Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!

Sunday, April 21, 2019

John 3:1-21, 33-36 ~ Born of the Spirit




Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 A.D.



Born Again






Jesus spoke many times about His own Death and His Resurrection.  This is the way, truth and Life.

In hindsight, 2,000 years later, we do understand Jesus is the Son of God and fulfills God's Plan. And Jesus spoke so many times to us all about our own lives and decisions knowing Scripture and God's Love and Mercy in our Prayer lives.

If we were to look at our life spans as being in an unusual time, we could come up with some astonishing reasons why this is an extraordinary time of life. Our Great-grandparents would be in utter astonishment to see - - - today. Our parent's life trends aren't necessarily our own.

And in History, we are alive during the Two Millennium absence of the State of Israel.

We live the Born Again time of Israel.


Today being Easter, we have an idea - how much Jesus would do to reach out.

What would Jesus have to say to our time frame in History?







John 3:1-21, 33-36


Now ~
there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.



16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”





33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.



One of the surprising things in Israel, when the Bible says something to the effect an altar was built or a landmark was created for something like which tribe inherited the land - usually, the landmark is found. If you're skeptical these stones are the exact same, why? The stones are put there from what the people could find at the time. Rocks nearby... "What God has put nearby." Landmarks are made from what God has put in our hand and in our lives to dwell in life. The question answers itself - is it the same landmark - yes.


John 3 is our landmark for our times. Nicodemus could answer some of our 'today' questions. Revelation says as the world grows old - knowledge will vastly increase. Nicodemus is not the sign for end of days, this isn't what we are looking at. Nicodemus is a Landmark. A touchstone. A great place to make a permanent memory.





Let's give us a stone marker to start this landmark.

The Great Sanhedrin Counsel met in the Temple, Chamber of Hewn Stone.


Sanhedrin - various political, religious, and judicial functions have been attributed. The Great Sanhedrin, or simply the Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem. There were also local or provincial sanhedrins of lesser jurisdiction and authority.

A council of elders, or senate.

Although eminent sources—the Hellenistic-Jewish historian Josephus, the New Testament, and the Talmud—have mentioned the Sanhedrin. In the writings of Josephus and the Gospels, for example, the Sanhedrin is presented as a political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler.)

The Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. Combining political, religious, and judicial functions in a community where these aspects were inseparable. Until the Roman Empire and Herod.

According to the Talmudic sources, including the tractate Sanhedrin, the Great Sanhedrin was a court of 71 sages that met on fixed occasions in the Lishkat La-Gazit (“Chamber of the Hewn Stones”) in the Jerusalem Temple and that was presided over by two officials (zugot, or “pair”), the nasi and the av bet din. It was a religious legislative body “whence the law [Halakha] goes out to all Israel.”

Before the Roman rule, it could appoint the king and the high priest, declare war, and expand the territory of Jerusalem and the Temple. Judicially, it could try a high priest, a false prophet, a rebellious elder, or an errant tribe. Religiously, it supervised certain rituals.


Nicodemus. He is placed as a man who has been chosen for wisdom to be part of the Jewish rulers. He is a man determined to seek understanding, God and wisdom.

 Nicodemus would certainly appeal to us because he seeks wisdom - we have at our fingertips.

We can surmise Nicodemus is not new to his own thoughts on God. Nicodemus makes none of the mistakes being puffed up by his own importance. Nor does he follow the crowd to become evil. Clearly, Nicodemus is not a new convert.

1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.


Nicodemus is certainly not going to appear to Jesus as sitting with Jesus. Jesus has been known to be part of sinners. And wisely, Nicodemus goes with questions. In Privacy.

Jesus speaks with Nicodemus forthrightly. Jesus is God. Nicodemus has perceived Jesus is not using the opportunity to elevate Himself. This is an interesting conversation. This is a blend of worldly places. We certainly live in a material world. We would have to meet Jesus as we are - because Jesus sees us.

Here we have Messiah and a Jewish ruler. And the Jewish ruler makes no pretense to be other than himself and not a typical "suit' or robe of nothing but a well-read, bent on the "everyone opinion" pop-culture knowledge of really it's all about Herod, Rome career and money, money. Nicodemus is there for his own soul and the soul of Israel - God's People. Nicodemus is not faking his own depth of soul and shallow soul. He has sought Jesus for reasons we would - Nicodemus wants to complete his life having spent his efforts, his heart pleasing to God.

Jesus knows something of people seeking the way, truth and Life.

If we put this very simply - real Nicodemus - real Jesus, really a soul.


