“Even before there is a word on my tonque, behold O Lord Thou dost know it all.”

As I study and meditate on God’s Word the more I see the true nature of God. As I studied John chapter three this week I saw the true meaning of Psalm 139:4. These verses gives us the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus one night. In this story Nicodemus addresses Jesus in this manner “Rabbi we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” As I look at just the first part of this sentence I see so much information packed in it. He addressed Jesus as a teacher who not only knew the scripture but was also sent from God. But Nicodemus also used the word “we” which meant not only did Nicodemus believed this of Jesus at this time, but also several other Pharisees. also believed. The second part of the address revealed the reason for believing that Jesus was send from God. That reason was the signs that were performed by Him.

When Jesus answers Nicodemus, I believe that Nicodemus realized that he revealed Psalm 139:4 to him. Jesus knew what was on Nicodemus’s mind before he even asked the question to Jesus. This is an example of the sign that Nicodemus was probably referring to as he address Jesus. Jesus went straight to the answer before the question was even asked. The question was “How can one see the kingdom of God.” The answer to the question was one must be born again. This opened up the discussion he then had with Nicodemus about salvation. When Nicodemus ask Jesus “How can these things be?”, Jesus replied “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”. Nicodemus as a teacher and ruler of the nation of Israel he should have knowledge of these answers.

Then Jesus, as the Son of Man, explains the serpent of Moses in the wilderness to him. He stated “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believes may in Him have eternal life.” Nicodemus knew this story well. However, Jesus took this story and applied it to being born again. This story of the serpent found in Numbers 21:4-9 reveals how anyone who was bitten by the serpent would live by just looking at the serpent. This serpent was an example of how man who was under the curse of sin brought about by Satan the serpent could free himself from this curse by looking to the Son of Man on the cross.

So here early in the ministry of Jesus be reveals himself as the Christ who will become the Son of Man to take the place of the serpent on the cross for the sins of mankind. The Jews at this time were looking for the kingdom of God coming to them in their own fallen condition, not realizing that to enter the kingdom of God one must first be made clean and free from sin. He adds to his discourse with these words which we should all know “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Just as Nicodemus unspoken question to Jesus was answered before it was asked, so to can your unspoken question that lies buried deep inside your mind be answered by these same words, “You must be born again”. This salvation is available by looking on the Savior and believing.