KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES || Lesson 8 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES – Lesson Eight

MIRACLE OF THE NEW BIRTH – (Cont’d.)

Refer to John 3:1-10 and observe Nicodemus’ desire to “know” the GOD OF MIRACLES.  John 3:1-2 – ¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He 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.”

His desire was fulfilled.  John 7:50-52 – ⁵⁰Nicodemus, 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?”

⁵²They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

V.50 – Who was one of their own number – In Ch. 3:1, he went to Jesus as “a member of the Jewish ruling council” but, having experienced the miracle of “the new birth,” he became a disciple.  Note John 19:39-42 – ³⁹He 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. ⁴⁰Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹At 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. ⁴²Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Let us ask the GOD OF MIRACLES to help us to pursue the “knowledge” of Him. 

When the God of Miracles called Moses to lead the Israelites, He communicated the importance of the name LORD. Exodus 6:2-3 – ²God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. ³I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.

Note Exodus 3:14-15 – ¹⁴God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.'”

¹⁵God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, `The LORD, the God of your fathers–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob–has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

The GOD OF MIRACLES is communicating the importance of the name LORD to us also.  Note:

Psalm 33:8, 12 – Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Acts 2:34-36 – ³⁴For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “`The Lord said to my Lord:  “Sit at my right hand ³⁵until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘

³⁶“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Romans 10:12-13 – ¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Philippians 2:9-11 – ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Note that, regarding Jesus’ “incarnation,” Mary glorified the GOD OF MIRACLES as Lord. Luke 1:46-47 – And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Therefore, regarding Jesus’ “exaltation,” we are required to glorify Him as Lord.

Regarding the name, LORD, note Matthew 26:20-22 – ²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Contrast Matthew 26:25 – Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

Concerning the preceding contrast, take note of 1 Corinthians 12:3 (CEV) – Now I want you to know that if you are led by God’s Spirit, you will say that Jesus is Lord, and you will never curse Jesus.

With the help of the God of Miracles Who has blessed us with the “miracle of the new birth,” let us heed Ephesians 4:1-3 – ¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(NLT) – ¹Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ²Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.