NICK AT NIGHT
John
3:2-3 Nicodemus
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.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
In the Gospel of John, the
only two references to “the kingdom of God” are found here in verses 3 and 5. [It
is important to take note of such limited references when reading a book of the
Bible. There are other occasions in Scripture where a term is used numerous
times, which then should also draw our focus and attention.] Jesus is taking the focus away from seeing the
miracles he performed to seeing God’s kingdom revealed in him. The kingdom of
God represented by Christ requires more than just being impressed by his
miraculous power and ascribing to him a place of honor among men. Jesus is
saying that it takes a complete reversal of our understanding, a reversal that
he describes as “being born again.”
Being born again entails a
radically new beginning for your life. Being “born of water and the Spirit”
teaches us of the putting off of the old in repentance and being baptized into
the life that Jesus is offering. As natural birth for us is brought about by
the work of others, so with Jesus’ teaching here the new birth is brought about
by the work of the Spirit. To understand these things the starting point is with
the water of baptism for those who repent of their sins and turn to Christ.
The story of Nicodemus
reminds us that knowledge alone will not bring renewal to our lives. What is
required is a complete change of the inner person. It begins with the individual’s
acknowledgement of their need for a savior to save them from their sins. The
starting point is only reached when the Spirit himself enters our hearts and
begins this renewal.