Born Again!

Needing help

My very first car was a Holden Gemini. It was a 1979 model, making it a year older then me!

Now one of the things I love about these older vehicles is that when you open the bonnet of the car you at least have a chance to figure out whats going on.

In my first year of uni, I had someone who was able to show me a thing or two about the engine, and he got me on my way to doing a bit of tinkering.

And so, when the car started doing a few back fires, I was shown how to adjust the timing.

I then started getting very advanced (at least, what I thought was very advanced). And so, when the brake pads needed changing, I thought - I’m not going to pay some huge amount for a qualified mechanic to do it - I’m going to do it myself.

Well - let me tell you, there is a good reason to pay good money to get someone qualified.

I spent nearly three days trying to pull the thing apart - part of those three days included a time when I managed to shear off the head of one of the bolts holding it together. I almost gave up entirely until someone helped me with a reverse threaded drill bit.

By the end of three days, I had somehow managed to put it back together, and it kind of worked. But the thing with brakes are, you don’t want them to kind of work. You want them to properly work.

So after all my work, I managed to very carefully drive this car with dodgy brakes to someone who actually knew what they were doing.

One of the things I love about being a parent is watching my kids gain independence. When they are just new borns, they are completely dependent on you for everything. But as they grow, the learn the basic skills like eating for themselves, clothing themselves and the like.

But we’ve gone through those skills. For my eldest, we’re now up to working on skills like cooking dinner.

In a very short period of time, they fixed it - and I got a new wheel alignment while I was at it.

Now the moral of this story should probably be that if I offer to help fix your car - it’s perhaps best to politely decline my offer.

Actually - that wasn’t the real point - the reason I told that story is because sometimes in life we have problems. Actually, more to the point, we are constantly faced with problems in life. What various is not if we face problems, but the severity of them.

It might be relatively mild problems, like the underlying stress that we seem to be having to endure. Or maybe it’s more severe, like a serious health crisis, or a failed marriage.

Whatever the severity, we like to think we’re independent enough to fix it ourselves. Perhaps we feel we might have some insight into the matter, and we know that if we do a bit of a tinker here, and a bit of a tinker there, then we can make the problem go away.

Except... the problem, or more accurately problems, are far bigger than we realise. Our attempt at fixing it is going to fail.

Like my effort as a mechanic, we might seem to make some progress - but it won’t believe me, you don’t want to be driving with faulty brakes. And effectively that’s what we do.

Take for example a break down in a relationship. We try to fill the void with other things. Maybe another relationship. Or a new hobby. But you haven’t really fixed the problem, you’ve just patched it with something else.

What we really need to do, is what I eventually did with my car - and hand it over to someone who can actually make a difference.

Although in life, it’s a bit different to a mechanic. You see, there are plenty of good mechanics out there. But, trying to fill that missing hole in your life - the answers is more restricted.

So the question I want to think about this morning is - what do we do once that tinkering in our life just doesn’t work? When our resolution to stay away from grumpy people falls flat. Or when our commitment to stick to a budget fails.

When we try everything we can think of, but life just keeps throwing us lemons. What do we do?

Nicodemus

Well, the passage we had read earlier introduces us to a man name Nicodemus, and he had rather an interesting conversation with Jesus where he helped put a new light on our problems.

So let’s turn to that now.

Nicodemus is a fascinating character who turns up on a few different occasions throughout the Gospel of John.

This however is the first time we get to meet him.

His name is a Greek name - and so possibly we can draw some conclusions from that - however, verse 1 fills in the information that is relevant for us.

We’re first told that he is a Pharisee. Now when we think of Pharisee, perhaps the first thing to come to mind is those occasions when Jesus gives them a bit of a roasting. Now, those roastings were warranted, but what we can’t fault these people on is there zeal for God. You see, there problem was that they got too side tracked on minor details, like making lots of laws, that they missed the big picture. But interestingly, this side track is a lot like that tinkering around the edges I spoke of before.

But the fact that Nicodemus was a Pharisee straight away suggests that he was someone zealous to please God.

But not only was he a Pharisee, we’re also told that he was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Now without going into all the ins and outs of the Jewish ruling council, it’s suffice to say that this man is not just some random fringe dweller of the Pharisees. He’s important. He’s respected. He’s part of the in crowd.

