March 29, 2018 Maundy Thursday

“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.” 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?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, 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.” (John 3:1-6 NKJV)

            Jesus never seems to respond in the way we expect in the many conversations with Him we see in the Bible.  Often Jesus answers a question with another question which at times seems frustrating to people.  After Nicodemus offers a compliment Jesus responds with a theological statement.

            Nicodemus is thrown off by this and struggles to react to this statement.  This statement is not just some small idea but is a foundational teaching of how God works in a human beings life.  Nicodemus, like many of us, tries to fit a spiritual truth into a physical understanding.  It does not work.

            Jesus casts aside the idea of a physical birth and goes on to explain not only that this is a spiritual birth but how that works.  But before explaining being born again Jesus once again declares that we each do need to be born again.

            A human birth is by water and blood but in this spiritual birth we are born of water and the Spirit.  As we trust in Jesus by faith we become a new person (creation, creature) which is affirmed by water through baptism.  Then the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives and guides us to a new way of living out this new life.

            Our flesh is corrupted by sin and we are unable to reach out to God even if we wanted to.  Through baptism we are cleansed to come into fellowship with God and by the Holy Spirit we can live a life that allows us to remain there!

            Have you been born again?  Have you lived a different life after your baptism?  Are you allowing the Holy Spirit help you grow up in the faith?

Rev Tom and Ann Underwood came by for a visit.  It was so good to see them and that they were willing to come.  They are not in the best of health and it means even more that they come.  I am not able to go to the Maundy-Thursday service at Asbury.  I tried to rest some but still cannot.  But Bonnie and I had our devotional and I have had a good time of prayer as well as reading from the book of Judges.