July 11, 2006
"Have You Experienced Jesus In Your Life?"
Coffee With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved
(Isaiah 9:2)
2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."
"You just do not need to know the name of Jesus, but you need to experience Jesus in your heart." Pastor Pat Aman
John 3, tells us that Nicodemus first came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, a questioner: "Who are you really? How can a man be born again?" Jesus answered his questions, and raised more, but John does not say that Nicodemus believed.
(John 3: 1-15)
1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."
"You just do not need to know the name of Jesus, but you need to experience Jesus in your heart." Pastor Pat Aman
John 3, tells us that Nicodemus first came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, a questioner: "Who are you really? How can a man be born again?" Jesus answered his questions, and raised more, but John does not say that Nicodemus believed.
(John 3: 1-15)
1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3. In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4. "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7. 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?
13. No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
14. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15. that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Perhaps he (Nicodemus) mulled the questions and answers over, for John 7 tells us he defended Jesus when other Pharisees accused him; "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing, and learning what he does?" But John still does not say he believed.
(John 7: 50-52)
50. Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,
51."Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"
52. They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."
Then, unexpectedly, John 19 shows Nicodemus performing an act of great faith. When Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross, Nicodemus came with expensive spices and helped anoint the body for burial. According to Hebrew law, this made him unclean--he could not celebrate Passover. Further, it publicly identified him with Jesus, when even the disciples had fled.
(John 19:38-42)
38. Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
39.He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40.Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41.At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
I wonder when Nicodemus decided to believe in Jesus, in a blinding moment, or by a slow process of growth?
John's way of telling the story of Nicodemus shows me that when we first believe is not what really matters. What matters is that we, like Nicodemus, finally arrive at Jesus, to offer our wealth, our reputation and our service. That is when we finally really truly believe in Him. When we give him our all.
In other words, we just do not know the name of Jesus, but experience Jesus in our hearts.
There are a lot of people who know of Jesus, but they truly do not know Him as their personal Savior.
Father God, I Praise Your Holy Name. I thank you that you loved me enough to die on the cross for me. I thank you for saving my soul. All that I have, I give to use to use for your service. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen and Amen
Joyfully, In The Master's Service,
Blessings, Prayers, and Love
Pastor Pat Aman
Scriptures: The New International Version Bible
Quote: Pastor Pat Aman
(Nehemiah 8:10)
"The Joy Of The Lord, Is Your Strength."
(Proverbs 17:22)
"A Merry Heart Does Good, Like Medicine, But A Broken Spirit Dries The Bones."
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