At night

Now, as we get to verse 2, we’re told that he comes to Jesus at night. Now the fact that he has come at night has caused a lot of speculation as to the reason he has come at night. Although you always need to be careful with speculation because, well… it just that, speculation.

The most common assumption is that he came at night as a means of being secretive. Perhaps he was scared of damaging his reputation as a fine upstanding Pharisee. After all, this young upstart in Jesus was causing quite a stir, and those in the establishment didn’t like it.

But it has also been suggested that rather than this being a sign that he was timid, possibly it was a bold move - coming at a time when he knows he won’t be interrupted by the crowds.

Personally, I think that perhaps the reference to the fact that he came at night wasn’t actually intended to give an insight into his motives, but rather John, the author of this Gospel, was trying to highlight the ongoing theme of moving from darkness to light. A theme that will be developed towards the end of this passage.

The Question

We then get to the question he poses to Jesus - although if we were on Q&A when Tony Jones was hosting - he might have said: “I’ll take that as a comment”.

You see, he actually makes an observation rather than a question.

Well, the observation starts with a recognition that Jesus is indeed a teacher from God. That’s certainly a good start. Nicodemus had obviously been watching Jesus carefully and likely noticed that the message and the way he gives his message was somehow different.

But not only was his message different, Nicodemus also has noted that Jesus was performing certain things that were not of this earth. Signs that indicated that he has come from God.

Now as I said, there actually isn’t a question in this, but what seems to be evident is that he’s searching.

And I’m going to suggest that the fact that he is part of the Jewish ruling council and is approaching Jesus in such a way, indicates that somehow he’s not quite satisfied with things. Something not adding up, and perhaps Jesus might be able to shed light on it.

He’s physically in the dark, but he’s also in the dark with regards to his understanding.

Jesus answer

Well, despite the fact that Nicodemus failed to actually articulate a question, Jesus can look into his heart.

Interestingly, if you go back to the last verse of the previous chapter it reads “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”

You see, Jesus knows what is going on - and by his answer it becomes apparent that he knows it better than Nicodemus himself. Jesus can give the answer to the question he couldn’t even articulate.

Verse 3 reads “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”

Kingdom of God

You see, what Nicodemus is after, is to find the kingdom of God. In one sense, this is what the entire Bible is about. You see the bible start with a perfect union with God. But when that breaks, which happens at the fall, the bible describes this search back again. This happens through the grace and mercy of God, but as we move back to reconciliation, we move closer to the Kingdom of God.

But it is this separation that each of us feel today. The separation between God and humanity. And this I believe is ultimately what is at the root of each of our problems, no matter what the severity. And that feeling that something is not right, can only be alleviated as we move back to the kingdom of God.

Born again

And God tells Nicodemus, that the way to this kingdom of God is to be born again.

Now if I just pause briefly because the word translated “again” actually has two meanings. It’s the Greek word anothen. One of the meanings is “again”, but it also can mean “above”. Now I suspect this word has been chosen because both meanings fit.

Most translators go with “again” because it fits more naturally with the quandary that Nicodemus explores in verse 4. You see, “again” implies that this birth has to happen a second time.

But if we think just for a moment about this meaning of “above”. You see this meaning implies a birth of a different nature. Something which is beyond this world.

And the reality is, what Jesus is talking about is both a new birth which we need to go through after our first natural birth, and also a birth which is of a completely different nature.

How to be born again

Now, Jesus’ reply in one sense is simple - but only if we can understand what it means to become born again - and this is obviously something that completey confounds Nicodemus.

You see, he’s stuck on the earthly concept of birth - that is, when a new born enters the world from their mother.

But this is where Jesus corrects him. Jesus isn’t talking about natural birth. His talking about something from above. His talking about something spiritual.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Not surprised

Now, in verse 7, Jesus says something which when you think about it, is a bit strange. He says to Nicodemus that he shouldn’t be surprised at the saying that he needs to be born again.

Now it’s surprising because this idea of being born again is not something you would normally think about if you weren’t already familiar with the term.

But Jesus says this because someone who is on the Jewish ruling council and has spent his entire life searching scripture, he should realise the absolute gulf there is between sinful humanity and the true kingdom of God. He should know that it is not possible to clear that gulf without something special.

