Today’s Thought “With Many a Doubt” G. Ward John 3 1 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus’ curiosity insisted he’d go to Christ at night to inquire of the supremacy of His earthen status; particularly considering that his (intellectual prowess) pinnacled unto great regard from religion’s highest sect of that time (and perhaps throughout history). The professor’s engagement didn’t desire any to witness such an encounter, so he arrived at night; religious leadership despised Jesus. Jesus’ claimants were too authoritative (i.e., irrefutable). This meeting was monumentally ours to perceive, in that our regard for the “whosoever” of Christ’s discourse includes the poor and affluent. The common denominator for man remains he needs to be reconciled from his sins to know God (ONLY through a Perfect Mediator – John 14:6), along with understanding that apart from this mediation, we all can do nothing (John 15:5). Mankind’s attempts in formulating Empowerment promptings unto others violates believer’s commission to disciple others (*Matt.28:19), along with seeking to re-invent the only mediation that grants joy and peace; even falsely instilling in mankind a hope to perceive success rests in social posture with evidence in materialism. Moreover, it’s entirely opposite of the demand onto spiritual preparation that perseveres in trials and sufferings (*another common denominator of man – Jas. 1:2-4, 1 Pe.4:1, 2 Cor.4:17). “I came to Jesus just as I was, weary, worn and sad. I found in HIM a resting place and HE has made me glad” (i.e., EMPOWERMENT).