Crossroads

Unfortunately, we don’t get this chance — or do we?

There’s much more that could be said, but space is limited — so let me give you the short version.

When we think about God and Jesus, we must bring in the supernatural.

I mention this since the supernatural goes beyond what we can conceive of in this natural world.

In this natural world, we fail so much and are disappointed with ourselves and others.

But what if you had supernatural help?

In first-century Israel, one of their teachers couldn’t grasp this truth.

He merely thought Jesus was talking to him about being reborn to start life over.

But Jesus was talking about supernatural help from God, which is far more profound than simply trying to redo life.

John 3:1–3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Unfortunately, Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus, taking Him to mean being physically born again when Jesus was talking about a new kind of birth — something deeper than physical, but just as real.

It’s a whole-person transformation: God remaking you from the inside out — your heart, your mind, your will, your desires. It’s not a second chance to try harder; it’s a new start with a new nature.

He just couldn’t grasp this idea of rebirth as an act of God and interpreted Jesus as saying you have to be literally reborn.

However, that would not solve the original problem of failure in life.

Those failures would still be inherent even if we literally lived life over again.

The problem is our weaknesses.

As hard as we try, we eventually succumb to temptations and fail ourselves, the people we love and the God who created us.

Jesus, however, was alluding to something even more profound. That is, to do life with the help of God.

Literally, enjoying the presence and power of God in one’s life.

Having the person of God dwelling within gives strength, hope and peace that could not come in the natural state.

Jesus, therefore, wasn't saying we go back into the womb to try life again.

He was talking about a new birth — not physical, but in every other way — spiritual, mental, psychological.

A birth that comes from above. A birth where God's spirit changes us from the inside. Jesus is offering people this new birth, a new start.

A poet once wrote, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” — Invictus, William Ernest Henley.

But what if the truth is that we’re not the masters we think we are — and we need renovation and rescue?

That’s what Jesus offers. Not just a second chance — but a new nature.

Pastor David McAllan

Echuca Community Church