So the idea of being born again should not be completely a surprise.

But despite being reassured that he shouldn’t be surprised, I think it’s fair to say that he was surprised, as clearly seen in his question in verse 9: “How can this be?”

But as Jesus continues to point Nicodemus to heavenly things, we start to get to the point of what we need to do to be born again.

Believe in Jesus

You see, in verse 14, Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the snake that was lifted in the wilderness during the time of Moses.

Now times not going to allow a full explanation of this story - but very briefly, it was during the time the Israelites were wandering in the desert but due to disobedience, there was death. But God in his mercy allowed them to put a snake - the symbol of their death - on a stick, and if they look to it, they would be saved.

Well, Jesus says, that in the same way, he will be lifted up. He doesn’t go into much detail here, but in hindsight we can know that he is talking about the cross. The place where he takes care of the problem of death.

And so the key to understand what it means to be born again starts with Jesus on the cross.

But it is in verse 15 where he tells us what we need to do.

He says “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him”.

And this is it. This is what it means to be born again. Looking to Christ and believing in him.

Into light

From verse 16 through to the end of our passage in verse 21, we get an extended reflection on what it means to enter this new birth.

Now interestingly, scholars differ on whether these are the words of Jesus or the reflection of John. You see, in the Greek, we don’t get the quotation marks like we do in the English so it isn’t always clear where Jesus’ words end.

But either way, this reflection is one of the most powerful passages. It no surprise that verse 16 has become one of the most well known verses in the entire bible.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

You see, this verse puts it in a nut shell. It start with love. A love that demonstrates itself in the cross. And all we need to do to experience this love is to believe.

But the reflection continues, and I want to draw your attention to verse 19. You see, there is a movement from darkness to light.

And this is the very movement that Nicodemus finds himself on.

He starts literally in the dark of night. But also spiritually in the dark.

But as he looks to Jesus, the light starts to form. And it becomes clear.

Spiritually there is light.

Incidentally, Nicodemus pops up in John’s Gospel a few more times, and we start to see how the light is dawning.

He is the one standing up for Jesus.

And perhaps most striking, he is there in chapter 19 after the death of Jesus. He is helping Joseph of Arimathea taking the body of Jesus down and laying him in the tomb.

Moving into light

I started by speaking about how we try to fix our lives by tinkering around the edges.

You see, whether we recognise it or not, we start in darkness.

But we don’t need to remain in that darkness.

Because Jesus has provided a way. And all we need to do is believe. And we will be born again.

As we believe we move into light.

It is a paradigm shift. It’s realising that we can’t do it on our own, but if we submit to the one that can, our lives can be changed.

Not all problems gone

Now, in all of this, there is something important to understand.

When we are born again, we do not suddenly cease to have problems in this life time.

We will still go through health scares, and financial problems and even relationship problems. Because we are still in a sinful world.

But the difference is that we go through these with a sense of light around us. We begin to understand this in a different way. We understand that God is much bigger and that we have security in him. Death is not the end. Pain is not the end. Because we have been born from above.

Invitation

So, with this message I want to first issue an invitation.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then perhaps now is the time that God is calling you. He is calling you out of the darkness, and into the light.

And all you have to do is believe. If you want to do this, then ask God into your heart. Pray to him and ask him in, and he will take you to the light.

For believers

For those of you who have already prayer this - who already have been born again - then I want this message to be a reminder.

You see, though we know what it is to taste the light, because we live in such a sinful world, the darkness can sometimes feel overwhelming.

We can sometimes forget that we are children of the light. And for this reason, we fall back into that idea that we need to fix everything. That when the problems pile up on to each other we need to do something.

But we are children of the light. And we need to remember that new birth that we have been given.

And so I want this message to be a reminder of who you are and to whom you belong.

Conclusion

Life is hard, but there is someone who is there for us. Jesus came to bring light. He came to bring us to something new - new life.

We can’t do it without him. Without him we will just be tinkering. We might make a small change here or a small change there, but it won’t count, it won’t be enough.

Jesus offers life to those who believe.

My prayer is that you do believe, and that you remember that belief even when life is hard.

Let me pray...