The Life of Jesus Series
How Jesus interacted with
others.
John 3:1-21
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
"In the early
days of newspapers, when something big happened, the publisher would not only
publish the normal daily paper, but would also publish an “Extra”.
The
newspapers were sold on the street, often by newsboys, who had a stack of
papers and would sell them to walkers-by. When an Extra came out, they would
chant "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" to call attention to the
fact that something big has happened, and an Extra paper has been
published". From reddit.com
That’s
basically what’s happening in this interchange between Jesus and Nicodemus.
Jesus emphatically states three times; “Truly,
truly I tell you”; which in ancient times meant, “Extra! Extra! I have
something really important to say to you!” It was a way of interrupting
Nicodemus’ life and getting his attention.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again
(born from above) he cannot see
the kingdom of God.” ESV
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. ESV
11 Truly, truly, I say to you… 13 No one has
ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ESV
Jesus
is straight out telling Nicodemus that he is the Son of Man; that he is the way
to not only see the kingdom of God, but to enter it. Jesus
stepped into the life of Nicodemus, and changed him forever. In the same way,
Jesus can step into your life and into mine changing us forever.
Emmanuel
means God with us. Two thousand years ago God stepped into the world we live in
through the person of Jesus Christ. Not only did he step into it, but he
interrupted the natural order of things. It was more than an Extra edition of
the paper. It was an “Extra! Extra!” of life-changing proportions.
Your
life has been interrupted. Will you listen to the head lines?
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