March 21, 2010 (John 2-5, Mark 2-3, Matthew 12:1-21)

Today is my 'spiritual birthday' - 28 years ago today, I gave my life to Jesus. Twenty eight years is a long time. I feel like I have just recently been able to understand more of this 'spiritual life'. After 28 years, I should truly know Him better. But I am on the trek....

I found it interesting that today's reading would encompass John chapter 3. The "famous" chapter - the one that contains John 3:16. As Jesus explained the 'new birth' to Nicodemus, I've bolded some verses that I have seen in a new way:

^{John 3:1} There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

⁴ “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

⁵ Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. ⁷ So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? ¹¹ I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. ¹² But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.

How was I 'born again'? I can't explain it. But I know it happened. God 'turned on the lights' spiritually speaking. I understood that Jesus died and rose for me, and by faith said "I accept that gift of new life." And instantly I was 'born of the Spirit'. My life changed, instantly. Inside, I knew it. God came to dwell on earth IN me. Who can understand that? Certainly not me. It's not ours to 'figure out' - it's only ours to believe. I liked verses 12 and 13 as well. We just have to take Jesus at His word. He knows what He is talking about. He is One with the Father. God in the flesh.

Chapter 3 ends with John the Baptist telling his followers what he knows about Jesus. His followers were concerned that Jesus was getting more followers than John. What he said was pretty clear - cut and dry:

29...Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. ³⁰ He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

³¹ “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. ³² He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! ³³ Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. ³⁴ For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. ³⁶ And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John knew who Jesus was, and he knew that our knowledge was limited to earthly things. Jesus was from heaven and spoke of heavenly things.

I don't understand a lot of this, humanly speaking. But I am so thankful that 'my name is written in heaven' and that someday I will see my Savior 'face to face'. Thank you Jesus, for revealing Yourself to me.