YOU COULD BE MISSING YOUR DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY
Fear, doubt, unbelief, and procrastination are powerful forces that can close doors for growth, development, and even success.
How do we go beyond them and walk through the doors of opportunity? Pause
Welcome back to our new series.
We are exploring the unique message of the Gospel of John.
John’s Gospel gives us an up-close look at Jesus’s personal interaction with individuals.
These stories reveal deep truths about Jesus, who He is, and what He means to us.
Here, we examine the lives of individuals who successfully seize opportunities while others fail to do so.
Examining their successes and failures will help us better manage our doors of opportunity.
Stay with us throughout the entire series by subscribing to my YouTube Channel, Sabbath School Daily by DrBrenda Ware Davis, or visiting my Website, SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
This journey through John will help you get to know Jesus intimately and personally.
It will help you decide how to relate to him and even give you the courage to walk through your doors of opportunity.
As always, before we begin, let’s Pray.
Inviting God’s Presence.
Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom and courage to recognize and seize the opportunities You place before us.
Give us the tools we need to walk in the path You’ve prepared for our growth and success. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 1 Introduction
When we fail to act on the opportunities that God gives us, we risk closing the door to His blessings.
Fear, doubt, unbelief, and procrastination can block our way, but the Gospel of John pulls back the curtains so we can recognize and avoid the factors that keep us from seizing on our opportunities.
A major step to seizing our doors of opportunity is identified in John 3:3 in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, who sought to find his door of opportunity. (Pause)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Being born again means accepting Jesus and living by His teachings. Jesus gave people powerful evidence from the scriptures to support the things He said about Himself. One of the things Jesus said about Himself was, that the person who believes in Him will live forever,
47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. (John 6:47).
For some, this might sound strange, but it is an open door of opportunity. Now is not the time to let it shut.
Belief in Jesus opens the door to eternal life, and even the blessing promised in this world.
Who in their right mind would want to miss this opportunity?
But there is more that reveals who he is and the opportunities that he offers us.
Jesus performed many miracles/signs.
He turned water into wine, fed thousands with just five loaves of bread and two fish, healed the sick, and even raised Lazarus from the dead.
These miracles were signs to help us believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God.
John wrote about these signs so that we can know who Jesus is and trust in Him.
Remember, doubt, fear, procrastination, and disbelief are factors that close the doors of opportunity.
Many people in the Bible witnessed Jesus’ signs.
Some were Jews, others were not.
Some were rich; some were poor.
There were educated people and those who had no education.
No matter who they were, their stories point to one truth: Jesus is the Savior.
In fact, John points to God himself and the scriptures as evidence of Jesus’ identity.
We start by looking at the powerful witnesses of John the Baptist and others, such as Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.
All of them were ordinary people who found their greatest opportunity in following Jesus.
And then there’s the Pharisee Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, and Andrew, once prejudiced and a skeptic, referred to in John 1:35, and 40.
All these people had the chance to open the door of faith and let Jesus in.
Thus, in His ministry, Jesus called ordinary men like John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael—to follow Him and witness His miracles/His signs.
These men left their jobs and followed Jesus because they didn’t want to miss the opportunity He offered.
Don’t let doubt, fear, unbelief, hesitation, or procrastination keep the door of opportunity in your life closed.
Jesus stands at the door, waiting for us to let Him in. Believing in Him and following His teachings opens the door to eternal life and blessings beyond measure.
John the Baptist was one who helped others open their door of opportunity.
How did he do this? Read John 1:19-23 and Isaiah 40:1–5
Then continue to Part 2: The Testimony of John the Baptist
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 2: The Testimony of John the Baptist
Opportunities come our way every day, but if we’re not ready, we can miss them.
Just like a door that closes, if we don’t walk through in time, opportunities for growth and change can slip away.
The story of John the Baptist and how he prepared people for Jesus’ coming teaches us how to avoid closing the doors of opportunity in our own lives.
In my previous video, the Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the Word.
He is identified as the Living Word.
