Lent Day 6: Interaction with Nicodemus

Pause

Spend a few minutes recounting how God has worked in your life to draw you into a relationship with Him. Thank Him for Jesus’ sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s work.

Read & Journal

Read John 3:1-21 in your Bible. Meditate on what God is teaching you through this passage with these questions:

• What does this interaction with Nicodemus teach you about Jesus’ character? About His purpose and mission?

• How do you see Jesus entering into human brokenness in this passage?

• When or how has Jesus entered into your own spiritual brokenness?

Ponder

As a Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus was expected to have all the answers. But he didn’t—and on some level, he understood that Jesus did. Nicodemus knew the Law; he taught the Law, but he still knew something was missing spiritually. In his searching and brokenness, Nicodemus came to Jesus—and Jesus invited him into a life-changing relationship that wasn’t about knowledge but about being fully known. It wasn’t about having all the answers or doing all the right things, but trusting the One who did. Nicodemus’ knowledge, his good deeds—none of that would fill the hole in his soul. But through the work of the Holy Spirit and trusting in Jesus, Nicodemus could experience new spiritual wholeness.

Jesus still enters into our spiritual brokenness when He invites us into a relationship with Him. Our knowledge, our good deeds, our efforts—none of those will lead to eternal life, but trusting Jesus does.

A Note from Mandy

I'm a big fan of Alexa devices, and Alexa-enabled devices help to automate my life. I'm particularly fond of the Wi-Fi-enabled lightbulbs that allow me to turn on lights in my house before I get home and best of all, before I get out of bed.

Lately, a lamp in my bedroom has been coming on in the middle of the night for reasons I cannot figure out. I'll be fast asleep, slowly wake up, realize the light is on, and, in my stupor, groggily say, "Alexa, turn off the bedroom light."

So as I read Jesus' words to Nicodemus at the close of John 3, those images of dark and light stand out to me.

"The light has come into the world and the people loved the darkness rather than the light."

"For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.”

"But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shone to be accomplished by God."

In the middle of the night, I want darkness so I can sleep. But some of us are living in the darkness, hiding parts of ourselves or our lives away from God as if he didn't know. Let us be people who shine with the light of Christ, so that our lives may be a testimony of his goodness.