Getting Real with God

Read John 3:1-21

"In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” “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!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" John 3:3-8  

How do you feel about snakes? Not-so-fun fact: Australia has something like the 19 most poisonous snakes in the world. In the book of Numbers Israel are punished with a plague of poisonous snakes. God tells Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up so that anyone who looks to it will be saved (Numbers 21:8).

Nicodemus comes to Jesus secretly by night. He is a member of the religious leadership that will eventually crucify Jesus, but he’s curious. He doesn’t understand how Jesus could perform miracles unless God was with him. Jesus tells Nicodemus the only way to understand him or his signs is if he is “born again” and he tells him. He must be born again if he wants to understand spiritual things. There’s a second reason Nicodemus shouldn’t be surprised by the idea of being born again. This is precisely what the Old Testament taught as well. Being a part of God’s people always meant a change of heart and nature (Deuteronomy 30:6).

If Nicodemus doesn’t understand why he needs a renewed heart, Jesus says he will never understand that God descended from heaven in Jesus to be lifted up on a cross and die to offer eternal life to those who believe in him.

Humanity has a God-denying poison in their veins. Just as God offered a way to save Israel from physical poison, there would be a day when salvation would be made flesh and lifted up again, so that God’s people could be born again

After all, God doesn’t hate the world; he loves it (3:16). But the world stands condemned, poisoned and on the verge of death (3:18). Jesus comes to rescue all of us, who like Nicodemus are writhing in our unbelief. He became flesh so that he would be lifted up on the cross and save all those who look to him.

Can you say you have been born again?

Rev Geoff

(with a little help from the Spoken Gospel guys)