John 3:1-15
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [1]
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Nicodemus is in the dark. Not just in the dark about Jesus but about himself. And as I mentioned a couple of days ago, in reading John’s gospel, watch the details John points out about time and location. There are layers of meaning. Nicodemus meets with Jesus at night to hide his identity. But he truly is in the dark about his identity.
He sees himself as a faithful Jew, a leader, and a teacher of the faith. He also sees himself as someone who respects Jesus and wants to learn more about him. Jesus challenges him on all of these things, essentially saying to Nicodemus that he doesn’t know what he thinks he knows. That his view of himself isn’t right.
Thinking highly of Jesus isn’t enough. Thinking that He is a holy man from God who does miracles isn’t enough. What Jesus is calling people to is a new identity. A new birth, which implies a whole new existence. Remember the Covenant Triangle? Our identity comes from the Father, and it comes through faith in Christ. The Father through the Spirit gives a new birth, a new identity. Born again in Christ, I am a new person. I have a new Father. I have a new existence, an abundant life that will not end.
So for me today this text is leading me to think about my identity. Yes, I am born again of water and the Spirit. And this means that my most fundamental identity is that of a beloved child of the Father, a citizen of the kingdom. Before I am a pastor, husband, father, son, brother, friend, musician or whatever – I am a child of God. This is my comfort and peace, and this is my calling.
So my prayer is that I walk in the light, as Jesus was inviting Nicodemus, living my identity as a child of God. That my true identity shape my words and deeds, my thoughts and actions this day.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Jn 3:1–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
