is at hand”. The messiah is coming. John had said “I am not the Christ”, but I saw the Spirit of God descending and resting on one “whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” And also said: “Behold the Lamb of God” …<Jesus.>

And this man Jesus was reportedly doing many miracles and had come recently to ‘cleanse’ the temple. The Jewish leaders and the Sanhedrin were all abuzz with the stories and controversies of these circumstances, and many of the leaders were angry with Jesus.

Nicodemus was one of the few Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews, whose heart was open enough to consider the possibility: was He truly the Christ? The Messiah? He had to know more, so he came in the stealth of the night and now here he was sitting before the man: Jesus. Many thoughts must have been stirring inside of him. Many questions. But he had to know…

He conceded “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God’, <the miracles being witness.> Then Jesus introduced an entirely different concept of the Kingdom: to be born again; to be born anew…from above. A newly created life of by the power of the Spirit, reflecting the inadequacies of the flesh (flesh can only reproduce flesh. Rom 8:8-9)

Nicodemus asked, “How can this be?” Jesus replied (paraphrase) ‘You are Israel’s teacher, but you don’t understand? The Son of Man, the Son of God, must be lifted up that everyone who believes <in Him> may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”

Sooo, was Nicodemus saved? Well, the bible doesn’t say exactly, but we have a clue in that he was with Joseph of Arimathea for Jesus’ burial.

What was it that Nicodemus had to believe (in faith)? Don’t we, like Nicodemus, have to know? What are we supposed to believe in? Believe in HIM! Who is ‘Him’ (Jesus)? He is:

• The Son of Man (God in the flesh, incarnate, NT)
• The Son of God (Part of the Trinity, one with God, Creator, NT)
• Redeemer/atoner (died for us and takes away our sin)
• The Christ (Savior of mankind, conveyor of eternal life. OT/NT)
• Messiah (anointed or chosen one; deliverer of Israel. (OT/NT)
• Immanuel (God with us. OT)
• The Way, the Truth, the Life (NT)

We come to salvation believing (by faith); in Him (the Son of Man and the Son of God); that He is our Creator; accept His Love, sacrifice and forgiveness; submit to His leading and authority (Lordship); as we turn away from sin (repent).

And (He promises) we will spend eternity in heaven with Him.