“Nicodemus answered and said to Him,
‘How can these things be?
Jesus answered him and said,
‘Are you the teacher of Israel,
and do not understand these things?’”
(vs 9-10)
‘How can these things be?
Jesus answered him and said,
‘Are you the teacher of Israel,
and do not understand these things?’”
(vs 9-10)
The conversation continues. Christ and Nicodemus have been talking about the necessity of the new birth and Nicodemus is astonished, astounded, and stumped! “How can these things be?” Here is the teacher of the law – a Pharisee of Pharisees – the man – the big man – and he doesn’t have a clue about the true meaning of the Word that he is supposed to be holding forth to the nation of Israel. He is a blind guide. “How blind must the sheep be if the shepherd is in such a state?” (Ryle)
The brightest and best, the most learned and lauded may in reality be dumb as dirt to true truth! Men are men and men are fallible – no matter how good they may look to other men – no matter how great they may sound - no matter how much they may be loved. Men miss the mark at times and Nicodemus had missed it majorly!
Book smarts don’t cut it without the Spirit and that’s what Nicodemus needed. He needed the new birth even to understand that there could be a new birth. So do we. “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being, or has given understanding to the mind?” (Job 38:36). It is the Lord Jesus Christ who grants wisdom and gives understanding. May He renew our minds as He rebirths our hearts.
In His glorious grace,
Lori
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