September 27 - Born Again

September 27 - Born Again
John 3:3-8

You must be born again.

Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus were having a serious discussion one evening.  Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night, away from the crowds, away from his peers.  He knew there was something different about Jesus and he wanted to know more.

“Teacher,” he said, “we know you've come from God.  There is no one who can do the things you do unless God is with you.”

Jesus knew that Nicodemus was asking something much deeper than where he had come from.  He wanted to know, just as we all want to know, how to live that kind of life.  Nicodemus had been a religious man for a long time, but he didn't have the spiritual power Jesus had.  How could he be that kind of person as well.

Jesus didn't want Nicodemus to think that the way to a relationship with God was through miracles, and he said, “You must be born again.”

Poor Nicodemus. “I’m old. How can I be born again?  I’m not going back into my mother’s womb.” That made absolutely no sense to him. He might have been religious, but he knew enough about medicine to know that was impossible. But, the question wasn't as stupid as you might think.  He’d seen Jesus perform some pretty amazing miracles.  Was it really possible that Jesus could give his life back to him?  Could he make him be young again?  Was that the secret?

No, that wasn't the secret.  The secret was finding new life by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that his earthly life wasn't the most important life he could have.  Being born again is a completely new thing.  Your spirit is made new and with that new spirit you are given the opportunity to enter the kingdom of God.

You must be born again.