How to be Born Again
Nicodemus meets Jesus
In St John’s Gospel, Chapter 3 we read a famous story about a meeting between an important man called Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus had to come during hours of darkness because he was part of a high ranking council who did not like hearing about Jesus and his ministry. He knew Jesus was a special person but wanted to know more about him. He asked a question, "How can someone be born again?"
In other words, he was asking "what does being born again entail?" This expression perplexes people even today so it certainly had that effect 2,000 years ago. Quite simply it means starting all over again. In other words, when you accept Jesus you make a complete new start in life. Whatever you have done in the past which you might be unhappy about, perhaps ashamed of, is wiped out and you start from a clean sheet of paper.
This is good news because it emphasises the point that there is no one who has done something so terrible he or she cannot make a new start with Jesus. Now that can be a little unbelievable with many people because they expect to have pay the penalty for past misdemeanors. But it remains true that when you take Jesus on board you are free of the past. It’s only about your future. Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not perish but have eternal life. It was not to judge the world that God sent His Son into the world, but that through Him the world might be saved."
In accepting Jesus you are not going to be judged on your past actions. As a novelist once wrote, "The past is another country. They do things differently there." As far as you are concerned the files go to the recycling bin and then off the record for good. Humans judge people differently, of course. They take into account a person’s past record and where he or she comes from. The people of Nazareth could not accept Jesus as Messiah. They could not believe that the local carpenter’s son could turn out to be the long awaited Messiah. They judged Jesus by human values.
This is, of course a spiritual affair and such matters are dealt with in a different way. So you need have no concerns about who you are, where you come from or what you have done or not done. You are just as important to God and to Jesus as anyone else. Therefore there is rejoicing in heaven on the occasion you state, "I am for Jesus."
In other words, he was asking "what does being born again entail?" This expression perplexes people even today so it certainly had that effect 2,000 years ago. Quite simply it means starting all over again. In other words, when you accept Jesus you make a complete new start in life. Whatever you have done in the past which you might be unhappy about, perhaps ashamed of, is wiped out and you start from a clean sheet of paper.
This is good news because it emphasises the point that there is no one who has done something so terrible he or she cannot make a new start with Jesus. Now that can be a little unbelievable with many people because they expect to have pay the penalty for past misdemeanors. But it remains true that when you take Jesus on board you are free of the past. It’s only about your future. Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not perish but have eternal life. It was not to judge the world that God sent His Son into the world, but that through Him the world might be saved."
In accepting Jesus you are not going to be judged on your past actions. As a novelist once wrote, "The past is another country. They do things differently there." As far as you are concerned the files go to the recycling bin and then off the record for good. Humans judge people differently, of course. They take into account a person’s past record and where he or she comes from. The people of Nazareth could not accept Jesus as Messiah. They could not believe that the local carpenter’s son could turn out to be the long awaited Messiah. They judged Jesus by human values.
This is, of course a spiritual affair and such matters are dealt with in a different way. So you need have no concerns about who you are, where you come from or what you have done or not done. You are just as important to God and to Jesus as anyone else. Therefore there is rejoicing in heaven on the occasion you state, "I am for Jesus."
posted by Keith Alexander at Wednesday, January 04, 2006
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