The New Birth

The New Birth

In this section of John, we are seeing that Jesus is making all things new.  So far, we’ve seen the gathering of a new people of God, the miraculous new wine at a wedding and the promise of a new temple.  In our text this week, we hear of the necessity for a new birth.  Jesus meets one-on-one with a man named Nicodemus who comes to him by night.  Nicodemus is very smart, very good and very religious.  Yet, Jesus shatters his pride by saying that all of his smarts and all of his goodness and all of his religiosity mean nothing when speaking of abundant life and eternal life.  “Nicodemus, you must have the new birth.”  The same goes for you and me.  But, how does this happen?  John 3:16, “the Gospel in miniature,” explains it.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  So, how does this happen?  You must believe in the Son, who was given by a God who loves you.