Being Born Again Is Not An Option By Pete BriscoeSample

Nicodemus and You

I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me. — Isaac Newton

He came seeking truth. And he came at night. A member of the Jewish-ruling council—the Sanhedrin—an exclusive council that ruled the religious life in Jerusalem. He was in the “Who’s Who” of the religious group in Jerusalem. Yet, there he was walking through the darkness seeking something from the homeless Galilean preacher known as a “friend of sinners”: 

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:2)

Jesus had just turned a whole bunch of water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana and the news had gotten out. Nicodemus had come to Him for something—we never really find out what it was—perhaps a question? But leave it to Jesus to dispense with the pleasantries and get right to the answer:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3) 

I’ve read this passage many times, and preached it to people who are far, far from God, as well as people who have no interest in God. But Jesus wasn’t speaking to one of those; He was speaking to a “mature” religious person.  (Perhaps someone like you? Or maybe me?) And still he came to Jesus seeking truth—and Jesus told him, “You must be born again.” He says the same to any of us who come seeking. 

Because, if you want to be in His Kingdom, you’ve got to start over.

Jesus, I pray simply that Your Spirit will speak boldly and clearly. You said that I must be born again to see Your Kingdom. Use Your Word as a double-edged sword in the power of the Spirit to allow me to explore the great ocean of truth beneath these words. Amen.