In The "Nic" of Time | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: In The "Nic" of Time | Previous Challenge Entry
By Debra Brand
05/20/20
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The moon and stars lit the old man’s path to the outer gate. His thoughts swirled as intellect overruled heart. He had listened in the courtyard of the temple to his teaching. Thinking to catch him by night without the crowd and away from his own peers, he went.

How could a young man know such wisdom! Here he was, aged by most standards, having studied all of his life, and still not have gained the understanding from scriptures explained by Jesus.

His dark garb hid him as the moon cast shadows between the buildings. He walked with quiet purpose towards the gardens where he had heard Jesus and his group rested.

As he neared the place, the overtones of talk, laughter, and songs of praise to God confused him. Why are their hearts joyful, as he knew the undertones of dissent and hate within the Pharisaical circles of the temple? The garden quieted as Jesus rose to meet him. Not sure of Nicodemus’ motive, the disciples tensed.

The depth of compassion in Jesus’ eyes almost put Nicodemus on his knees. He felt the penetration into his own soul. His defensive nature crumbled like stones split apart with a sledgehammer.

“Master, we know that you are a teacher from God, for no one performs the miracle signs that you do unless God’s power is with him.”

Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, listen to this eternal truth: Before a person can perceive God’s kingdom realm. They must first experience a rebirth.”

Nicodemus said, “Rebirth? How can a gray-headed man be reborn? It’s impossible for a man to go back into the womb a second time and be reborn!”

Jesus answered, “I speak an eternal truth: Unless you are born of water and Spirit-wind, you will never enter God’s kingdom realm. For the natural realm can only give birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life!”

“You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement, ‘You must be born from above!’ For the Spirit-wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is within the hearts of those who are Spirit-born!”

Then Nicodemus replied, “But I don’t understand, what do you mean? How does this happen?”

Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, aren’t you the respected teacher in Israel and yet you don’t understand this revelation? I speak eternal truths about things I know, things I’ve seen and experienced—and still you don’t accept what I reveal. If you’re unable to understand and believe what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly realm? No one has risen into the heavenly realm except the Son of Man who also exists in heaven.”

Nicodemus turned away to ponder this amazing revelation. Heart and mind struggled to find a balance within his soul. Is there another side to the Law other than the letter, emotion rather than literal?

Weeks later he would rise to the defense of Scripture when the temple guards had failed to arrest Jesus. “Does our law decide a man’s guilt before we first hear him and allow him to defend himself?” They silenced him with the statement ‘no mention of a prophet coming out of Galilee’. But Nicodemus knew the scriptures and also the whereabouts of Jonah, Elijah, Nahum, and Hosea … Galileans.

What was happening to him? The words of Jesus pierced his heart. Galilee, Nazareth … the star of Bethlehem? Is Jesus the one in Isaiah? Is he the sin-bearer servant who would endure the torment of mankind?

Darkness at noon, a rare earthquake, pounding rain, lightning, thunder, and the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom were of such great significance that could only mean one thing. The prophecy had been fulfilled in his lifetime.

Now, Jesus lay in his arms as he and Joseph carried the tortured body to a new tomb in the garden. With great love, they prepared him for burial with a large amount of myrrh and aloes. Strips of fine white linen were wrapped around his body. The soldiers rolled a large stone over the mouth of the tomb, sealing it from thievery.

The words of Jesus still rang in his ears of being ‘born again’. He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the Christ. He believed.

Within three days, the empty tomb confirmed it.

Adaptation of John 3:1-13 TPT

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