How can a person be born again?

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very 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. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.^e 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^f 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3)

Thoughts: Nicodemus asked "How can a man be born when he is old?".."How can this be?"  Jesus is a bit surprised that Nicodemus does not understand.  But at the time there were few proselytes and lots of people leaving the faith (this is also true in our day).  Jesus wanted Nicodemus who was assuming faith comes through genetics and education, to see that there is a spiritual element of faith.  Jesus was saying something radical- that he was like Moses' snake that healed people of their snake bites.  He would be lifted up in order that people could see and believe they would be healed.  Just as God loved the people of Israel in order to save them from death by serpents, so God loves the whole world to save them from spiritual death into eternal life.  So it takes believing and trusting in Jesus in order to be healed spiritually; saved from sin,death, and hell; and born again to a new way of life. Being born again is not going into the womb again, but it is becoming a brand new person- with new eyes, a new way of life.  It is like getting glasses and being able to see again.  It is like getting an operation and being able to hear for the first time.  It comes by the grace of God drawing us out.  Just as a baby cannot make itself be born- so God draws us out into the new life by the Spirit.  

Prayer: Lord, it is not so important that I know how to be born again but that I am being born again.