John helps us understand that Jesus existed before Creation.
Along with this, John the Baptist is introduced as a witness to Jesus.
Some of the Jews in Jesus’ time expected two messiahs, a priestly one and a kingly one.
John, however, makes it clear that John the Baptist did not claim to be either of these messiahs.
Instead, his role was to point to Jesus, the true Messiah.
Thus, in John 1:19-23, we see the Jewish religious leaders sending priests and Levites to ask John who he is.
You see, they were confused because so many were waiting for the Messiah, and they wondered if John was the one.
However, John the Baptist clearly states in John 1:20,
“I am not the Christ” (John 1:20).
John the Baptist was just a witness, sent to prepare people for the Savior.
It was important that he clarify his role in the expectations of the coming Messiah.
Therefore, John 1:6-8 lets us know that he, John the Baptist, was not the Light but was sent from God to bear witness to the Light and to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
John 1:6-8
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (John 1:6-8)
John baptized the people with water to help them understand that something bigger was coming.
In fact, John the Baptist expressed that he was not worthy to untie the one-to-come sandal strap (See John 1:26 and 33).
This was because, before John the Baptist, there was Jesus.
Even though John came first, Jesus is the preexistent one.
He is the Son of God.
John’s job was to point everyone to him.
He does that when he says in John 1:34
34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34)
In contrast to John the Baptist, who baptized the people with water, Jesus Christ, as expressed in John 1:26-27 would baptize the people with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist knew his place.
He wasn’t trying to take the spotlight.
He understood that Jesus was more important because Jesus was God Himself.
John the Baptist was just a messenger sent to point people to Jesus, the Son of God.
His job was to prepare the way for Jesus, like workers smoothing the road for a king’s arrival.
Thus, John, in John 1:23, uses Isaiah 40:1-5 to help us better understand John the Baptist’s mission.
His mission was to get people’s hearts ready for Jesus so that they would use their door of opportunity when it presented itself.
Back in that day, the roads were bumpy and full of rocks.
Therefore, servants were tasked with going ahead of the king to smooth out the roads and straighten the sharp turns.
This made it easier and smoother for the king to travel.
Likewise, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 40:1-5 John the Baptist came to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus.
John the Baptist shows us how to stay focused on what really matters.
He didn’t let pride, doubt, fear, distractions, unbelief, or procrastination get in the way and close the doors of opportunity God gave him.
Like John, we should be ready to seize the opportunities God gives us.
If we live with purpose and keep our hearts open, we won’t miss the opportunities that God opens for us.
God is always giving us chances to grow, to serve, and to share His love with others.
We should, therefore, stay ready, stay open, and step through the doors God has for us.
There are many looking for someone to rescue them from their situation.
Often, they miss the door of opportunity because they are looking for help in the wrong direction.
How can we be sure of our deliverer and seize our door of opportunity?
Read John 1:29-37 Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3: The Lamb of God.
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 3: The Lamb of God
We all need help at some point in our lives.
But the kind of savior we expect can be different from what we really need.
That knight in shining armor may not be a knight after all.
But there is a true Savior, Jesus Christ; He is the one John the Baptist was preparing the way for.
John, in his Gospel, helps us understand who Jesus really is and the work He came to do.
The Hebrews or the Jewish people in Jesus’ day were looking for a Savior who would free them from the oppression of the Roman government.
They had hoped for a strong leader, maybe even a king, who would rule from a throne on Earth.
However, John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, who wrote the Gospel of John, describes to us a different kind of Savior.
John changed our understanding of the Messiah.
He helps us to understand that Jesus didn’t come to sit on an earthly throne.
It was John’s aim to help us recognize Jesus as the one fulfilling the prophecies regarding the coming King.
The promised Messiah, the Anointed One, would not be an earthly ruler.
He was to fulfill the Old Testament promises of a Savior who would give Himself as a sacrifice on behalf of the world.
Jesus came to fix the broken relationship between God and His people.
