Tuesday 19 February, 2019

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Nicodemus answers and responds to Jesus just like any of us would, ‘how can someone be born again when they are old, and already been birthed? This is not physically possible!’.

However, Nicodemus has missed the point. What Jesus is saying here is that it is one thing to be born of flesh in the physical, but another to be born with the Spirit of God. When we are born again, we see things the way Jesus sees them. Our eyes are open to see his kingdom, our ears are listening to hear his voice, and our hearts becomes a heart after his. This is why the Holy Spirit is crucial in our lives as Christians, He opens our lives for God to move in us and through us. The Holy Spirit allows us to be born again, and receive God’s spirit afresh.

Lord, teach me to be more like you every day. Help me to see things the way you see them. Help me to have a heart after yours and your people. Fill me each day with your spirit and let me never miss what you’re saying to me.

Written by Rachel Tomc