John the apostle shared how, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again”, and in chapter three and verse eight of his book, John shared how Jesus said, “the wind blows where it wishes” where we read:
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The verse reads, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes:” John began with the words, “the wind blow where it wishes” which means “the movement of the air blow wherever it desires, likes and is fond of” “and you hear the sound thereof” or “and you, Nicodemus, are given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and noticing the noise and tone of the wind”, “but can not tell from where it comes” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover is unable in incapable of perceiving, noticing, discovering and discerning in what place the wind arises, shows itself or comes forth”, “and where it goes” or “and in what place the wind withdraws, goes away and departs”. John shared how Jesus referred to the “unseen” “wind” that is “heard” and perceived, but unknown in it's origin or destination.
The verse continues, “so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John added the words, “so is every one” which means “in this manner and thus exists each, the whole, all and every person” “that is born” or “who is engendered, begotten and birthed” “of the Spirit” which means “pertaining to the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”. John shared how Jesus said the person who is “birthed anew” by God's Spirit is much like the “wind” that has an origin and destination that is unknown.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus used the example of the “unknown” and yet “perceived” aspects to the “wind” to compare to the person who is “born again”. Although the “wind” is not seen, it is “heard” and “felt”, and the person who receives Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” doesn't necessarily know how to describe it, but they know they have a relationship with God. God's desire is to give every person a “new birth - a spiritual birth” through His Son Jesus, and when they submit themselves to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life with God. They may not be able to fully explain it, but they know they have a personally relationship with God when they receive Jesus into their life.
Next time John shares how Nicodemus asks, “how can these things be?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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