In John 1:29-37, we see John the Baptist making a very important announcement.
When he saw Jesus, he didn’t call Him a king or a leader. Instead, John says in John 1:29,
29 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).
This picture of Jesus as a lamb is very powerful. Why?
In the Old Testament, lambs were used as sacrifices to pay for people’s sins.
John was telling the people that Jesus would be the sacrifice to take away the sin of the whole world.
No, Jesus wasn’t just another leader; He was the promised Messiah, the Anointed One/the Savior who came to give His life for everyone.
The statement of the Baptist regarding Jesus as the Lamb of God bears witness to the purpose of John’s Gospel.
The intent of the Gospel of John was to bring about a renewed understanding of the work and nature of the Messiah.
This idea of Jesus being the “Lamb of God” goes all the way back to Genesis 3:15, where God promised to send a Savior, a Redeemer.
The people had been waiting for this Savior for a long time.
“When at the baptism of Jesus, John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, a new light was shed upon the Messiah’s work. The prophet’s mind was directed to the words of Isaiah, ‘He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.’ Isa. 53:7.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 136.
John wanted people to see that Jesus was the answer to all of God’s promises.
Mark 10:45 tells us that Jesus came “to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Romans 5:6 says that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, the ungodly.”
And 1 Peter 2:24 explains that Jesus “carried our sins in His body on the cross.”
He carried “our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed”.
These verses help us see that Jesus didn’t come to lead with power or force.
He came to lay down His life and pay the price for our sins.
He came to be the Lamb, sacrificed to save us.
When we think of Jesus as the Lamb of God, we see the great love that God has for us.
Jesus took on the punishment for our sins, something we could never do ourselves.
He willingly gave up His life so that we could be saved and have a new relationship with God.
This is the price God paid to save us—a price that shows just how much He loves us.
This is a door of opportunity we don’t want to pass up.
The picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God shows us that God’s love is real, and it cost Him everything to save us.
Jesus didn’t come to take a throne on Earth but to take away our sins and give us eternal life.
Let’s not miss the opportunity to accept His gift and live in the freedom He offers.
Remember, the door to salvation will not always be open—let’s step through it now and share this good news with others.
Two of John the Baptist’s disciples were standing by him when Jesus passed by.
How did they respond to their door of opportunity?
Read John 1:35-39 Then, Continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: The Two Disciples of John
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 4: The Two Disciples of John
Sometimes in life, our door of opportunity calls us to leave behind what we know and follow a new path that offers something greater.
This is not easy, but in the story of John the Baptist’s two of his faithful followers left him to follow Jesus.
Their move teaches us a valuable lesson about recognizing opportunities and stepping forward in faith.
John the Baptist had two followers who stayed close to him and listened to his teachings.
One day, as Jesus walked by, John pointed to Him and said, “‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:36).
These two followers had been loyal to John.
They had listened to John’s message about Christ, and they took special notice of his teachings on the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.
From their experience with John the Baptist, they knew that if He was pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God, they recognized that Jesus was now the one to follow, for He was greater than John the Baptist.
They understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah John had been preaching about.
Thus, they immediately left him to follow Jesus.
Had they chosen to cling to John the Baptist and failed to follow Jesus, they would have missed their opportunity.
So, in John 1:35-39, we read about what these two followers did after hearing John the Baptist’s message about Jesus.
They didn’t hesitate. They followed Jesus and spent the day with Him.
That day had to be an incredible experience for them!
We don’t know exactly what they talked about, but it’s clear that being with Jesus changed their lives forever.
Their experience with Jesus gave them the desire to share it with others.
Their encounter with him moved them so much that one of them, Andrew, quickly found his brother, Simon, and told him, “ ‘We have found the Messiah’ (translated, the Christ)” (John 1:41).
Andrew didn’t just tell his brother about Jesus—he brought him to meet Jesus.
Jesus, showing that He already knew Him, said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah.”
Then, because He knew and understood the character of Peter, He gave Him a new name.
