Beautiful Encounters

Love draws Nicodemus to Jesus

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night.” (John 3:1-2)

The first step of salvation is taken by God, not us. Nicodemus met with Jesus because the Spirit first placed a desire in his heart.

The ruler saw the miracles. He heard the praises of the healed. He saw the temple cleansed of merchandising. All this goodness appealed to him.

Christ then condescended to meet with the religious leader in the place and manner of his choosing. The Savior deals with fallen humans very tenderly and very gradually. Yet, He does not leave us to stagnate. After some time, He prompts us to the next step.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for only needy sinners shall be given the kingdom of grace

Nicodemus “said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Truly truly I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Truly truly I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wants and you hear the sound of it, but can not tell from where it comes and where it goes, so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things? Truly truly I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:2-13)

Nicodemus opened the conversation with a compliment. Or, at least he thought he was paying a compliment. Jesus got right to the point and showed him that He knew where the ruler was holding back.

The Pharisee knew the time prophecies of Daniel. He had listened to John the Baptist. He saw the evidences of divinity in the miracles. Nicodemus was wrestling with the conviction that Jesus was no mere human teacher. He was the divine Messiah.

If Nicodemus was merely going to discuss doctrine or methods with a human teacher, then what was the point? New wine must be put in a new wineskin. The ruler needed a new heart, the heart of a child, to joyfully acknowledge the truth. He needed the heavenly perspective on earthly things. He needed to perceive the spiritual mystery of God in the flesh.

If Jesus allowed the Pharisee to walk away from that conversation thinking he had heard truth from a holy man, then Nicodemus could throw away the teachings at will. He could adapt and twist them to suit his carnal nature. In his thinking, the message and messenger were only human. Instead, Jesus deepened the conviction that was already weighing on Nicodemus’s mind.

Like the wind moving the trees, the ruler needed to submit to the moving of the Spirit. Like a newborn baby entirely dependent on love and life from its parents, Nicodemus needed to give up control of his life to his heavenly Father. Only from the perspective of sitting on his Father’s shoulders, could Nicodemus understand anything correctly. Only He who had come down from heaven could teach him about heaven.

The Pharisee expected to have an exchange between two enlightened religious teachers. He expected to trade spiritual riches. Instead, Nicodemus was brought face to face with his spiritual poverty.

Blessed are those who mourn for transformation: for they shall be given hope over the Serpent

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:14-17)

Jesus made the point, then He stopped making it. The truth of our spiritual bankruptcy always takes time to settle into our psyche. Jesus knew the Pharisee would think more about it later. Therefore, Jesus advanced to the next step so that Nicodemus would have hope when the cutting truth finally penetrated his soul.

The story to which Jesus is referring when He said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent,” is found in Numbers 21. After deliverance from Egypt and the plagues, after Mount Sinai, after 40 years of miraculous sustenance in the wilderness, right after Moses‘ patience wore thin and he hit the Rock instead of speaking to it to get water thereby forfeiting his entrance to the Promised Land, after all that, the people still complained that Moses had brought them out of Egypt to die. They would not recognize that God delivered them to live.

Therefore, what blessing had failed to do, a curse would attempt. God unleashed scorpions in the camp that began biting the complainers. At first, that would not appear to be an action of a loving God, but remember that we are in a quarantine, not a holiday resort. The Master Physician will try all levels of medical procedure possible to resuscitate His patients.

“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you. Pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:6-9)

Look and live! It really is that simple. As John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world!"

Jesus is the Lamb on the cross and He is the Serpent on the pole. “For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Dear reader, are you bitten by evil? Are you bitten by your own sins? Do you feel your spiritual poverty and shame? Do you mourn because of your pain and the pain you have caused others? Have you tossed the hammer from your hand as in horror you realize that you are the one who nailed the Son of man to the cross?

Be comforted, for God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that you might believe in Him and not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn you; but that you through Him might be saved.

Blessed are the meek: for they have decided to live the eternal Christian life

“He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be revealed, that they are worked in God.” (John 3:18-21)

To believe in the name of the Son of God is to truly believe in His goodness, His character, His unselfish love. “Even the devils believe and tremble” when they hear the name, “Jesus.” But true belief and true condemnation is explained in the last half of the passage. It is moving into the light and out of darkness.

