This week we are following the readings from John's Gospel in our Read the Bible in a Year plan and today we read of Jesus'; encounter with Nicodemus who came to him at night. Why did he come at night? Was he afraid? Or did he just want to long chat with Jesus, something that wouldn't have been possibly during the busyness of the day.
Nicodemus was a man of significance in Jewish society so it was no small thing for him to seek out Jesus – the consequence of which was a couple of the profoundest statements Jesus made:
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (4) "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (5) Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (6) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7) You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' (8) The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
John 3:3-8 [NIV]
This is the source of the expression "born again Christian" – this is of course tautological, an unnecessary repetition of meaning; if you are a Christian you are by definition "born again". But it is used by those who wish to make a distinction between what they believe to be "true" (born again) Christians, and people who claim to be Christians but who are not.
There is nothing wrong with the phrase "born again" – but there is everything wrong in being judgemental of others!
Nicodemus didn't understand what Jesus meant by the need to be "born again" so Jesus had to explain himself. We are all born physically (of the flesh) but because of our spiritual death we need to be re-born spiritually and this re-birth is an activity of the Holy Spirit at work in us as we are restored to our spiritual relationship with God.
This can only happen as a consequence of the second profound statement Jesus makes here:
(16) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17 [NIV]
Rejoice today that God gave his son Jesus for you – that you might be born again and enjoy eternal life!
Martin Saxby
Read the Bible in a Year: Psalm 55:1-11; Joshua 21:1 -22:34; John 3:1-21
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