Elite Resistance

It's amazing to ride throught the Anza Borrego Desert and see God's beauty being shown in the vegetation! God is always there showing His glory to us, we just need to open our eyes and look.

Jesus continues stay on point with Nicodemus. Read John 3:9-12, "Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?' Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"

If you recall, Jesus had already gone into the temple and exposed the corruption, where people were being "ripped-off" at the temples. Jesus had a continuous platform to cut to the core of the issue in a fallen society and show them that they have a lack of relationship with God, no matter what their outward appearance of righteousness was. He stirred things up in Israel. Many citizens were behind the uproar, because they were tired of the corruption as well.

So now Jesus is in discussion with "the teacher of Israel", Nicodemus. He was a well-known and highly-regarded teacher in the Nation of Israel. Jesus shows that even one of the most knowledgeable and elite members of Israel's society cannot grasp a basic concept of earthly things like ripping people off at the temple. If he cannot grasp this, he surely cannot grasp heavenly concepts Jesus is laying before him.

This shows a big problem. If the elite are lost, then the entire nation is being led astray! Israel has a lack of focus on God, from top to bottom. Over thousands of years God has directly blessed Israel. To name a few things, God has supernaturally:

1.)Allowed them to exit slavery in Egypt

2.)Parted the Red Sea for Israel

3.)Provided food for them

4.)Brought them to a rich and fertile land

And now God has brought forth His own Son to expose the corruption and save not only Israel, but the world from their sins. After all God has done for Israel, their elite are still in the dark, still in denial.

How does this apply to us? Why is there so much focus on Jesus' confrontation of Israel? Because Jesus' appeal to Israel is parallel to His appeal to our heart and soul. Whether we have a relationship with God or not, we know He is caring for us and has been since we were created. The world around us offers much corruption. All of us partake in the corruption to some degree. Some more than others. Jesus is asking us to recognize all that our Creator has done for us. He is asking us to finally let go of the futile effort of pushing God away and start out in a quiet private place and discuss your issues with Him. We need to release our desire to do everything on our own and put our life in the capable hands of Jesus. Then listen and follow.

"Lord Jesus, thank you for having so much compassion and love for Israel. You continually exposed the corruption. Lord Jesus, thank you for having so much compassion and love for me! Amen."