Jesus explains in a world suddenly nothing like David's mercenary history of Israel - there are still landmarks. Nicodemus lived in a time so much Roman power and trade had created the mega-rich. The upper class Judea was now middle or struggling to make Roman taxes - when never asked if they wanted Caesar. Isaiah 7 indicates all the usual ways of commerce are done in - harmed or replaced. Capernaum, adult hometown of Jesus - is brand new to create fish for the Roman increasing population in Jerusalem. So much Roman money. And Money is being made in Capernaum. Jesus is living in what we might call a nice suburb. (And going forth to be God meeting all the people, all the time in poverty and even Herod's Stewart's wife - the Bible is the BLEND of ALL the People.)

The wealth and the new had swept in and overcome little Israel now Judea, a suburb of Syria. This was a time where all the classes and rules had changed. A time where the King of Israel stamped his non-Davidic image on a coin - to smile and be seen. And the king was not only living with his brother's wife - he was sending his own kids to be educated in Rome. Or kill them off.

Jesus arrived - when the People of God were earnestly needing Jesus.

The Sanhedrin had been a Council everyone in the nice "1950's" could really enjoy doing what was expected. Now Herod picked with an eye to making fussy, rural people happy, too. But really, mostly, to please the Governor and Caesar.

This was run for your dear life if the Sanhedrin made Herod unhappy.

Nicodemus is truly in a time all the landmarks are changing.


1. God is Spirit. He is here not to condemn us - but help us find Life.

2. Born of water and Spirit. Reality and Heaven. The needs of today, the flesh, cannot ever crowd out the Spirit. The reality of seeing life with eyes of faith - like a child.  This is Good News. Hope for this very day and every day.

3. The beliefs we held for ourselves, about our life, as children as having a necessary Life, do not end. Like Nicodemus, we are unsung. Nicodemus is not held forth in the Talmud as being the Mr. Important who Tried horrible Jesus and got Him down. Nicodemus is going to make a choice. Nicodemus is going to be the people of God who speak with Jesus in the eternal being - soul.

4. Nicodemus is not going to move the freight train. The Roman Empire is bigger than Nicodemus. What Nicodemus is going to do is use the way, truth and Life to make these inspiring little changes. No one is going to notice. After all, Nicodemus is not Pilate, Herod, Rabbi. And yet. Really. The inspiring little things God put in the hand and opportunity of Nicodemus - make eternal differences. We have found Nicodemus is Jimmy Stewart and "It's a Wonderful Life."

5. Nicodemus speaks up (during another, earlier end-that-Jesus- say the Sanhedrin Council. Because Nicodemus spoke up - Jesus has more time for Ministry. Given what Jesus does every day that is probably 25,000 or more people healed. Jesus healed them all on several occasions.

6. Good Friday and Holy Saturday - Jesus is seen by the Sanhedrin Counsel as deceased. Not just the Romans. We find Nicodemus' bravery cancels the spin, spin, spin over Jesus reviving from being beaten beyond recognition and dragging a huge cross to Crucifixion.

7. Nicodemus teaches us small amounts of bravery and wisdom lead to greater paths of a fulfilling life. We have an example of Nicodemus as a landmark. We can do a 'little of this' and "a little of that."

8. Reassuring us God will make a path for His Goodness in our efforts, lives and prayers. He is a Good Father making Life.

And the best point for last, Jesus spoke forthrightly to Nicodemus and never did Nicodemus feel Jesus had condemned him as inadequate. God has given Nicodemus so many years ago and us - tools to live the way, truth and Life.

Making the Point. God is Alive, Working and Father of Living Jesus Christ. Still for us. Still our Father. Still our Savior. Still our Father God of Love and Encouragement. Taking us out of darkness to become people who have seen a Very Great Light of the World, Jesus Christ.



Abba,

We Thank You for Your Blessing of Jesus. Today. In the Nature of Jesus, we are given Your Exact Nature.


Finding You Alive and Loving. Discovering again how 'for' us You are. God of Love.



Bless us to see You more clearly. Love You more dearly.

Bless our family. Bless our Loved Ones.

Let Your Glory sweep our Nation Trusting in You.


Let Your Majesty put all of Creation bringing more Heaven on earth. Bless the nations living in Your Brightness. Uphold, Bless, Keep Safe, Strengthen Encourage and Build up the Kingdom of Heaven in Your Beloved children all over Your Good Creation. More Jesus.


Let the Light of Your Love far outshine the darkness, to see the Victory of Your Son Today.


In Jesus, the Lord, God's Only Son, Alive, Working, Loving, Guiding us to Live.


Jesus God, Amen.













♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  









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We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has saved all who call upon His name and rely on Him for His Grace. The Scriptures are living & active and are for understanding the Lord Almighty. Biblical readings are chosen from the Ecumenical Christian Church and the Nicene Council, 325 A.D., approved Apocrypha. People remember not just from reading, but by sight and orally- an image has been added as well as audio readings. God tends to link the passages together with fascinates - this blogger, Anne-Laurel Gardere

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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

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New Posts by Subject Matter

Overcoming



The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter

Our God of All





Posts by Subject Matter





Blessings, Anne-Laurel





Who Jesus Is
1 Timothy 1:1-11 ~ God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Matthew 16:13-20 ~ who do people say the Son of Man is?

Good News for us to remember and Think Upon
Animals are found in Heaven ~ 6 Prophets See Animals in Heaven

Anger, Jealousy=Trouble




The Bible explains the Bible, Prophetically

Bible - in your hand, today

Bible Accuracy



Blessing







Blessing our Father God

Blessing - unaware

Boundaries

Brothers
Christmas - His Word Upholds the Universe - December 25th


Psalm 135 ~ who is in your midst
John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Details - Putting it all together and discovering it is about God

Psalm 108 ~ In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

Determine your own path, just love Him

Judges 16 ~ like any other man
John 4:43-54 ~ Doing what Jesus says


Earthquake

Every Day, Still Today
Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow


Exodus - History












Heavenly Hosts
His Messengers of Light












Elements of Nature Displaying HIS Glory
Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

I Decide What is Right and Wrong - God noticed this in the Garden of Eden from Eve

Individualism and Groups

It's the End of the World as We Know it, And I Feel Fine. (One of our most read posts.)
Grandpa - The Bible is Really the Life Story of People and
their Abba









Gates of Heaven


Gifts of God, all of us


Giving - God certainly is





























Glory


God sees His Creation as Good!!!


Gravity






















Good Friday

Gossip

Gratitude

Greatest

Grief, Forgiveness, Homecoming


Hated Emotion - Fear




































History - Is There History Showing Jesus was Alive - VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY

Holiness


Holy Spirit ~ Manifestations

Homeward Bound, still a sojourner

Honey, Do this

Invitation
John 3:31-36 ~ that God is true

Israel - Destroyed Completely and Rebuilt. A sign of Jesus. Existing today.

Jesus clearly put a Foundation for His Resurrection to be Believed by the Multitudes of all of Israel and the Nations

Jesus and His Childhood Privacy
Nazareth - What Jesus did See Growing Up

John the Beloved Disciple


The Journey of Joseph


























Live It
Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord
Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy
2 Samuel 4:1-12 ~ David answered
Hebrews 12 ~ Thankful
Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me
Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him
Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches
Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need
Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up
Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves
Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room
Joshua 1:1-9 ~ I am giving
Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus
John 1 ~ the Light shines
John 3:5-8 ~ born again
~ they went on from there and passed through Galilee
Judges 20 ~ Israel

Losing a Loved One - Passing ON

Revelation 21:22-27 ~ those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Not Being Tossed Back and Forth with Emotion
Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

Marriage
Romans 7:1-12 ~ bear fruit for God
1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband
Genesis 37:12-24 ~ when Reuben
Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love
Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Media... taking it down the path
1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God





Mercy, an Inseparable Component of Truth
Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean
1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Miscellaneous
Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God
2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper
1 Chronicles 13 ~ the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom










Peace




Pharisee ~ Religion
Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!


Pictorial Images of the 12 Tribes of Israel








Picture It


















Overcoming, with God's help!


Positive Attitude in Trouble




Prophets - the Law and the Old Men in Robes or People who Love the Lord. Flaws and Virtues. What They Sought in the Lord and What Drew Them to Him.



Praise



























Prayer

Psalm 91 ~ Prayer is always heard, God has an open door policy



Prayer Needs




Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words

Promises

Prosperity Gospel











Repeat and Repeat







Rest

Restore

Revelation 8:2
Seven Angels who stand before God

Revisionist History - Moses and Jeremiah said
there would be days like this
Deuteronomy 8
Jeremiah 23


Rock


SALVATION! What is needed?

Science - Blinded me - No - He Who Opens the Eyes of the Blind - With Science!!!

Second (3rd or 4th) Rate Seventh Level of Heaven

Seventh Level of Heaven







Shepherd

Smile!



Time Management





Life and Travels of Paul

Shroud

Transfiguration



True
The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter



Trust Him

Uncomfortable Scripture

Video Game Player

Visual







Who is like our God?

Willingly

Works and Grace
Mark 1:4-11 ~ You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased

Worry

Wrathful, Nasty Old God from the Old Testament

Yahweh




Years - Thousands of Them are Yesterday in His Sight


80 Books of the Bible
Holy Spirit Approved by the First Council Nicaea and St. Nicholas
Included by the Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Today included by the Catholic Church
God wants to save the world.
The Apocrypha has Purpose; other cultures blend here.





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