"Born Again: Understanding Jesus' Conversation with Nicodemus"


(Adapted from the sermon "Nicodemus: John 3:1-18" by Elder Jim Colson) Reviewed and edited by Pastor Christopher Thompson)

In the still of the night, a Pharisee named Nicodemus sought out Jesus, driven by curiosity and perhaps a touch of caution. This clandestine meeting, recorded in John 3, would become the backdrop for one of the most profound and oft-quoted teachings in Christian theology.

Nicodemus approached Jesus with a statement of respect: "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." But Jesus, never one for small talk, cut straight to the heart of the matter with a statement that would perplex Nicodemus and echo through the ages:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

These words, cryptic and confounding, set the stage for a dialogue that would unpack the very essence of spiritual rebirth and salvation. Nicodemus, like many of us when confronted with spiritual truths that transcend our earthly understanding, responded with bewilderment: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

Jesus' response delves deeper into the mystery: "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."

Here, Jesus draws a clear distinction between physical birth and spiritual rebirth. Just as we need to be physically born to exist in the natural world, we must be spiritually reborn to experience the kingdom of God. This spiritual rebirth is not a physical process but a transformation of the heart and soul through the power of the Holy Spirit.

To illustrate this concept, Jesus uses the metaphor of wind: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Like the wind, the work of the Spirit in regenerating a person is mysterious and beyond our full comprehension, yet its effects are undeniably real and transformative.

As the conversation progresses, Jesus gently rebukes Nicodemus for his lack of understanding, reminding us that spiritual truths often elude even the most learned among us if we approach them solely with our intellect. It's a humbling reminder that in matters of faith, we must come as children, open and receptive to divine revelation.

The dialogue reaches its crescendo with what has become one of the most recognized verses in the Bible, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

This verse encapsulates the heart of the Gospel – God's immeasurable love for humanity, expressed through the sacrificial gift of His Son. It's a love that transcends our understanding, a love that reaches out to every corner of the world, offering the promise of eternal life to all who believe.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. He continues to explain the purpose of His coming: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." This statement challenges our often punitive view of God, revealing instead a God whose primary motivation is salvation, not condemnation.

The story of Nicodemus doesn't end with this nighttime conversation. We see him again in John 7, cautiously defending Jesus before his fellow Pharisees, and later in John 19, bringing spices for Jesus' burial. These glimpses suggest a man gradually moving from curiosity to conviction, from secret seeker to open follower.

Nicodemus' journey reminds us that faith often grows incrementally. It challenges us to examine our own spiritual journey. Are we, like Nicodemus, curious about Jesus but hesitant to fully commit? Are we allowing our preconceptions or fear of others' opinions to hold us back from embracing the fullness of spiritual rebirth?

The concept of being "born again" has become a cornerstone of Christian faith, yet it remains as mysterious and revolutionary today as it was to Nicodemus that night. It speaks to a fundamental transformation – a dying to our old selves and a rebirth into a new life in Christ. This rebirth is not about religious rituals or intellectual assent to doctrines, but about a profound inner change wrought by the Spirit of God.

As we reflect on this conversation, we're invited to consider our own need for spiritual rebirth. Have we experienced this transformative work of the Spirit in our lives? Are we living in the freedom and power that comes from being born anew?

Moreover, Jesus' words challenge us to reconsider our understanding of God's love. It's a love so vast that it encompasses the entire world, so sacrificial that it gave up heaven's most precious treasure, and so inclusive that it extends to "whoever believes." This love is not passive or distant but active and intimately involved in human affairs, seeking to save rather than condemn.

In a world often characterized by division, judgment, and condemnation, the message of John 3:16-17 stands as a radical alternative. It calls us to embody this same love – a love that seeks to save, not condemn; a love that reaches out to all, not just a select few.

As we ponder these truths, may we, like Nicodemus, move from curiosity to conviction, from darkness to light. May we embrace the mystery and power of spiritual rebirth, allowing God's transformative love to work in and through us. And may we become bearers of this good news, inviting others to experience the life-changing reality of being born again.