It occurs to me
Jesus' words in this particular narrative are among the most important ever
spoken. Personally speaking, I want to
know what it takes to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is telling Nicodemus
what it takes. It should have your
attention as well. It behooves me to
know what it means to be "born again." How does it happen? When does it take place? What are the prerequisites, if any? What do I have to do to experience it? Once I have experienced it, does it stick?
Little by little
Jesus is opening Nicodemus' eyes to the beauty and simplicity of the
Gospel. First he establishes the
non-negotiable nature of the new birth experience. There is no entrance into the Kingdom of God
without it! Secondly, Jesus clarifies
that the new birth (spiritual) experience is not the same as the first birth
(physical) experience. The first
requires water, the second requires the Spirit.
In this verse Jesus
further establishes the disconnect that exists between the physical and
spiritual births. This distinction is
extremely important. After all, according to Jesus, the best that can be
produced through human effort is something physical in nature. On the other hand when the Spirit provides
the effort, the results are spiritual.
There is no connection between the two when it comes to the new
birth. Here is the crux of the
frustration I wrestle with when I find myself on the wrong end of a
defeat. I am stuck at the physical level
during a spiritual battle. Jesus is out to find and to save the lost. I cannot make myself acceptable. He has made that a reality already, it
remains for me to understand and accept this reality. This is where I fail and flounder.
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