Nicodemus had a problem.
Nicodemus devoted his life to studying and teaching God’s word. As a Jewish Pharisee, he was a respected scholar of the inspired Scriptures and Jewish traditions.
When news of Jesus’ teachings and healing miracles came to him, Nicodemus sensed that God was doing something important.
Jesus didn’t earn His credentials through the established institutions. The influence and attention He was gaining among common people probably caused people in power to perceive Him as a potential threat to their influence. When He purged the Temple grounds of the moneychangers and livestock marketers, He made some enemies. This act alone may have caused Nicodemus to hesitate to give Jesus his support.
Nicodemus knew better than to stand in the way of God’s work. At the same time he also wished to avoid negative attention from his peers. He secretly sought a meeting with Jesus under the cover of night.
When Nicodemus stood face-to-face with Jesus, he didn’t recognize the Word, the Messiah he’d been looking for. He had doubts. He sought truth. Jesus answered all of his questions with truth (John 3).
Receiving the answers to all our questions about God, His plans, and His will isn’t the solution to overcoming doubt.
It took years for the truth to bear fruit in Nicodemus’ life.
Some of us are like this.
Jesus says, “Come and see!” We choose to wait and see.
When John and Andrew met Jesus, they responded immediately. All they knew was what they heard from John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” That statement leaves a lot of questions unanswered. But, they went with Jesus, stayed with Him, and invited others to come and see (John 1:35-42).
Doubt is overcome when we embrace the truth we’ve been given. We may have lots of unanswered questions.
Only one thing matters:
Jesus.
In Jesus, is the fullness of truth and life.
Nicodemus missed the opportunity of a lifetime.
What an amazing journey it would’ve been for Nicodemus to walk with Jesus and learn from Him.
Educational credentials don’t guarantee we’ll recognize the truth when we see it. What’s more valuable is a humble spirit.
The Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob’s well had doubts. She too stood face-to-face with Jesus. Jesus answered all of her questions with truth (John 4).
With a humble spirit, she embraced the truth.
“The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."” (John 4:15, NKJV)
She saw the opportunity to receive something better than what she knew!
She ran with it. It changed her. And she shared it with a simple, but powerful, testimony:
““Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”” (John 4:29, NLT)
Her only qualification was her one encounter with Jesus, and her little bit of truth. Her life was still messy. She couldn’t give a Bible study. Her membership was in the wrong church. She was a woman in a man’s world.
Her simple testimony about her little bit of truth changed others.
“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."” (John 4:39, NKJV)
Jesus invites us to embrace the truth we receive.
“"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."” (John 8:31-32, NKJV)
Truth and doubt can’t occupy the same space. The more we embrace the truth we’re given, the less time we have for doubt. Embracing truth liberates us from sin.
That’s how doubt is overcome.
Don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime.
Come and see!
Walk with Jesus in His word and learn from Him. It’ll change your life and the lives of those you invite to come and see with you.