A Door in the Dark

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. He knows a lot about God. He is a teacher and a leader, yet he still has questions. Maybe that sounds familiar. You can sit through church, know the songs, and still wonder what it means to really know God. Jesus does not send Nicodemus away or ask him to come back when he has everything figured out. He talks with him. Start there today. Read John 3:1-17 slowly and picture two people speaking in the dark. One has questions. The other is willing to stay and answer them. What would you bring into that conversation?

Jesus tells Nicodemus that he needs to be born again, or born from above. Nicodemus takes the words in the most literal way: How could an older person be born a second time? Jesus keeps going. He speaks of the Spirit, who is as hard to pin down as the wind. Nicodemus cannot give himself this new life by learning more rules or trying harder. It comes from God. That is good news if you are tired of measuring your faith by how well you performed this week. It is also a kind invitation if you have never been sure where you stand with Jesus. You can tell him what you understand and what you do not.

Then comes the line many of us know by heart: God loved the world and gave his Son so that those who believe in him may have eternal life. The word world includes people who are confused, people who have done wrong, and people whose faith feels small. Verse 17 adds that God sent his Son to save the world, not to condemn it. The passage takes our eyes from what we can achieve to what God has given. Believing in Jesus begins with receiving that gift and trusting the one who gives it. Today, you do not have to force a dramatic moment or pretend to feel something you do not. You can begin with a plain prayer: Jesus, I am here. Help me see what you are offering. Read the passage once more, and notice which part you want to ask him about.