Love prompts conviction. Conviction grows into desire. Desire matures into decision. Decision chooses light over darkness and is revealed in action. This is the only meekness that inherits eternal life.

Even those not yet informed about the written record of Christ’s life, those who have not yet heard the name, “Jesus,” respond to the Spirit of Christ as they make choices every day out of faith, hope, and love. The light may be foggy in their mind, but they know they need it. They want it. They move towards it. It will one day be revealed that they followed the invisible Jesus.

We often fear to come to God because of our dark misdeeds. We fear the light that will humiliate us and make us feel bad. It is urgent that we go to the Serpent on the pole before our habit of avoiding The Light turns into hatred of The Light. The selfish heart has a thousand ways of justifying itself and after a while it will even think The Light is bad.

The meek crawl out of the darkness to be born again in the light. They let the Wind blow them where It wishes. They may fall, but they do not fight the Spirit. They look to Jesus for permission, power, and approval for everything. And they live!

The next story that applies the Beatitudes at the personal level is the story of the woman at the well in the fourth chapter of John. In His interaction with this unnamed Samaritan, Jesus followed His own laws of spiritual growth.

Love– The offer of a gift

“Then comes he [Jesus] to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” (4:5-6)

I usually envision this scene taking place in the midst of rolling, rocky hills. Perhaps there was dry summertime grass around a dirt area surrounding a deep, hand dug well. There were probably big rocks ringing the hole to protect it from animals. On one of these rocks Jesus sat down under the hot noontime sun and waited for someone to arrive with a rope and bucket.

This was no random spot at which the Son of God waited. While His human nature was tired and thirsty, His divine nature was calculating and orchestrating an encounter. Nothing God does is impulsive or wasteful. He is always planning and moving to make things work out for our best good. Jesus was guided to this spot so He could have a redemptive encounter with the woman who would then introduce Him to the rest of the people in the town.

“There comes a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus said unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy food.) Then said the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that you being a Jew, ask drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:7-9)

Christ’s request first struck me as a demand, but after analyzing it and other background material, I have realized it was indeed a very gracious request for these reasons: First, we have no voice recording. It would have intonated the missing “please.” Second, if Christ’s humanity was going to demand service (totally uncharacteristic) He simply could have used His divinity to magically make water spurt upward like a geyser. Third, the woman did not get offended, but rather was surprised that a Jew would “ask drink of me.” She interpreted this as a positive interaction. Jesus reached across prejudicial lines to converse with a foreigner.

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

The Savior’s goal was not to get water, but to give Water. Before He could do that, He needed the woman to perceive what He was offering. She was at a physical well to satisfy physiological needs. Jesus wanted her to see the spiritual Fountain of Life sitting in front of her.

“The woman said unto him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from where then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come here to draw.” (John 4:11-15)

Jesus did not approach the woman in a blaze of light as the infinite Son of God. Instead, He sat in His weary humanity as the Son of man dependent on another human for water. God was gradually working around the barriers of fear, shock, and bigotry to reach this woman.

Jesus had repeated His cryptic offer and a second time the woman was skeptical and wary, but she was also beginning to think on a different level, as shown by her query, “Are you greater than our father Jacob?"

Christ’s reply this time began to bridge the gap between physical and spiritual. He spoke of never thirsting again and ended with “everlasting life.” His wording could be interpreted both ways by the woman who merely came to the well to get water for the rest of the day. Love is wise and patient.

Even if she was materialistic in her background and thinking, the woman was by this time probably sensing something more was being offered. A double meaning must be implied. Cautiously, with a narrowing of the eyes and a tilt of the head, she took the bait on the physical level. She wanted this supposed bottomless bucket so she would not need to make the long walk to the well. She wanted this Willy Wonka magical everlasting gobstopper source of immortal water. Jesus worked with her timid shortsightedness.

Poor– Confronting her conviction

“Jesus said unto her, Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, You have well said, I have no husband: For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband: in that said you truly.” (John 4:16-18)

It appears that Jesus is just about to make the sale when He abruptly changes the topic by introducing embarrassing details of the woman’s life. Some readers conclude that Christ insulted the woman with her own shameful past, but again this is based on a superficial reading.

