Born Again
Who do
you count on for eternal life?
From Higher Things“Jesus answered and said to him, 'Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.’” (St. John 3:3)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Nicodemus just doesn't get it. Jesus speaks of being “born again” and Nicodemus thinks we need to be “born out” of our mother's womb again. Wrong answer, Nick! You should know better!
Not so fast, dear Christian. Do you know what it means to be “born again?” Does being “born again” have to do with you making a decision for Jesus? Maybe you've heard that being “born again” is all about you living differently and better than other people who aren’t “born again.” Or worse, does it mean that you have to commit or give your heart to Jesus? Is that what it means to be “born again?”
Did you notice who is doing everything in the above paragraph? You give your heart. You commit your life to Jesus. That's all about you, isn't it? You, you, and more you. You won't see the kingdom of God with any religion that starts and ends with what you are doing.
So, to save us, Jesus repeats Himself again to Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the spirit, he is not able to come into the kingdom of God,” (v. 5).
If you want to learn what it means to be “born again” (literally, in Greek, to be “born from above”) learn what it means to be born of water and the Spirit. Where were you born of water and of the Spirit?
Holy Baptism! At the Baptismal font we died with the crucified Christ and were raised with Him to new life. We were born from above in Christ in the waters of our Baptism!
That which is born of flesh – that's you – gives birth to more flesh. The religion that starts and stops with you ends with you – with you dying. Jesus points you outside of you and that religion to what the Spirit is doing.
The Spirit is all about delivering God's love in Jesus to you. This is how God loves you – He gave up His Son and whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Are you born again? Yes, you were born from above at the Baptismal font. In Holy Baptism we don't just see the kingdom of God, we enter the kingdom of God! We enter in the water and the Spirit. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Reading:
St. John 3:22-4:6Daily Lectionary:
Job 6:1-13; St. John 3:1-21