Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-03
BY e. e. WALKER. D. D.

Notwithstanding that Jesus proffered
to the Jews who demanded the creden-
tails OF His ministry sign that was
not to be given for years yet, there
were many in Jerusalem who believed
on Him when they saw the miracles
which He did. They were ready to
believe anything on sufficient evil
dence; as they were not. like many
of their rulers, set against the evil
dences that would prove the divine
ness OF that holy ministry of the
Nazarene.
Yet Jesus did not, unreservedly take
them into His confidence because He
well knew the fickleness Of unsanc-
titled human nature. Even those who
have once sincerely accepted Him as
the Messiah, the Son of God, were
apt to betray Him, while they were yet
carnal for carnality is opposition to
God, and may lead astray the one who
has believed. Jesus well understood
this, because He knows man alto
gether, and had no need Of studying
some man made PSYCHOLOGY, but had
intuitive knowledge of human nature,
and could read the thoughts and in
tents of the human sold.
EXPLANATORY
Time: A. d. 80.
Place: Jerusalem.
One case of faith, evidently begot-
ten through miracles, is mentioned;
and that the case of very promi-
nent Jew: possibly one who asked for
sign, with real heart sincerity. Nico-
demus was n ruler of the Jews, mas
ter of Israel. This man observed care
fully and honestly the ministry of
Jesus, and he saw the mighty works
which the Master did; and by night
possibly as the most opportunc time
both for himself and JCsus--as then
he could have quiet and uninterrupt-
ed interview with the Nazarene-he
came to the Master, and acknowledged
that He was convinced That God with
with Him, and his conviction was
forced upon him by the many and pc
culiar supernatural works which Jesus
did. Jesus took the man at his word.
and Immediately presented to the one
who had spoken of Him as a man hav
ing God with Him the necessity of
every man receiving divine life in or
der to true apprehension of the king
dom of the divine. Nicodemus imme-
diately furnished proof that, although
convinced of the truth of ChristS doc
trine, he did not have that faith in
Christ which is the mark of resener-
alton, because he had no true spiritual
life and apprehension of divine reality
and experience. He could only think of
II fleshy birth. And such is it with not
few who are in the company of
avowed believers, yet have not passed
from death unto life.
Jesus answered, Verify, verify
a double Amen, the very word in the
Greek. Jesus could always Amen iis
own doctrine, and He frequently so did.
These words have the meaning here OF
most soiemn statement say unto
thee.-The man had acknowledged
Jesus to be divine Teacher, and Jesus
would give him the first lesson that
any man should learn-Exeopt a man
be born asain,--The margin reads.
from above" the r. v, anew" The
Greek word bears both meanings, and
it matters little which word we use
10 translate: it expresses the truth.
rather prefer the common reading; and
this agrees with other Scriptures, and
With the fact. Yet the again" birth
IL nowness Of life in Christ Jesus, and
il is from above" This regeneration
is rs real, personal, experimental VITAL
ass tho first. or natural birth.-He can
noS see the kingdom of God. There is
a Kingdom within, which is in the
HOLY Ghost" and which is marked by
righteousness, and peace, and joy;
there is a Kingdom above, which is the
realm of the heavenly and holy and
divine; and there is n kingdom to
come. which is TO be inaugurated at
the glorious appearing on earth of the
great Cod and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The new, spiritual, holy. and divine
birth is necessary in order to see" the
kingdom in either of these senses. The
rule here given is not merely by the
prerogatiye Of divine sovereignty, but
Is according 10 the eternal nature, re-
lation, and fitness of things. There
must be sense in order to see, and
only those who have spiritual life
which the only zone born man has not
has the organ TO see that kingdom
which is divine, spiritual, holy.
Nicodemus said unto him, Flow can
a man be born when he is old?-1t is
remarkable that this master in Israel
answered as if he understood Jesus to
mean a second natural birth: for re-
generation is n term which was used
among the Jews to express a change
from tho state Of heathenism to that
of the true religion. though lit was
never applied 20 any one who was first
born Jew-can he enter the second
time into his mothers womb, and be
born? These words further show that
the man understood the birth in a nat
ural sense. 1t is sometimes the case
when one does not come right" at
first it Is thrust back into the womb
and Is born again. 1t is possible that
Nicodemus had the special service of
the midwife in mind, and in general
meant that IL is only at the begin
ming of earthly life that human may
be set right-as to train a child in
the way he should go means that when
he is old he will not depart from it.
But the unregenerate always have