Corona Devo 588

Have you ever heard of Nicodemus? He's not so famous.

He was a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee (John 3:1). But Nicodemus was involved in possibly the most famous conversation ever when Jesus said to him, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

But chances are, you don't know about the conversation with Nicodemus that led up to those life-giving words from Jesus.

Does the term "born again" make you nervous?

It made Nicodemus nervous. It made him ask questions, and seek-to-understand, but it was hard for him to grasp being "born again" because the term is not "tangible".

And all of the same questions might rush through our minds as well. And depending on our faith-background, it might make us uncomfortable/seem too "evangelical"/or even too "spiritually progressive"-- to hear about someone being "born again".

But it's always good to check out what we are taught in "church" as it compares to what is said in the Bible. If God's Word (the Bible) says it, then we should be aware of it and live by it.

Nicodemus knew the Word of God inside and out. He had studied it and memorized it and he believed it. He had spent most of his life learning about God.

But there is one final piece of the "faith puzzle" that cannot be memorized, read, or "learned". And for scholars and simpletons alike--it is hard to wrap our minds around, because like the wind, it must be known but not seen.

It's the Holy Spirit--Invisible but necessary for the completion of full-belief and communion with Jesus and God.

Don't worry--Nicodemus was rattled about understanding the concept of it too:

(2) After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

(3) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

(4)“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

(5) Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. (6) Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. (7) So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

(9) “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

(10) Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? (11) I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. (12) But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? (13) No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven...

(16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. ~John 3:1-13, 16-17

Nicodemus might not be "famous" in our minds, but the (famous) chat he had with Jesus kind of sums up all the "how-to's" and "why's" of what it means to live for God, follow after Jesus, and have God and Jesus inside of us (the Holy Spirit).

Being "born again" isn't a radical religious term, a new-age spiritual term, or a fanatical Christian term---it was Jesus' "term" for accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts and allowing God to guide our thoughts, actions and lives through it. Jesus explained the unexplainable best: the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life (John 3:6).

It is a hard "term" to understand. In fact, I don't think we ever (fully) do. As Jesus said, how can we explain/understand (something like) the wind? We are aware it's there, that it's real, and that it has effects, but we know not it's origin or true "form". The exact same is true for the Holy Spirit.

Lord, let the wind of Your Holy Spirit breathe new life into our spirit, heart, mood, mind and life today. Amen.

Jesus leads Nicodemus (and us) through the explanation of being born again, and the necessity of it (unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God... ~John 3:3), while at the same time acknowledging that we can't fully understand being "born again" and having the Holy Spirit come into us (Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit. ~John 3:8).

It's a mind bender for sure. But it is also a critical, non-exchangeable, foundational Biblical Truth about a necessary component of our faith in God and having Him "live" within us.

Nicodemus may not be "famous" in Bible lore, but this conversation that He had with Jesus changed everything about his understanding of who God is and how he must experience Him.  It should change our understanding too.

Only when we "enter in" to a true relationship with Jesus and are "born of the Spirit" (John 3:8) can the Holy Spirit give birth to spiritual life (John 3:6) within us.  

That seems intangible.  That seems radical. That seems so special. 

And that's what the Holy Spirit is famous for.

Blessings, 

sarah     

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com