The woman did not storm off in anger. She did not respond with an attack. She merely met the gaze of this mystery Man who broke down barriers and spoke with love. She felt comfortable enough to tell the truth, that she had no husband. Then, Jesus felt comfortable enough to press home the issue, unlike few other recorded encounters with other people.

Also unlike so many others, the woman was ready to confront her past misdeeds. Unless she did this, she would not be able to progress past it. Only the poor in spirit, only the humble confessor is prepared to take the next advance step in spiritual growth. Only those who feel the weight of conviction from their personal sins can appreciate the Savior’s help in lifting it.

Only the sick go to the doctor. Only the weak ask for help. Only the dead realize their need for eternal life.

“The woman said unto him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” (John 4:19)

Not only did the woman need to realize her problem, but Jesus also wanted her to see Him as her solution. The Savior was transitioning her to the next step.

Mourn– Kindling hope

“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” (John 4:20)

It was now the woman’s turn to abruptly turn the direction of conversation. Although she did not want to examine her past, she did not leave. She must have seen something in the Savior’s eyes and heard something in His voice that drew her closer. He stated the facts of her past without anger or condemnation. While this stirred feelings of guilt, it also kindled hope.

Perhaps, the woman thought, this prophet can settle the religious controversy of the day. Perhaps He can do even more.

“Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24)

Jesus now raised the woman’s vision from her dark past, beyond argument, and up to the heights of true worship of God. He would not have done this unless He thought she was ready. The Savior believed in the woman and this came through in both word and tone.

Christ acknowledged that “salvation is of the Jews.” When all other nations rejected God, the descendants of Abraham continued the sacrifices and copied the Scriptures. However, it was not theirs exclusively. It was theirs to protect from others, and also to give to others. Israel’s mission was to evangelize the world, not condemn it. In that sense salvation was of the Jews.

Universal redemption was not limited to one nation. “Neither in this mountain [in Samaria] nor yet at Jerusalem” would people worship God. Communion with the heavenly Father cannot be limited to one or even two places. Everyone, where ever they are, may “worship Him in spirit and truth.” Indeed, that is the only way to truly worship an infinite good person.

God is a person and thus must be worshiped as a person by people. The Father wants to interact with children. He does not want to rule over fearful pets or have His ego stroked by pomp and ceremony. This Samaritan women, and all people all over the world, are invited to rejoin God’s spiritual family. No one is worthy, so no one is too unworthy to take courage and make steps toward Infinite Love. All who mourn and all who desire may find comfort in Him who is comfort.

Meek– Committed to the Messiah

“The woman said unto him, I know that Messiah comes which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” (John 4:25)

The woman now took a tentative step forward. She could not yet be sure, but there was something about this Man that encouraged her. From a lonely drink at the well, her vision had been raised to the spiritual plane and expanded to behold universal truth. Was it possible that this prophet who knew her so well and desired her so much was the Messiah?

“Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto you am he.” (John 4:26)

Christ revealed His identity to the woman with a rare directness. In most places with most people, He told them not to advertise His identity and power so as not to stir up jealousy and misunderstanding. With this Samaritan, however, He saw an opportunity to reach her and her neighbors. He committed Himself to her which gave her the opening to commit herself to Him.

“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” (John 4:28-30)

The woman’s original purpose was to fill a physical waterpot with physical water. In minutes, her world was turned upside down. Her spiritual heart was now filled with spiritual water, and she just had to share it. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is the sharing spirit because it is the Spirit of sharing that renews the heart.

Notice that the woman believes that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah] because He told her all that she had done. That is a huge step up from when she perceived that He was a prophet and responded by redirecting the conversation. Jesus told the woman all that she had ever done in a way that kindled hope and lifted her to a higher plane. Jesus revealed God to her in word and spirit and encouraged a spiritual response from her. Here was a Person who knew how the universe could and should work and invited everyone to participate.

“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they sought him that he would stay with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”(39-42)

The human heart is based on faith, hope, and love. When it meets Him who is faith, hope, and love the conviction settles deep that “this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” Except for selfish ambitions, hope springs forth and the future brightens. Decisions are made and the world finds its Savior.

