Nicodemus was a pharisee and a religious leader. He also wanted to know more about who Jesus was and what he was about, so he goes to see him at night. He opens the conversation by acknowledging that Jesus must have come from God because the powerful signs he does couldn't happen otherwise. Jesus replies with this paragraph about how no one can see God without being born from above (also translated "born again.")
This idea of being born again has been powerful both for good and for ill. On the positive side, Jesus' teaching emphasizes the new life and radical transformation that happens when we make God the center of our life. On the negative side, some Christians have tried to limit what it means to be "born again" and insist that one is not a real Christian without a very specific kind of rebirth experience. I believe that coming to Christ feels different for different people and not everyone has a shining light moment of rebirth. At the same time, our faith isn't the powerful force Jesus is talking about if it doesn't really change us. Sometimes being born again is sudden; other times it is subtle, but there is always change as we grow closer to Jesus in our new life.
God bless,
Sam
John 3:3-8
3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
No comments:
Post a Comment