BRAND NEW!

This is the time to believe in miracles.

I was in class and our professor mentioned that as much as our birth is a miracle so as our new birth. Oh, wait, you might be wondering what is this new birth I am talking about? Is there something as old that will become new?

Hang on there, there is also one person in the Bible that did not understand Jesus when Jesus told Him that a person needed new birth. It was just so impossible to think for this man that a person will be born again. It is just so confusing that one will go back to his or her mother’s womb. And be born again.

Let us check the story in John 3:1-21. It is Nicodemus. Do you know who Nicodemus is? He is never an ordinary man. He is highly educated and influential. He holds a high authority as a member of the Sanhedrin. Wait, what is this word? Sanhedrin is a word that refers to the highest rank a teacher of the law in the time of Jesus could attain. They hold the Jewish religious, political, and legal power in Jerusalem, but still under the Roman power.

When Nicodemus visited Capernaum it was so timely that he witnessed different events that disturbed the authority of the Pharisees (Nico is a Pharisee himself) in that region--John the baptizer and Jesus. He came to learn about Jesus and was amazed by all the miracles performed. Nicodemus arranged a meeting with Jesus in secret. He wanted to know who Jesus really was away from suspicions of fellow Pharisees. He had so many questions. He is starting to be convinced of the power of God resting in Jesus.

Jesus never denied Nicodemus’ request. Jesus saw the earnest desire of Nicodemus. And the meeting happened. Barely finishing all Nicodemus' queries, Jesus cut him off, and Jesus popped up the word "new birth." Nicodemus was confused. There is no way for him to go back to his mother's womb to be born again. Jesus, trying to be cool, asked him, "You are an expert of the law and you do not know this? Poor Nicodemus, Jesus' humor did not work. He was still confused. So, Jesus explained to him, the new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the sinful man. It is a condition of the heart when finally it is surrendered to the influencing power of God through the Holy Spirit. It is like how the wind works, you don't see it but you know it is present.

The new birth is the birth of a new heart. The new birth is the spiritual birth—from a sinful heart to heart filled with the presence of God.

The new birth is never possible in any human way. It is a miracle! A miracle birth is a birth that only God can do.

In Christ, the sinful nature has the opportunity to be given the new birth—a new birth that will have the righteousness of God.

O, by the way, to finish our Nico story. That new birth happened to him and from that moment on even though he did have the courage at first but he believed Jesus as the Messiah and He believed that Jesus is the great Rabbi (teacher)—greater than him. He became one of the disciples of Jesus.

Are you a Nico? Your changes may not been as fast as a thunder, you may be thinking it is just taking long. As the wind works, long time or short time, the Holy Spirit will works. Long or short time Jesus is generous to grant you a time to converse with Him in secret.

Are you confused or not so sure of the possibility of a new heart? Or, are you longing for a new birth? Jesus who created heaven and earth, the creator of you and me has given us the best opportunity of a lifetime living in this sinful world, and that is to live a new life in Jesus!

There is new life, new birth, new heart, and everything will just be as good as new in Jesus.