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Pause For Thought: Born Again

Nicodemus, an honored members of the national Jewish council, didn’t agree with the priests and rulers opposition to Jesus, and persuaded them to back off from their murderous designs, relating how opposition to former prophets had brought Israel into their present bondage.
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Nicodemus, an honored members of the national Jewish council, didn’t agree with the priests and rulers opposition to Jesus, and persuaded them to back off from their murderous designs, relating how opposition to former prophets had brought Israel into their present bondage.

Listening to Jesus inspired Nicodemus to search the Messianic prophecies. Doing so inspired him to believe Jesus might be the Messiah. He found where Jesus stayed at night and went to have an interview with Him.

Feeling strangely intimidated in Jesus’ presence, Nicodemus tried to be dignified, saying, “We know You are a teacher from God, for no man can do the miracles You do except God is with Him.” Saying this showed his unbelief in Christ being the Messiah.

Jesus saw Nicodemus as a seeker of truth. Ignoring his greeting, He came right to the point, saying, “Truly I say to you, unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Nicodemus, proud of his good works of charity and support of the temple, was startled to think the heavenly kingdom was too pure for him.

The idea of a new birth wasn’t strange to Nicodemus, as new converts from heathenism were compared to newborn babes. But he argued with Jesus by asking, “How can a man be born again when grown? Does he again enter his mother’s womb?”

Instead of arguing, Jesus answered “Truly I say to you, unless man is born of water and of 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.”

Seeing Nicodemus was still perplexed, Jesus continued to explain to him what it meant to be born again.

We’ll talk about that next week.

If you have a question for Bible Mentor Marie Odell you can contact her by emailing: marieodell04@gmail.com

Marie Odell is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

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