BORN AGAIN

Among the 66 books, 1,189 chapters and 31,102 verses in the King James Version of the Bible, John 3:16 is the most well known and most quoted of them all.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Of course, this particular passage, and the verses which surround it recount the story of Jesus and Nicodemus, the Pharisee. Nicodemus came to Jesus during the night, no doubt to preclude other members of the Sanhedrin from being privy to his interest in Christ’ identity and spiritual agenda.

Of course, we know Jesus shared a curious teaching with Nicodemus that night regarding the necessity to be “born again.” However, based on something I heard recently, it might not have been quite as curious to this religious leader, as he seemed to ‘make out’ in this passage.

Since if the story I heard recently has any merit, and I believe it does, Nicodemus had heard this phrase several times throughout the stages of his life.

The phrase, “born again” was referred to when he attended his bar mitzva to denote being ushered out of one stage of life into another; not unlike traveling through the birth canal into the external world.

This same phrase was spoken again when Nicodemus gave up his bachelorhood and became a married man. And again, when he was nominated to the prestigious religious body, the Sanhedrin.

Pt. 2

Is it any wonder that Jesus used the phrase, “You must be born again.”

Of course, the foregoing uses of the phrase are momentary and mundane when compared to the way Jesus used the words, and the eternal import of them.

Jesus reference to being “born by water and blood” is all about the natural birth process and the spiritual birth process. Being born by water refers to the breaking of the amniotic sac, and the liquid which has maintained the fetus over the course of nine months. Being born by blood refers to the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and our willingness to incorporate that blood as a sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enjoy the pleasures of God and heaven one day, we must not only experience a natural birth, but a spiritual one. There are plenty of people who have lived and died who experience the first birth, but who never experience the second one.

Some religions, other than Christianity, regard Jesus as a prophet, but not as the Savior and Messiah of the world. However, Jesus claimed all of these titles. If He was only a prophet, he would also be a liar, since He said He was “The Way, The Truth, and The Life” (and that) “No man comes to the Father, except by way of Me.”

We just can’t have it both ways.

Yes, Nicodemus had heard that phrase, “born again” throughout his entire lifetime, but Jesus use of the phrase was new, and different and fresh to the man.

It is the most crucial use of the phrase this man, or any man will ever experience, and which is meant to lead us to the most important decision of our lives.

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending