John 3:1-13 has Jesus meeting up with Nicodemus, who was one of the Pharisees and a very prominent leader of the Jews of that day. He came to Jesus under cover of darkness, likely wanting to keep their little visit under wraps. It wasn’t something that a leader would normally do – spend time with someone outside the fold so to speak. But he comes to Jesus and said “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it”. Nicodemus knows Jesus is different. He isn’t just a teacher of the law.
Nicodemus gets a different answer than he expected I am sure. Jesus’ life has shown the Pharisees that He is not just another teacher, but has something special. Jesus changes the flow of the conversation and says “Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to–to God’s kingdom”. What’s the secret to truly plugging into God’s power? We must be born again. That is the only way for us to be part of God’s Kingdom – to understanding what God is about and up to. We’ll never understand in our own power.
Nicodemus doesn’t understand. He equates being born again to physical rebirth. Jesus says “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation–the “wind hovering over the water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life–it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom”. This is a about a spiritual rebirth – to creating a new life through Christ. It is about becoming a spiritual baby and having the Spirit of God come upon us.
Nicodemus continues to ask questions to try and understand. He isn’t really buying what Jesus is telling him as the source for eternal life. Jesus then presses to the root of the problem and says “instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions”. That is where many hit the wall. They can’t take the step of faith to believe in Christ because they continue to want to be in control and not accept the truth of God’s Word. Are you a procrastinator in your faith journey? Or have you been born again by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He said it clearly – we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. That is eternity. That is a decision we need to make today!
Arlin Sorensen's Thoughts on Scripture 