“Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’”(John 3:3).
God looks not for religious people but renewed men. When Jesus was on earth the Jewish religion was in great power. They had their own judiciary with the high priest as its president called Sanhedrin. Chief priest, elders and teachers of the law were the members and the total number was 71. Except the capital punishment, they could impose all other punishments on people under Roman jurisdiction. Nicodemus was one among the teachers. They were very strict about adhering to Moses’ Laws and had a great zeal for it, but were totally corrupted; their famous temple at Jerusalem became the cave of thieves. Various ceremonial laws were imposed on the people and they were pressurized under the strict Jewish Laws.
Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus in the night. Though he was a great scholar of the religion, he knew nothing about the new birth. In a simple way Jesus taught him about the need of being born again. He was ignorant, blind and full of doubts about it as all other religious people. Jesus then explained it more clearly, that just as we take physical birth through our parents, we also need to take birth by the spirit and the word of God.
The Holy Spirit will convince us of our sins and help us to see the remedy on the cross by which we can repent and confess our sins to God and accept Jesus as our savior. By this act, God redeems the sinner and accepts him as His son. He will be free of his old nature and shall be born again as a new creation guided by the Holy Spirit. When Nicodemus learnt this, he became a disciple of Jesus.
Dear readers, you may be like Nicodemus – very religious but blind and ignorant of God’s plan of new birth. Come to Jesus and believe Him to be renewed. Jesus will give you peace and happiness and He will write your name in the ‘Book of Life’. You will no longer be a stranger, but heir of His kingdom!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I come before you. Open my inner eyes to see the redeeming work of thy son on the cross. I believe that was for me. Add my name also in the ‘Book of Life’. Thank You for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
P. K. Philip