3:7
The “you” in verse 7 is plural. What Jesus says here is relevant to all, in particular it was something the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin desperately needed to get hold of. But, of course, they never did.
So why does Jesus say they should not be surprised? The Jews had relied on the Law to be righteous, to live lives pleasing to God, and they had about a thousand years or so of failure for their efforts. Time and time again they failed God and suffered judgement. It should have been blindingly obvious to them that they needed something else. Indeed it should be blindingly obvious to the whole human race that we cannot by our own efforts get life. No political system manages to bring about utopia, no way of life solves all our problems.
3:8
The Holy Spirit is God and He is beyond human control. This should be a warning to those of us in Charismatic circles who sometimes seem to think we can control the Holy Spirit. He does what He will. Have you noticed in life that you cannot “conjure up” God? Yet there are times when we become aware of His presence, or His action in our lives in a most amazing way. If we try to live life on the basis of being in control we will be disappointed and frustrated. It is only be living our lives by trusting God, in relationship with Him, that we will find true peace.
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