In John 3:9 Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How can this be?”
Maybe if we stop for a moment and consider Nicodemus’ situation we can better understand his question. Nicodemus was a Jew, of the chosen people of God. His people were the people that had covenanted with God. In all the world they were special, they were unique, they were God’s possession, and the Lord was their God. In a world filled with nations and peoples that had their own god’s, Jehovah alone was Israel’s God.
But now God was going to do something different! The Lord was about to break down the dividing walls of hostility between the nations. His Spirit was about to move upon all peoples. And from all nations and all peoples the Lord would build the Kingdom of God!
It must have been difficult to believe that what had been uniquely Israel’s was now about to be shared with all the nations. While through Abraham all of Israel was a son of God; now through Christ and his Spirit men of every nation could become a son of God.
Living Big In Jesus,
Keith