John 3:5-17

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.^[1]

“God has no grandchildren!” One can be born into a Christian family, but one is not born a Christian. One must instead be “born again!” Nicodemus, a ruler in the synagogue came to Jesus under the cover of darkness inquiring how Jesus was able to the do the things He had been doing except He come from God. The question gave Jesus just the opportunity He needed to tell Nicodemus what it would take for one to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. His answer, however, was met with incredulity by Nicodemus who wonders how an adult can re-enter his mother’s womb. But Jesus was not referring to the endometrial fluid a physical birth (water), but was instead speaking of a spiritual birth (spirit). The water birth is not dependent on the will of the one who is born, but the spirit birth only can occur by and through an act of the will.

Jesus was hard on Nicodemus’ lack of understanding, but perhaps we need not be. Many in our day lack just as much understanding, if not more, than Nicodemus. Statistics demonstrate that sixty percent of Americans claim to be Christian, but an equal percentage do not even go to church. The statistics reveal a strong disconnect between verbal accent and actual commitment. Many appear to believe that a casual ritualistic relationship is sufficient to insure their entrance into the Kingdom of God. But such reasoning makes about as much sense as believing that going through the motions in a romantic relationship is sufficient to solidify it. God’s love is so deep for His creation that He sent His Son to die for us. The very least we can do is seriously and earnestly commit our very lives to Him. Make that choice for yourself today and in so doing, model it for others.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving us so much that You would deign to send Your Son to redeem us from our sins. We confess that we have given You of ourselves only that which is easy and convenient, while holding back that which is most precious to us. Today we recommit ourselves, our souls, our minds, our bodies to do Your will. By an act of our will we voluntarily commit our very lives to You. For You we choose to live and for You we will die. Honor now the commitment we sincerely make in Jesus’ name. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:5–17.