Across the month of October we’re looking at 4 very ordinary people who had very extraordinary encounters with Jesus. We began by looking at a groom who had disgraced himself by running out of wine at his own wedding. Jesus replaced his disgrace with honour (some $80,000 worth of wine).
Last week’s passage looked at a man named Nicodemus, who being one of the most important religious leaders in Jesus’ day, was held in highest honour by his people. One would expect Jesus to be very respectful towards this pious Jew. Yet once again, Jesus surprises us.
Rather than return Nicodemus’ opening pleasantries with a compliment on his years of theological study, his devout obedience and the high position he holds, Jesus instead tell Nicodemus such things count for nothing when it comes to the kingdom of God. To get right with God, Jesus declares that one must be ‘born again’ (John 3:3).
Jesus explains that this first means being ‘born of water’ (v. 5). Ezek 36:24-28 sheds some light on this strange turn of phrase, outlining that one must have their sins washed clean in order to be one of God’s people. To be born again means repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. Jesus then says one must also be ‘born of the Spirit’. The same Ezekiel passage tells us it is God’s Holy Spirit that softens a heart to turn to God in faith.
The million-dollar question though is, how does one know they have been born again? If being in a relationship with God, so that he will allow us into his heaven when we die, means being born of water and the Spirit, how do we know if this has happened to us.
The answer is how we view John 3:16, the most famous passage in the whole Bible. If we hate the idea that Jesus died for my sins, then it is unlikely the Spirit has had any real effect on our hearts. Yet if we love the Lord Jesus deeply for his unfathomable sacrifice upon the cross, then we can know we have crossed over from death to life.