He said, You shall be called Cephas’ ”(John 1:42).
This was the beginning of a deep, lasting, and powerful relationship between Jesus and His disciples.
Jesus knew Peter, just like He knows each one of us.
This special knowledge that Jesus had about people is something we see throughout the book of John.
This we see in John’s narrative in John 2:24-25 when he was describing the events in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast.
24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. (John 2:24-25)
The Holy Spirit worked in their hearts through the teachings of John the Baptist, and that same Spirit led them to Jesus.
However, unbelief is a factor that often causes us to close our door of opportunity.
Had these two disciples of John the Baptist failed to believe that Jesus was the Lamb of God, they would have, like many of the religious leaders, closed their doors to their incredible opportunity of knowing Jesus.
Andrew, John, and the other followers differed from the religious leaders of the time.
The religious leaders often came to Jesus to criticize or judge Him.
However, Andrew and John were open to learning from Jesus.
They weren’t trying to test Him—they wanted to be with Him, to learn from Him, and to experience what He had to offer.
It says in the Desire of Ages:
“If John and Andrew had possessed the unbelieving spirit of the priests and rulers, they would not have been found as learners at the feet of Jesus. They would have come to Him as critics, to judge His words. . . . But not so did these first disciples. They had responded to the Holy Spirit’s call in the preaching of John the Baptist. Now they recognized the voice of the heavenly Teacher. . . —Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 139.
The Gospel of John is written to help us understand who Jesus really is so we, like the two disciples are prompt to share the good news about Jesus with others.
When we come close to Jesus and spend time with Him, we are filled with His love, and we naturally want to invite others to experience that same love.
The hearts of these disciples were completely transformed by the time they spent with Jesus, and eventually, their lives became a reflection of the love of their Master Teacher.
In fact, it says in the Book Education: Peter, James, and John sought every opportunity to come into close contact with their Master, and their desire was granted. Of all the Twelve their relationship to Him was closest… Consequently, John In adoration and love beheld the Saviour, until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire, and in his character was reflected the character of his Master.—Education, p. 87. (Pause)
Ready to act when the opportunity came, the two followers of John the Baptist, John and Andrew, didn’t stay where they were.
They followed Jesus and experienced something life-changing.
This teaches us that when God opens a door of opportunity for us, we must be ready to walk through it.
Phillip and Nathanael were looking for the Messiah.
However, prejudice is one factor that can hold us back.
Nathanael had this problem. Did he allow his prejudice to keep him from walking through his door of opportunity?
How did Phillip and Nathanael respond to their door of opportunity?
Read John 1:43-47 Then, continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5: Phillip and Nathanael
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 5: Phillip and Nathanael
Sometimes, our own doubts and fears can block us from seeing the truth.
But when we take a step of faith and follow Jesus’ invitation, amazing things happen.
We now learn about Philip and how his faith led him to introduce his friend Nathanael to Jesus despite Nathanael’s doubts and prejudice.
How did Nathanael respond?
Philip was from the same town as Andrew and Peter—Bethsaida.
Recall that John the Baptist had called Jesus “the Lamb of God.”
So, Andrew had told Peter that he had found “the Messiah.”
Likewise, after meeting Jesus, Philip was so excited that he immediately went to find his friend Nathanael.
Philip didn’t just tell Nathanael that Jesus was a great teacher—he told him that Jesus was the One whom Moses and the prophets had written about.
Though Philip’s faith in Jesus was strong, when he told Nathanael that Jesus came from Nazareth, Nathanael wasn’t impressed.
In John 1:46, we see Nathanael’s sharp response to Philip’s message, Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
Then, Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46)
You see, Nathanael didn’t think anything important or good could come from such a small, insignificant town.
His prejudice against Nazareth almost made him miss his opportunity to meet Jesus.
Instead of arguing with Nathanael, Philip replied, “Come and see” (John 1:46).
Philip didn’t try to convince Nathanael with elaborate words; he simply invited him to come and meet Jesus for himself.
