You Must Be Born Again
Notes
Transcript
A little over three years ago, I walked into Baywater Animal Rescue and said “give me the most pitiful, messed up mutt that you have.” Well, I didn’t say that, but apparently that is what they heard.
On the very first day Old Bone spent with us, we were all in the front yard trying to get him used to us. I threw a ball - no interest at all. Then I playfully approached him with a “I’m gonna get you” and he ran around the back of the house. I thought nothing of it, figuring he would circle back. After a few minutes with no dog in sight, I went around back and realized he had run off into the woods. For a full day, we searched the woods, occasionally capturing a Bone sighting, only to have him run off in the other direction.
The next day, we plastered Cambridge with missing dog posters and late morning, received a call that animal control had picked him up near Snappers, worn out paws and exhausted. He was a pitiful sight - but we were invested at that point (except for Krista).
For the first couple of weeks, he spent most of his time in self-isolation, hiding in his crate with the door open.
He did not understand what play was, he was very skittish - any sudden movement and he panicked and scrambled to get away. He did not respond to us calling him. My mother tried to get close to him and he snapped at her. He was too scared to go for a walk after the sun went down and when he did go on a walk, he pulled so hard that it was difficult to lead him. He would growl at anyone who approached him - man or beast. We had to get use to telling other dog owners when they approached - he is not friendly.
To say that Bone has been a challenge is an understatement. Whatever abuse he went through early in life severely marked him.
I share this as background info for you because something wonderful occurred this past week. Krista was attending class at her seminary in Charlotte, NC and Bone and I were free to do whatever we wanted during the day. I know that he is not the same scared dog he once was - so I thought I would see how he would handle socialization. I took him to a dog park.
For the first time ever, Old Bone made friends. My dog actually played well with others - and was completely happy.
It is amazing how much love heals a wounded spirit. Without the injection of love into his life that we have consistently provided, he would still be a complete mess. But now, he is a brand new dog. (I know Krista is rolling her eyes).
Now I’m going to ask for some leeway - every illustration tends to break down if pressed to far - but when I was watching my old dog running around with his dog friends, grinning as went by, the Spirit brought today’s gospel reading to my mind and said - “see what transpires when unconditional love enters the scene?”
Bone was once a nervous, anxiety driven, scared dog who trusted nobody. Now he is one of the pack, enjoying the freedom of being a good boy. If we take the spiritual aspect of the meaning - I would look at Bone and say that it is like he is born again. He is not the same dog. He was given new life from above - from his master - and it changed the trajectory of his life.
Do you follow me or am I sounding blasphemous? Again - I ‘m not saying Bone gave his life to Jesus or that believers are the same as dogs. What I am saying is that there is a similarity that can be drawn when we observe the change that love can make in a wounded creature - the transformation that can happen when a new life is given.
Jesus tells Nicodemus,
John 3:3 (ESV)
...“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
In the original Greek, this can also be rendered “Unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Both are good translations of the word. Being born again describes the nature of what must occur to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There must be a new birth. Being born from above describes how this new birth originates - not from us, but from above.
Now let’s consider old Nicodemus. He was an influential Pharisee. Pharisees were a religious sect mostly known for their piety. They believed in the written Law, the Torah, and they also believed in oral traditions - man made rules on how to live faithfully. I know often we see them as “the bad guys” of the Bible due to the opposition of Jesus, but that is not necessarily fair nor does it apply to all Pharisees. Nicodemus structured his life according to his religion because he believed in God and wanted to counted among the righteous. He was devout in his faith. He was an expert in the Old Testament and would teach others on the text. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council (ancient Israel’s supreme court). When it came to matters of Judaism, matters of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Nicodemus would have been a good guy to talk to and ask questions.
He was also likely accustomed to dealing with those who used religion to make a name for themselves, or those who had a Messiah-complex and would rise up followers desiring a political change. This happened back then just as it happens today. In Acts, we read of an influential pharisee named Gamaliel warning the rest of the Sanhedrin to use caution in dealing with the Apostles of Jesus.
And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Nicodemus, in his observation of Jesus and his ministry, apparently concluded that Jesus could not do the things that he was doing without God being with him. He needed to investigate, to meet with Jesus one on one, and determine who he was and what was his plan.
Nicodemus starts off the meeting calling Jesus rabbi (‘teacher”) which was a respectful greeting given the fact that from the religious establishment point of view, Jesus had not done any of the expected work to become a rabbi - he did not go to a school of theology and did not have an accredited degree.
Nicodemus’ gracious introduction is met with Jesus speaking straight to point and making a claim that not only went against the mindset of the Pharisees, but reveals the deepest need of Nicodemus himself - and of us.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The kingdom of God that Jesus speaks of, as defined by biblical commentator Bruce Milne, is “the coming era when God would manifestly be king over Israel and the nations.” It is a phrase tightly connected with eternal life and salvation.
To realize the fullness of God’s salvation, to receive eternal life and live under God’s complete reign, for a Pharisee, first and foremost meant that you were born into the right family. Meaning that you were a child of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You were a Jew - a child of the promise.
Nicodemus likely assumed that in the age to come, he would be counted among the righteous and would enjoy eternal life. After all, he had devoted his life to God. He was faithful in his devotion. He was knowledgable and taught others - he defended and protected the faith. He lived a good life.
Jesus says “unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
What does that mean? Born again. Can one re-enter the womb?
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
You know, Paul taught the early church in 1 Cor. 3:18
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Nicodemus, with all his understanding of the ancient scripture, was taken aback. What Jesus was saying did not make sense to him - it sounded foolish.
The way into the Kingdom is through water and the spirit? Not birthright?
Not good works? And yet, as a teacher of the scriptures - he had the key to understanding. It is found in Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God says...
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
A new life, a new heart, given from above. Not because of pedigree, not because of anything you have done, but because of what God has chosen to do for all people.
In the verses that follow today’s reading, Nicodemus asks Jesus “How can these things be?” and Jesus alludes to what he will accomplish on the cross by pointing Nicodemus back to a story in the Old Testament. It is a story found in the 21st chapter of Numbers. Moses is leading his people through the wilderness and they are griping. Instead of trusting in God and praising him for his deliverance - they are openly declaring that they wished they were still in Egypt were food and water were plentiful. They were even complaining about the food that God had provided. They represent sinful humanity rebelling against God. The consequence of sin is death, so we read in Numbers 21:6-9
Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Jesus uses this story to tell Nicodemus, and us, what it would take to be born again. Simply turn your gaze upon the one lifted up on a pole. One who has become the very thing that is killing you. Gaze upon him and you shall be saved.
Jesus was nailed to a cross and lifted up. Hanging there on the cross, he took upon himself all our sin.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When we turn our gaze to him and declare with our lips that He is Lord, we are born again. This is God’s gift to us.
That gift was for Nicodemus. That gift is for you.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
If you have not already done so, let the love of God pour into your heart. Gaze upon the cross. Repent and receive God’s love and grace. God’s love will transform you - you will receive new life.
Then you will be ready to joyfully run with the pack and live into all God has created you to be.
Amen.