You must be born again . . .

When just a lad, one of my nephews was told that to be a Christian he needed to be born again. He responded with almost the exact same question that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, asked when he heard the same words:

Nicodemus said to (Jesus), “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4)

I’m not certain how my sister answered him, but I do know that it happened. This young lad became a follower of Jesus Christ soon after that. He is now a spiritual leader in his church.

Nicodemus was a spiritual leader thoroughly trained in the Old Testament truths. However he had not heard the good news of salvation or experienced the new birth Jesus was talking about. He came to Jesus at night with this question:

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2)

Jesus explained using terms that our modern world misunderstands, rejects, or uses in selling products like soap:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God . . . . “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3–8)

This new birth is a mystery, difficult to understand before it happens and even after it happens. I’ve said it before — “It takes an instant to be saved, then a Christian spends the rest of their life trying to figure out what happened!”

Theological terms, figures of speech, imagination fall short. The best way to describe this incredible event is that when I am made ready by the Spirit of God, He enters me and begins changing me from the inside out. My mind can think His thoughts. My heart can love like He loves. My hands are willing to serve. So are my feet. I’ve not become a robot as the old me is still there (biblically called the flesh) and can become feisty about losing the throne of my life. However, the love of Jesus continually softens and melts my stubborn and resistant nature as I grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. He is not only faithful but persistent. Actually, being born again could be described as being invaded by the Holy Spirit, by God Himself!

John does not tell us what Nicodemus did with this encounter. However, later people were heatedly arguing about the identity of Jesus. The chief priests and Pharisees sent solders to arrest Him, but they came back empty. Nicodemus was there:

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (John 7:45–52)

Nicodemus was not blinded by their emotional hatred of Jesus. He was interested in keeping the law. They said he didn’t know historical facts, but they were in error because Jonah the prophet was from Gath-hepher, just north of Nazareth in Galilee. It seems Nicodemus was a new person, at least not the same as the other leaders.

Also, after Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world and before He rose from the dead, Nicodemus was tenderly involved, indicating that he had become a changed man . . .

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:39–40)

Today, those who follow Jesus can tell stories of before and after Christ, of how He changed their lives. Some of them were affected by His miracles. Some were transformed by a personal encounter. No matter how that spark of life came, God gave them the life of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit in what John calls a new birth. It is not physical but it is very real and a test for true spirituality, a genuine conversion. Jesus said we cannot see or enter the kingdom of God without this happening.

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Jesus, such good news. You change lives by giving Yourself to sinners. May I faithfully yield to Your life in me to share this good news with others!