Between verses 46 and 47, it doesn’t say exactly how Nathanael reacted to Philip’s invitation.
But we do know he decided to go and see for himself.
His trust in Philip was stronger than his doubts, and his decision changed his life forever.
Thus, in John 1:47-51, we see how Jesus helps Nathanael see who He is and Nathanael’s response.
As Nathanael approaches, Jesus calls him “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47).
This was far different from what Nathanael had said about Jesus.
Jesus saw that Nathanael was honest and straightforward.
Nathanael was surprised because he had not met Jesus before, so in John 1:48, he asked, “How do you know me?”
Jesus then tells him that He had seen him sitting under a fig tree before Philip called him.
This simple statement had a powerful impact on Nathanael.
It wasn’t just that Jesus knew where he had been.
The Desire of Ages points out that Jesus saw him praying and searching for the truth under the tree.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, Nathanael realized that Jesus was more than just a man from Nazareth.
At the time when Philip called him, Nathanael had withdrawn to a quiet grove to meditate upon the announcement of John and the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
He prayed that if the one announced by John was the deliverer, it might be made known to him, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him with assurance that God had visited His people and raised up a horn of salvation for them. . .
The message, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write,” seemed to Nathanael a direct answer to his prayer. . . . [But] prejudice arose in Nathanael’s heart.
He exclaimed, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Lift Him Up, p. 81.
At his encounter with Jesus, Nathanael recognized that Jesus was the Savior he had been praying for.
Therefore, his doubts disappeared, and he confessed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).
After meeting Jesus, Nathanael’s heart changed.
He walked through his door of opportunity and became a faithful disciple.
Nathanael’s story teaches us an important lesson.
Sometimes, our own biases or prejudices can prevent us from seeing the truth and accepting the opportunities God gives us.
If Nathanael had stayed stuck in his negative thinking about Nazareth, he would have missed his opportunity.
But he trusted his friend Philip enough to take the step of faith and “come and see” for himself.
That step changed his life forever.
Realizing his wrong, Nathanael then makes a grand confession of faith, calling Jesus Rabbi, the Son of God, and the King of Israel.
Like Nathanael, we must be open to God’s invitation.
When invited to examine our faith or see Jesus in a new and exalted way, we shouldn’t let our doubts or prejudices miss our door of opportunity.
Instead, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, we should be willing to “come and see” for ourselves.
Furthermore, like Philip, we don’t need to have all the answers to share Jesus with others.
Sometimes, the best thing we can do is invite others to experience Jesus for themselves.
The Gospel of John shows us how Jesus sees us, just like He saw Nathanael under the fig tree.
Jesus knows our hearts, our prayers, and our struggles.
He sees us when we seek Him, and He is always ready to reveal Himself to those who honestly and diligently seek Him.
We don’t have to rely on others’ opinions or our own doubts.
We can experience Jesus personally through prayer, studying his word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Philip’s invitation, “Come and see,” is simple yet powerful.
It reminds us that no matter our doubts, prejudices, fears, or uncertainties, we can always come to Jesus and discover the truth for ourselves.
Nicodemus, prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit and curious about Jesus, secretly visited him by night.
How did he respond to his opportunity?
Read John 3:1-21 Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: The Witness of Nicodemus
The Gospel of John
(Lesson 4)
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Part 6: The Witness of Nicodemus
We all face questions about life, faith, and what it truly means to follow God.
Here, we learn about a man named Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night searching for answers.
What Jesus told him that night not only changed Nicodemus’ life but also revealed a powerful truth about what it means to be born again and to truly understand who Jesus is.
Nicodemus was a respected teacher and a wealthy man in Israel.
He was part of the Sanhedrin, the religious government that ruled over the Jewish people.
In John 3:1-21, we read about how Nicodemus came to Jesus secretly.
He wanted to learn more about Jesus but didn’t want to be seen by others because he wasn’t sure about what he believed yet.
