You Must Be Born Again

Next week, my family and I are PCSing to Fort Jackson. In this process, as most of you have experienced—there is a moment of purging some of the materials that you have collected over the time. The other morning, I was looking at our house and thinking about how it is going to be with a fresh start. I am going to miss the people here—some of those who have already moved. Some of those who will remain after I leave. But, when I move, I will start all over—new house, new location, new friends.

What does it mean to start over?

This morning, we are looking at the story of Nicodemus for John 3:1-17.

Jesus tells him that he “must be born again.”

Sounds like a new start to me. But, what does it mean? How do we we truly have a fresh start and become “born again?”

We see in this passage that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews (v1). He was considered a teacher (v10). And he came to Jesus by night to ask some questions. (v2)

Here is a man—who was educated, respected, but he had something missing in his life.

And Nicodemus had questions that all of his education and experience just could not answer.

This morning, some of you are asking questions that are outside of what you can handle. You are hurting—but there seems to be no solution to your heart ache—there is no medicine. We can fix a broken arm. We can heal a sickness. We can cure many diseases. But we have no medical cure for the broken heart.

The Bible says that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night . He didn’t want anyone to know that he had questions. He didn’t want anyone to know he had problems. Is this you?

I was watching Thomas the Tank Engine with my children the other night. And the story of the day featured the square boxy engine who was scared to go into the dark forest.

He was an older engine, mature and trusted—but he was scared. Thomas asked if Toby would like to go with him, but Toby declined. He didn’t want everyone to know that he was scared. He was old and mature—and he didn’t want to be known as an Old Scaredy Engine.

We all get that way. We are scared for anyone to know that we have questions.

But the truth is; is that we all have questions.

And today you have questions.

Nicodemus saw Jesus do miracle after miracle. He saw him heal the sick and cause the lame to walk. He sees that there is something different about Jesus—he seems to have the answers that he is looking for. So he comes to Jesus while it was dark

Nicodemus said to Jesus

… “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.” (John 3:2 ESV)

Nicodemus is asking himself. “Could this be the answer that I’ve been looking for?

If he is truly for God—surely he has the answer to my problems; he can bring light in my life; he can show me how to eternal life!”

He connects the dots to place Jesus as someone he can trust—someone who has come from God. Nicodemus needed God sized answers to his questions. If he was going to move forward in his life—he needed answers from God.

So he goes to Jesus.

And Jesus tells Nicodemus.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 ESV)

Nicodemus is confused.

What does this mean?

Nicodemus said to him(in verse four),

… “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4 ESV)

I appreciate Nicodemus’ honesty in this question. Sometime informed spiritual mind we lose the importance of this question.

How is one born again?

How can a man be born when he is old?

Earlier this year little Kenna Moore was born weighing only 9.6 ounces.

Her mother said; “She weighed less than a can of Coke,”

Today, the baby that doctors gave little chance of survival, weighs almost 4 pounds…and she’s expected to go home with her parents…in the next few weeks.

( from http://www.wcnc.com/news/Charlotte-baby-one-of-worlds-tiniest-96-ounces-at-birth-154630635.html)

We have the medical knowledge to help a tiny little baby survive, but I have never seen someone physically born again!

So, rightly, Nicodemus asks the question?

This is not a flippant question—but a question that Nicodemus is asking someone whom he has just identified as being from God. This is not the accusing Pharisee trying to trap Jesus. Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night—he wanted answers!

So, Jesus answers him in verse five;

… “Truly, truly, I say to you, 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. (John 3:5-6 ESV)

Here Jesus makes the distinction of what he is talking about.

He says what is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is Spirit—you must have both!

Jesus speaks here first of being born of water.

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