It must have been embarrassing for the member of the Jewish Council to find himself unable to understand the facts of Life as he talked with another Rabbi. I hope you don't mind listening in to their conversation, it is very interesting and will help you to understand more about the beginnings of Life.
"A man of the Pharisees.. 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.'" (verses 1-2)
Very few religious leaders were like this Pharisee. Most of them rejected Jesus and His message, despite His miraculous powers, because His teachings were not in agreement with their religion. (John 1:10-13.)
If you discovered Jesus' teachings differ in some way from what you have always believed, would it make you want to get to know Jesus' teachings better? or would it make you want to ignore His teachings so that you wouldn't upset what you and your friends believe?
This Pharisee, named Nicodemus, got away from his friends and came by night to find out what Jesus really did teach. He was shocked when Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (verse 3-4)
Of course not! When you have been born of water from your mother's womb, that natural birth certainly cannot be repeated! Jesus answered, "Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (verses 5-6)
The human body you have from your mother's womb is flesh, and natural, and wonderful - but it is not fit for Heaven; nor is the life that is in it! (1st Corinthians 15:35-57.)
Jesus said, "You should not be surprised at My saying, 'YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.'" (verse 7.)
"Born again" - not of water, as the natural birth from your mother's womb, but born "of the Spirit" - a Spiritual birth!
The facts of Life, about how that Spiritual Life begins, still puzzled Nicodemus.
Jesus then used an everyday fact of life to explain the mystery. He spoke of the wind - we accept without question its invisible presence and power - a power completely outside of the control of man. "So is every¬one born of the Spirit", Jesus said. (verse 8.)
To be "born again" is to have the Presence and power of God's Holy Spirit come into your life - and this is something that is completely outside the control of man. (2nd Corinthians 1:21-22.) God's Holy Spirit is not given or controlled by any man or religion! He comes, sent by God, into the life of the person who will believe Jesus paid for his/her sins by His death. (Acts 5:30-32. John 7:39.)
When a person trusts in Jesus for complete forgiveness he/she is "Born again" by God's Spirit. (John 5:24.) God's Presence will then be within them to enable them to live for God's glory. (Romans 8:5-17. 2nd Corinthians 5:17.)
Jesus will illustrate that need for faith by telling another story. Don't miss the next "talk" when we will find out about that.
Read about the need to be "born again" in John's Gospel chapter 3, versesl-8.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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