October 17 How Can This Be?

John 3:7-12 (Jesus said) “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
 
DOES Nicodemus’ question, “How can this be?” remind you of two others who asked a similar question? Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” & Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Similar questions, but not the same. Mary said, “How will?” with expectation. The learned priest Zechariah and Pharisee Nicodemus said, “How can?” with doubt.  
   The Virgin understood what the men did not. We must always be alert to know the Sovereign God works in his ways to do his will. Jesus wanted Nicodemus to use his knowledge as a teacher of Israel to know God’s creative authority. Israel’s Scriptures – our Old Testament – teaches God is sovereign to create, to change laws of nature and the cosmos to his purpose. Nicodemus should be mindful of God’s promise in Eden to save mankind from sin. God formed Israel to be his people of the promise. He then spoke through Israel’s prophets of a Savior to come.
   All of this became reality because God caused it. When Nicodemus asked in John 3:4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” he indicates he has missed the point of salvation from heaven’s Spirit. Mary wondered, “How will God do his will?” not as Nicodemus, “How can God do his will?”
   The Bible tells us the history (his story) of the earth created by and under the authority of a transcendent God. That means he is different than his creation. He has authority far above our human understanding. To believe in such a God is to have faith that in his way and power, we are born again into a new heavenly existence.
   Believe in God’s way and be saved.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. For yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen.