Mar 24

We see in the account of Jesus' meeting with Nicodemus one of the dangers of coming to Jesus for our own purposes instead of God's purposes. We are so prone to seeing everything in terms of knowledge and learning. This is a result of our first parents having eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It is true that God's Word stresses the importance of wisdom, but this is a different thing from simply acquiring knowledge about God. God desires knowledge of him to lead us to a relationship with him. And that relationship is one of trusting children to a loving Father.

In his opening remark, Nicodemus twice refers to the teaching aspect of Jesus' ministry, calling him both Rabbi and teacher. He then proceeds to mention Jesus' miracles. Perhaps he was hoping to see one even at that moment. If so, he would not be the only human being ever to fail to understand the true nature of God and his ways, including his miraculous ways.

Another man also failed to see beneath the surface of the miracles Jesus performed. When Jesus stood before Herod for examination, Scripture says that Herod was "greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle" (Luke 23:8).

But what greater miracle is there than that a holy God makes a family for himself out of sinful human beings?

Scripture for today: John 3:1-15
Thought for today: It is a miracle that I am a child of God.
Prayer for today: Thank you, Lord, for performing the miracle of new birth in me, that I might be your child forever.

MAR 24