40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 6 | BEING BORN AGAIN | John 3:1-3
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 6 | BEING BORN AGAIN | John 3:1-3
BEING BORN AGAIN
John 3:1-3
“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (NKJV)
Although the Pharisees as a group did not believe Jesus was the Messiah (Savior) and eventually got him crucified, Nicodemus (and another Pharisee Joseph of Arimathea) were intrigued and considering Jesus’ claims. So here, “Nick” comes to Jesus (secretly at night so as not to be seen) and makes a statement to Jesus about “these signs that you do.” Jesus though – being God in the flesh – sees through that statement to the REAL intent of Nick’s visit.
Jesus answers him directly that “…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This statement by Jesus raises all kinds of questions for Nick, including the obvious: “How can a man be born when he is old?” (Verse 4)
The concept of being “born again” is an odd concept for all of us; but Jesus goes on to tell him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (that’s our natural physical birth) 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.” (Verses 6-7)
This statement gets to the heart of what we are as human beings. The short answer is that we are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. Nick’s spirit needed to be “born again,” as do ours.
Prayer: LORD, thank You for providing a way for me to enter the Kingdom of God. I am so thankful for all that you did to accomplish that. Amen.
John 3:1-3
“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (NKJV)
Although the Pharisees as a group did not believe Jesus was the Messiah (Savior) and eventually got him crucified, Nicodemus (and another Pharisee Joseph of Arimathea) were intrigued and considering Jesus’ claims. So here, “Nick” comes to Jesus (secretly at night so as not to be seen) and makes a statement to Jesus about “these signs that you do.” Jesus though – being God in the flesh – sees through that statement to the REAL intent of Nick’s visit.
Jesus answers him directly that “…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This statement by Jesus raises all kinds of questions for Nick, including the obvious: “How can a man be born when he is old?” (Verse 4)
The concept of being “born again” is an odd concept for all of us; but Jesus goes on to tell him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (that’s our natural physical birth) 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.” (Verses 6-7)
This statement gets to the heart of what we are as human beings. The short answer is that we are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. Nick’s spirit needed to be “born again,” as do ours.
Prayer: LORD, thank You for providing a way for me to enter the Kingdom of God. I am so thankful for all that you did to accomplish that. Amen.