Monday, June 4, 2012

John 3: 5-6

Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” NRSV

When someone really wants something they go after it. If it is knowledge they seek they will do what it takes to get it. Such was the case with Nicodemus. He knew of the miracles and wonders that Jesus was performing and went under the cover of night to see him. Nicodemus wanted a firsthand experience with Jesus. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God”. You see, people can tell who we are just by watching us conduct ourselves. Jesus’ reputation preceded him and so it is with us. People can quickly come to a conclusion about us based on our daily living. However, Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant by ‘being born again’ and was simply stuck on the literal meaning. Jesus chided him for being a teacher of Israel and yet not understand what he is explaining to him. Jesus made it plain to him. Undoubtedly, he walked away a changed man. If we say we are a part of God’s kingdom then change must come. We can no longer operate in the realm of the ‘flesh’. Our walk must be different, our talk must be different; we must have a whole paradigm shift because we will now be seeing the world differently. We must now have ‘our Father’s eyes. We must be born again.

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/1019