RABBI: Born Again

-Good Friday, Invitation to our city.

-What else?

John 3 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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. 18 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. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

“Born Again”

Prayer.

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is the striking encounter between a ruler and a Pharisee and the Christ, Jesus. The son of God in the night, presumably on a rooftop somewhere in Jerusalem.

LETS LOOK AT THIS CONTEXT, THEN THE TEACHING… And what it ALL means:

Some of the context for us: Why is this a momentous event?

Firstly - It’s only in John. We don’t see it anywhere else.

Secondly - This kind of thing never actually happened. Someone like nicodemus wouldn’t normally do something like this. He was interested. So there is that to consider. he was inquisitive. There was clearly a wrestling on the inside happening for him

Thirdly - He showed up at night. In other words he didn’t want anyone to know he was out there

We can presume it was at night for

Fear of association’

Fear of what people would say

Fear for loss of position / title.

But this is the crux of the situation you have to ask yourself: What is an old, established religious leader of the day sneaking out of His house away from his family and his sect to get an interview with a Galilean untrained in the rabbinical schools, Man who has come from God?

There was a clear wrestle, inquisitiveness and desire within the heart of nicodemus to get the questions answered and to find out what it was that God was doing.

But he wasn’t there to check in on some perrpheral issues or something that was mediocre in importance: but rather it was the opposite.

He showed up and if you like relinquishing position 1 goes into position 2 that of the seeker.

He came to Jesus

He sought his attention

He visited him at night.

1.IT WAS NIGHT TIME.

Let’s not miss this here.

John 3:2 “This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.””

We are all in the darkness of the night in some form or fashion./

Every human being is born into darkness and it doesn’t matter with what context you are in, Ephesians 2 :12

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

We all have a wilderness

We all have a dark place

We only by the grace of God are given ears that are attentive to what the spirit of God is doing through the gospel in our lifetimes.

The question for us today is this: if you hear about the spirit of God moving in and around your life - will you get up in the night and seek it out?

This was nicodemus’ time. This was his moment.

We all have a moment. The question is what is our move in the dark night?

Will we move towards the Lord

Or will we go on resisting.

Rebelling

Pridefully thinking that our education, intellect, positioning will do what it takes to secure our eternity into the kingdom.

For nicodemus this was true of him.

Without this encounter - he would have never known… what it takes which is:

2.REBIRTH IS NECESSARY

John 3:3

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Why would Jesus say this:

Haven’t you also thought when you heard that like I did when I was younger

“That’s weird, that born gain thing”

“Those born agains”

“Oh yah, he’s a born again guy now”

This is why He said it

he was speaking to a Jew, who like a good Jew, knew that in the age to come - a GOOD JEW - could rely upon the fact that at the time of that age, the messiah would come and if you like announce

The kingdom of God is at hand.

And this is how you can get in.

Let’s look at it again:

He responds with verses 3.

John 3:3

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Nicodemus responds with - How is that possible? How can a man be born when He is old.

In another way, its like he is saying: well thats a young persons opportunity I guess I’ve missed it.

(You hear some people say that btw and it breaks my heart because it’s neither true or important: God can save anyone and in any season of life)

Then Jesus is marveling at his lack of understanding. That this guy would know the Bible well enough to be able to see it… surely?

I don’t think you need to read too much into the water and spirit here but suffice to say what it means is this:

The Water symbolizing the cleansing - something that only the blood of Jesus. The perfect lamb of God who’s blood sprinkled cleanses from all unrighteousness

The Wind symbolizing the power of regeneration - Something that the wind of the spirit can do

Is and was the only way to say this:

The change isn’t subtle. Its BLUNT, ITS EXPLICIT, ITS GIGANTIC IN its result…

And so the only thing that even comes close is the use of the picture of a complete rebirth in the natural, Physical rebirth as the only suitable parallel for the spiritual change that is needed.

You must be born again.

Someone like nicodemus didn’t need information: he needed regeneration’

Someone in his predicament isn’t served by a remodel or a renovation or a life addition - They need a completely NEW BUILD.

It’s a radical picture

** when I got saved, I was 19 years of age, and when I thought I was doing when I gave my life to Christ, cause I was receiving in addition or if you like a supplement and additive to my existing life

I own futility of meant was that things would go from bad to hopefully good because I’d added in the mix of my life something that was

But what I soon realized that what had actually taken place is that God had exchanged the heart of stone that I had that was lifeless that was solace that was dead spiritually and he had converted it and I was reborn

On the outside, it’s almost impossibleto tell, but on the inside, it’s dramatic in every way

This is what it means to be born again

God doesn’t want to just be a nice little addition to your life. The only way it works is if you give him your whole life, he takes it puts it to death in your reborn with a new life.

It’s a miracle: and it’s a mystery. Those who are saved and those who aren’t?

Couldn’t tell you why? Can’t tell you who its gonna be next, which is why Jesus says:

John 3:7–8 ESV

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

I can preach a message to a group of people, preach the gospel and I may think… I don’t think anything happened there - come to find out later. Through a conversion experience - Someone was radically changed.

That’s the wind of the spirit. You don’t know where it’s generated or how it gets to you but when it shows up YOU KNOW ITS THERE!!!!

3.THOSE WHO SEE & BELIEVE - ARE SAVED.

So what was this?

A bold declaration and unveiling by the rabbi, the master, Jesus. You must be born again.

Jesus says to Nicodemus, how you of all people not understand these things?

YOU DONT SEE IT YET. YOU DONT SEE ME YET. PRAY NOW FOR JESUS TO BECOME CLeAR

He specifically says that anyone who has the eyes to see Jesus as Lord is saved and he quotes number is 21 as he does this to help the man SEE what he so clearly WASN'T SeeING.

When we recognize JESUS the pieces and the puzzle comes together.

He quotes numbers:

Numbers 21:4–9 “From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”

When we look at the cross, we see Jesus. And in our sinful state - we are cleansed, we are regenerated

We are born again

We are saved.

It’s a miracle. To be born again.

Teachings: Often

What is born again?

What is not born again

Restoration IS NOT REGENERATION

Renovation is not REGENERATION

Renewal is not REGENERATION

A little help is no help at all.

WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Regeneration is only by the spirit of God, not by the will of man.

The wind goes where it wishes.

We don’t know why some peoples eyes are opened by the spirit when the preacher preaches. But for some it does, for some it doesn’t. The wind of the spirit goes where it wishes.

ANYONE WHO SEE’S AND BELIEVES IS MADE WHOLE (Healed).

Saved and set free.

What is the serpent in the wilderness about? This wasn’t a random mention by Jesus. This was a great unveiling by Jesus to nicodemus. He would have seen this well known passage already. But now with new meaning:

Numbers 21:7–11 ESV

And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth. And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise.