Questions are great ways to ask for responses, clarify ideas, or challenge wrong ones.
We will see an amazing dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3:1-21 as Jesus answers Nicodemus’ greatest question. Jesus already knew his question as the end of John 2 points out. Nicodemus’ and our greatest need and question is how to enter into God’s Kingdom.
Jesus will explain that the requirement is not becoming good enough but
we need a total transformation to become a different person than before - so radical that we must be born of God to enter into His Kingdom.
We will then look at two areas: what is being born of God and how one can be born of God.
What is being born of God?
Jesus says being born of God (or born from above or born again - all referring to the same thing) happens when we are born of water and the Spirit. The idea of birth points to a new life that was not there before and being born of the Spirit shows the supernatural power of God to bring this about.
Jesus compares this to the wind. We see it and its effect but don’t know all the details and it is beyond our control. It is real but invisible.
God works similarly to bring about a new birth that is done to me and not from me.
All of this stands in opposition that somehow I cause it by my own efforts.
Ezekiel 36:22-27 is the scripture that Jesus uses to describe this new birth as a washing and giving new life. Here we see God working on His own initiative despite the people’s sinfulness. Five times He says, “I will” and affects a total transformation.
“He cleans and forgives, gives a new heart and spirit,”
and puts His Spirit into His people. All this leads to an obedience and care for God’s word instead of a stubborn, wayward heart from before. It is not what I do for God but what He does to me.
This is an incredible encouragement to believers, those who have experienced this new birth. We have been changed and the new desires to walk and please God are a result of God’s work. Even our failures only point to our new condition as we don’t want them and want to follow God fully. Much like a compass, we have now a new direction and heart that points to God, our true north.
Nicodemus does not understand. He is only thinking of a physical birth. Jesus asserts His authority to reveal truth, something Nicodemus already has acknowledged.
But the conversation does not stop there. Now Jesus moves on to talk about how a person can be born of God.
How is one born of God?
Being born of God happens as we simply look to and trust in Jesus and His work on the cross on our behalf.
Jesus compares being born of God to another incident of Moses lifting up a bronze snake in the wilderness. In Numbers 21:5-9, the people of Israel complain against God and Moses so God sends deadly snakes into their midst. Many die as a result and the people acknowledge their sin and ask for the snakes to be removed.
Instead, God directs Moses to put this snake on a pole.
If anyone is bitten, they only need to look at the snake to live. The Lord gives one solution - the bronze snake - and one response - looking to it - to be healed.
In the same way, Jesus is God’s only solution as all of us are bitten by sin. The poison of sin results in death unless we look to Jesus and His death on the cross for us. The venom of sin can be nullified and we can have eternal life. Why would someone not look to Jesus?
Maybe they are mad at God and will not look and rebel against Him. Some may decide to opt for another solution on their own. Others may be fearful of the change. But the Lord gives a simple and elegant solution of relying on the One who died in our place and then He will cause us to become His children.
John 3:16-21 further explains God’s motivation, purpose and our two possible responses.
“God sent His Son out of love for the world.”
He knew the predicament we were in and provided a way of escape. His purpose was so people would be saved. But we all have a choice to make and we will make a choice. Those who look to and rely on Jesus are no longer judged.
Jesus has taken away our judgment. But those who refuse the Lord are already judged. There is no alternative. Plus, their lives show the effects of sin working its poison. They don’t turn to God because they love their evil deeds and therefore hate the Light of Jesus and are fearful of Him.
They run the other way. But everyone in this condition of unbelief is only one look away from having their whole being changed.
“God’s word is like a heart exam and reveals our thoughts to us. ”
Where are you now in relation to Jesus? Where do you want to be? God wants you to come to Him through His Son. Gaze on Jesus and His death, trusting He did it for you and you too can be born of God.