Hungry– Spiritual food

“In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have food to eat that you know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought him anything to eat? Jesus said unto them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that on which you bestowed no labor, other men labored and you are entered into their labors.” (John 4:31-38)

While this part of the story does not directly involve the woman, it gives us insight into God and the next Beatitude: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

If righteousness was mere behavior, then Jesus would have told the woman exactly what to do. Instead, He sought connection with her personally and then let the Holy Spirit direct the woman. In other words, to God, righteousness involves personal relationship and spiritual intimacy. Friendship in the heart leads to friendly behavior.

Jesus was satisfied by the accomplishment of His Father’s will, which was to bring erring children back into the family. More than the pleasure to be felt by eating a luxurious meal, the Son of God felt full with love and success by the woman’s response, and then by the town’s. Even though He was left thirsty and hungry and alone at the well, participating in the woman’s excitement was reward enough.

During the two days that Christ spent teaching the people, they felt to a small degree what He felt. As cultural and religious barriers were broken down and as God was revealed to be an infinite good person, the people felt a spiritual fullness, a deep contentment and growing confidence. They were amply rewarded for inviting Jesus into their midst.

Luke records a brief glimpse into a person’s soul that helps us realize the core of conversion and salvation. Even the Beatitudes, as simple and positive as they are, can be twisted into a theory and a burden by the selfish heart. The thief on the cross helps us see how we can be changed in a moment.

“One of the criminals which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you today, You shall be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

That is the whole story and all the principles of conversion are in it, just as with Nicodemus and the woman at the well. Let’s look.

Love

As counter intuitive as it may sound, God’s love led the thief to be crucified at that time and place. The other gospels record this thief railing on Christ, but later something happened inside his brain and heart. During the few hours in the judgment hall and on the road to Calvary, pieces began to fuse together, and the criminal saw his golden opportunity.

How ironic! The thief discovers that he is crucified with the Crucified One! The Lamb of God is mere feet away from him. What divine love has arranged this?!

Need

Now conviction of sin and remorse seize him. Instead of rebuking Jesus, the robber turns to rebuke his partner. He confesses the sinfulness of their ways and the justice of their punishment. In one sentence, we see sincere poorness of spirit. There are no excuses or requests to avoid what he deserves. The criminal feels his guilt before man and God. He acknowledges from the depth of his being his unworthiness to live.

Desire

Yet, he also sees the innocence of the suffering Lamb. The Holy Spirit gives him the sense that Christ’s death is not for Himself. The thief is drawn to cast his guilty burdens on the Messiah. In one desperate act of hope, with no visible guarantee of reward, the criminal cries out to the Man next to him, “Lord, remember me!”

The Father planted that urgent desire in the bosom of the condemned man. God caused the thief to see things as they really were, to feel the weight of his sins, the deep need of his soul, and the tremendous damage he had caused. Unless the Son of God remember him, he would die alone and soon be forgotten. The man truly mourned, and he also acted on his grief. He made a request of Him who can wipe away every tear.

Choice

The thief’s plea began with “Lord” and ended with “kingdom.” He was acknowledging Christ’s divinity and His rulership over the earth. This meant the convict was also confessing his place as servant to obey. He was giving up all rights and claims. He was surrendering self to God’s will.

The thief was now meek, humble, teachable, compliant. He could be moved by the Spirit without resistance. He was converted and in harmony with the spirit of heaven. As little as he knew and as little time as he had to practice holiness before his death, the man was now a positive influence in the universe. He was safe to save simply and only because his attitude changed.

“Truly I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)

And there you have it! The conversion process in mere moments or hours!

The meek shall inherit the earth. The transformed of all ages hear the Crucified One speaking to them, “Truly I say unto you today, you shall be with me in paradise.” If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today. The heart turned to heaven is now in an attitude to receive forgiveness, wisdom, and eternal life. The goal of the Christian, therefore, is not to earn what has already been bestowed, but to live it as fully as possible. The thief had new words to speak to those who watched over his death. The converted Christian has a new experience to share with believers and non-believers alike. Like the thief, we hold in our hands the title to Paradise. Meekness keeps it there, forever.