Jews would destroy by crucifying Jesus, and in three days Jesus would build it again-He would raise it from the grave by His mighty power.

CHAPTER XIII.

Nicodemus goes to Jesus by night.—What Jesus said to Nicodemus.

Jesus.

Read St. John iii. 1-22.

HERE was one man amongst the rulers of the Jews who wished to know the truth, and to hear the holy words of the Lord

The name of this man was Nicodemus, and St. John tells us that he came to Jesus by night. He was afraid to come to Jesus boldly and in the light of day, lest he should be called the disciple of Jesus. Nicodemus was a very learned man, and he had not yet courage to say that he was the disciple of a man whom men thought to be unlearned. They despised Jesus, too, because he came from Galilee, and because He was poor, and the son of a poor man, as they supposed. By and by Nicodemus became a faithful friend and disciple of the Lord Jesus.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus his mind was dark; but he came to the light, for Jesus is the Light of the world, and just as the sun shines upon the world and gives it light, so Jesus shines

into our hearts and makes us understand about Himself, and He gives us the Holy Spirit of God. Nicodemus wanted light, he desired to know the truth, and he came to Jesus to seek it, to learn of

Him. So Jesus taught him heavenly truths. He did not speak to Nicodemus as He spoke to the Jews who asked Him for a sign. To them He spoke in riddles. They thought themselves wiser than Jesus, and they did not desire that He should teach them, so Jesus left them in their ignorance. To Nicodemus Jesus spoke plainly, and though he did not at first understand all that Jesus said to him, he understood it afterwards.

What did Jesus say to Nicodemus? He said that a man must be born again.

Nicodemus was astonished, and he asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?"

Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." What did Jesus mean by this?

Did He mean that everyone must be born into the world a second time? No; Jesus meant that the Holy Spirit must come into our hearts, and make them new and clean. By the Holy Spirit we are born again in a new and are made the children of God.

why we baptize little children:

heavenly way, and This is the reason

their hearts must

be made new by the Holy Spirit. This Jesus calls being born of the Spirit. So He told His Apostles to baptize with water, to make us understand that just as water washes away all outward stains and cleanses our bodies, so the Holy Spirit cleanses us inwardly and makes us know and love God.

What else did Jesus say to Nicodemus? Jesus spoke of His own death upon the cross, and He spoke of the love of God who gave His own Son -His beloved Son-to die for us.

CHAPTER XIV.

Jesus leaves Jerusalem with His disciples.-He tarries sometime in the land of Judæa.-The disciples baptize.-Jesus wished to bring His people to repentance.

Read St. John iii. 22, iv. 2.

HEN the feast of the Passover was finished Jesus left Jerusalem with His disciples; but He had more work to do before He returned to Galilee.

In Jerusalem Jesus had cleansed the Temple,

and by His mighty deeds and holy words He had preached to the rulers and to the people The Lord had come suddenly to His Temple; and both by words and deeds He had made it plain that He was the Saviour promised by God, and spoken of by the prophets. St. John tells us that many of the people, when they saw the miracles that Jesus did, believed Him to be the Saviour. They believed because of our Lord's miracles; but His holy words did not reach their hearts. They did not repent of their sins, and so Jesus could not save them; for unless they repented they could not belong to His heavenly kingdom.

What does this teach us? It teaches us that it is not enough to believe that Jesus is the Saviour of men. We must ask him to be our Saviour. We must open our hearts to Him. We must love Him and obey Him. For Jesus says: "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." And He invites us to come to Him. He says: "Come unto Me and I will give you rest."* And He says besides : "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out."+

*St. Matt. xi. 28.

+ St. John vi. 37.