You must be born again...

The story of Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus is found in John 3, but it really begins at the end of chapter 2. The last three verses of that chapter give us the back story, tell us what has happened in Jesus’ life just before Nicodemus comes to him.

“Now while [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” (John 2:23-25, NIV)

So lots of people have seen Jesus’ miracles. He’s gained followers because of his wow factor. He doesn’t entrust himself to those who are only there for the show, those who honor him for signs and wonders alone.

Then along comes Nicodemus in chapter 3. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’” (John 3:1-2, NIV)

Nicodemus is terribly polite to Jesus. He addresses him respectfully, calling him Rabbi. He acknowledges Jesus’ connection with God. He points to Jesus’ miracles as proof of this relationship.

Kind of funny, isn’t it, that we just found out Jesus doesn’t entrust himself to those who follow because of miracles and along comes Nicodemus praising Jesus’ performance of miraculous signs. I hadn’t caught that little bit of irony before a couple of Tuesdays ago when our Bible Study Fellowship teaching leader pointed it out. It’s a good reminder to all of us to forget about the chapter breaks added by men and read the whole story as God inspired it.

Back to Nicodemus. Here is a religious man – a very religious man. He was a leader in Jerusalem, a member of the Jewish ruling council, a big wig, a hot shot. He was a Pharisee. His sect, I guess you’d call it, was very legalistic, always behaving according to their version of God’s moral code. They didn’t walk too far on the Sabbath so as not to break the fourth commandment. They counted out every seed they harvested – even the tiniest of seeds – and gave exactly one tenth to the Lord at the temple. “One for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for God.” (Deep breath.) “One for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for God.” (Deep breath.)

Outwardly you couldn’t find fault with a Pharisee. He would appear to be perfect. He always followed the rules. He was an example to be followed, a model of righteousness. Watch him give generously to the poor. Listen to how eloquently he prays. Notice how pious and somber he looks as he fasts.

That’s the kind of man Nicodemus was. Prim, proper and devout.

When he comes to Jesus, he speaks formally, using respectful terms. Honoring our Master as only a Pharisee could. And Jesus slaps him in the face. Not literally. But with his words he does.

“In reply [to Nicodemus’ praise] Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” (John 3:3, NIV)

Our Master says the most amazing thing to this pious man after he’s praised Jesus’ miracles and affirmed his link to God. “What do you know of God? You’re blind to his kingdom. You have to be born again to catch even a glimpse of what you think you see perfectly.”

Them’s fightin’ words to a Pharisee. Nicodemus thought he had it all together. He gave to the poor. He prayed. He fasted. He tithed. “One for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for me; one for God.”

Jesus was not impressed. “You must be born again.”

Nicodemus’ jaw dropped. “How can a man be born when he is old?” he asks incredulously. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4, NIV)

It’s hard to tell from those words whether Nicodemus is taking Jesus’ words literally or if he’s asking how a man can change who he is after years of religious training. It doesn’t really matter though. Jesus answers the man’s questions with these words: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5, NIV)

We can debate what Jesus meant by “born of water.” Does it mean natural birth? Does it mean repentance? Does it mean baptism? But none of that matters. What matters is being born of the Spirit and that requires believing on Jesus. That’s clear from what Jesus tells Nicodemus a short time later.

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18, NIV)

When Jesus says, “You must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God,” he means you must believe in him to receive eternal life.

So you who are fine upstanding citizens; you who are devoutly religious; you who are just plain nice – you must be born again! You cannot get into Heaven on your own merit. Doesn’t matter how good you’ve been. You have to believe. You have to put your trust in Jesus who died for your sin of pride, for your sin of self-righteousness, for your sin of disbelief in God’s one and only Son.

If you are trusting in your religiosity and your good behavior to get you past the Pearly Gates, you are in big trouble. You will not see God’s kingdom. You will be condemned because you have trusted yourself rather than Jesus.

If you are a proud man or a proud woman, if you are trusting in your good works or your religious practices, your only hope is in Jesus. Turn away from your sin. Confess it. Then put your unreserved trust in Jesus’ power to change you from the inside out by his Spirit’s power. You will be saved if you believe.

Mercy awaits all who humble themselves before God and accept the gift of eternal life his love offers them through faith in his Son.

To receive my once or twice weekly message via email, send a blank email to webmessage-subscribe@associate.com. Past messages are available at freegroups.net/groups/webmessage.