7 day plan

New Life through Jesus

Day 1 of 7

NIV

John 3:3

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Series Introduction

This Easter, let us reflect on the fact that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can experience a new birth, a new creation, and a new way of living. This new life includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal life.

Reflection

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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 are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” That’s where our verse for today fits into the story. Jesus answered and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” So Nicodemus said to Jesus in reply, “How can someone be born when they’re old?” And Jesus goes on to say, “Truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

So here we have a situation where Jesus is being confronted by someone who, number one, is a ruler. Number two, he is a Pharisee, who are generally opposed to Jesus. Nicodemus is a ruler. He has power within that community, and he’s coming to Jesus at night by stealth because he understands that there’s something about Jesus that’s different.

And Jesus doesn’t answer his question the way Nicodemus expects it to be answered. He answers it from a completely different perspective, and he goes straight to the heart of the matter.

And that is, that you must be born again. You have to be changed on the inside. There has to be spiritual awakening that happens on the inside of you, and Nicodemus being from a religious framework, from a power-based framework, is trying to understand this, and he can’t understand it.

For us at Easter this year, when you think about Jesus, his claim over your life is the same today. You can say, “Well, I’ve got my life. It’s all set up here. I know what I’m doing.” But Jesus comes in from the side and says, “You have to be born again. You have to have a spiritual awakening. A miracle has to happen on the inside of you.”

Because if that doesn’t happen, you can’t enter the Kingdom of God. Being religious won’t do it. Being a better person won’t do it. It’s all about a revelation of who Jesus is and being born again from the inside out. So the question for you this Easter is: are you looking to Jesus for your salvation? The other question is: what do we do about that?

How do we take hold of this? It’s all about calling on the name of the Lord. It’s all about looking to Jesus, not religious denominations or church affiliations. That’s all good. But really, the heart of the matter is: have you been born again?

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for this miracle you offer us, this new life in you. Help us to remember to put our faith in you alone for salvation, to look to you, and not rely on ourselves. Help us to love others as you love us. Amen.

 

Author: Grant Thomson

Author Bio: Grant is the CEO of Bible Society Australia, with a background as a pastor. He has a passion for Opening The Bible with all people, everywhere.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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John 3:1-36

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He 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.”

3Jesus 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!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The 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? 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. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16For 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. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.”

31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.