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Nicodemus Comes to Jesus at Night
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My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.”
Psalm
51:10
;
Ezekiel 36:26, 27
.
Nicodemus now began to comprehend the meaning of these
scriptures. He saw that the most rigid outward obedience to the mere
letter of the law could entitle no man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Nicodemus was being drawn to Christ. As the Saviour explained
to him the new birth, he longed to have this change in himself. How
could it be accomplished? Jesus answered the unspoken question:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
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Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have eternal life.”
The symbol of the uplifted serpent made plain to Nicodemus the
Saviour’s mission. When the people of Israel were dying from the
sting of the fiery serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of
brass and place it on high in the midst of the congregation. All who
would look should live. The serpent was a symbol of Christ. As the
image made in the likeness of the destroying serpents was lifted up
for their healing, so One made “in the likeness of sinful flesh” was
to be their Redeemer.
Romans 8:3
. God desired to lead the Israelites
to the Saviour. Whether for healing of wounds or pardon of sins,
they could do nothing for themselves but show their faith in the Gift
of God. They were to look and live.
Those who had been bitten by the serpents might have demanded
a scientific explanation. But no explanation was given. To refuse to
look was to perish. Nicodemus received the lesson and carried it with
him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for discussion but
to receive life for the soul. He submitted to the leading of the Holy
Spirit.
Thousands today need to learn the same truth taught to Nicode-
mus by the uplifted serpent. “There is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
. Through
faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Saviour. It
earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold on Christ, the
remedy for sin. We cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit
of God. The Scripture says of Christ, “Him hath God exalted with
His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 5:31
. Repentance comes from
Christ as truly as does pardon.