Nicodemus called Jesus “Rabbi,” which means teacher, and he acknowledged that Jesus must have come from God because of the signs and the miracles He performed as evidence of his divine connection.
But Nicodemus still had some doubts about who Jesus really was.
Though Nicodemus seemed skeptical, he gave evidence in support of his belief in Jesus’ Messiahship.
You see, Nicodemus saw the signs Jesus performed as evidence of Jesus’ divine calling.
He understood that the signs were significant.
However, he wasn’t sure these signs indicated that Jesus was the promised Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament.
So, when Nicodemus came to Jesus, he still had doubts regarding Jesus as the Christ.
Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3 shows that he could see right through him.
Jesus knows our hearts. Thus, He knew what was in Nicodemus’ heart.
He knew that Nicodemus needed something more than just understanding signs—he needed to be born again.
Though Jesus’ response to Nicodemus may seem abrupt, Jesus cut through to the chase; he went straight to the problem.
He told Nicodemus, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).
Nicodemus is confused by Jesus’ statement in John 3:3: “You must be born again.”
He wondered, “How can a man be born when he is old?
Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (Pause)
He didn’t understand that Jesus was talking about a spiritual rebirth, not a physical one.
The Jews had a special heritage going back to Abraham, which gave them some unique advantages.
But simply being of the seed of Abraham was not enough.
Jesus told Nicodemus, a teacher and ruler of Israel, something shocking.
He said Nicodemus needed to be born again in a new way—from above.
Then Jesus confronted Nicodemus about his own spiritual ignorance in John 3:10.
He asked, “Are you a teacher of Israel and do not know these things?” John 3:10
This was a stunning rebuke for Nicodemus.
Then, Jesus explained to Nicodemus what it means to be born again in John 3:5-8.
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, 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 the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)
Hence, even as a leader in Israel, Nicodemus had to be born again if he wanted to enter God’s kingdom.
This idea was surprising to Nicodemus.
He thought he knew what it meant to follow God, but Jesus showed him that he needed to experience God in a whole new way.
Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts like the wind—you can hear the wind but don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit changes hearts in ways we might not fully understand, but the change is real and powerful.
Nicodemus that night left that conversation still thinking about Jesus’ words.
It took time for him to accept the truth fully, but later in his life, we see that Nicodemus did not miss his door of opportunity.
He later became a disciple of Jesus.
Despite whatever questions he had regarding Jesus that night, we find in John 19:39 that Nicodemus helped to bury Jesus after His crucifixion, boldly standing with the disciples when many others were afraid.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. (John 19:39)
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus teaches us that no matter who we are or what we’ve accomplished, we all need to be born again.
Being born again means letting the Holy Spirit change our hearts and give us a fresh start.
It means putting our faith in Jesus, not just as a great teacher, but as the Savior who takes away our sins and gives us a new life.
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that He came to save the world, not to condemn it.
He used the example of Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness
John 3:14-15
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)
Just like the people who looked at the serpent were healed, those who look to Jesus will be saved.
Jesus was lifted up on the cross to save us, and when we believe in Him, we are born again into new life.
This new birth is not something we can do on our own. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit.
Many people claim to follow God, but without the work of the Spirit, they don’t truly experience the change that comes from being born again.
They might try to be good on their own or think that being part of a religious group is enough, but Jesus says that unless we are born again, we can’t enter the kingdom of God.
Ellen G. White explains that there are many people who know about God but don’t have a personal relationship with Him. They might follow religious traditions, but their hearts aren’t truly changed.
The only hope for these people—and for all of us—is to understand the truth of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:7).
Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions, and Jesus gave him an answer that changed his life. We, too, need to be born again if we want to truly follow Jesus.
It’s not about what we know or what we do—it’s about letting the Holy Spirit change our hearts and trust in Jesus as our Savior.
We all must allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts so that we can experience this new life, just like Nicodemus eventually did, and experience the transformation that only Jesus can bring.
The door to this new life is open to all of us.
All we must do is step through by believing in Jesus and accepting Him as Our savior.
We must be born again!
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