Born Anew!
John 3:3-5, 9, 16
(sorry for no audio record!)
Introduction: We are living in the limitation of our own nature/self. Therefore, to live a different way, we need a different token of life. So is the call of Jesus to be born anew by the Spirit of God and with a new conviction of God's love and grace in order to enter the Kingdom of God (cf., vv. 15-16). To John the gospel-writer, this spiritual birth—or to be born anew—is to be born again by God's Spirit, the very divine nature that is full of God's love and grace, and truth and power. Actually, this is the life that Jesus Christ had given birth by his painful death and designed to be full of heavenly taste and flavor—love, grace, power—in one's real life by the indwelling of God's Spirit.
Changing of Water to Wine: To introduce this new birth, John presented the miracle of changing of water to wine (2:1). This event represents two different designs of life—a design that men made by themselves (to celebrate their wedding) and a solution that Jesus designed to help save us. However, there are some preparatory steps to let Jesus make his design. They are a welcome invitation (v. 2) and a willful submission (vv. 3-8). Upon this readiness, Jesus started his solution process that results a miraculous change of tasteless water to the best wine. This is the call to be born anew into a life being full of taste and flavor, by the touch of God's embrasing love, forgiving grace, and saving power!
Cleansing of Jerusalem Temple: Then again, John continued his account to the cleansing of the Temple. It also represents two different sets of life-design (v. 13). The then temple, being rebuilt and designed by Herod the great, simply represents a life designed after men's own way or selfishness that is full of bully cow, stupid sheep, empty dove, noisy coins, etc. (v. 14). In this stage, the cleansing itself reflects the God-designed-restoration of the original image of what the real temple should be (v. 16). Because this is the Temple, meant for worship, Jesus does not need any invitation here. Just he went there and cleansed it. Born anew into a life of holiness and complete restoration!
Parting and Meeting: However, at some point, there are some people who are so much stiff-naked to humbly receive this new life so many times. For they are full of their own self-designed ambition, self-interest, and self-prioritization (v. 24), so are not able to tune in with God in their lives. For such kind of poor fellow, nothing can be done except to avoid them sadly. Therefore, this is the call of Jesus Christ to Nicodemus to be born anew leaving his big self behind and taking on God's new design of life designed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and designed in the light of God's embracing love and His forgiving grace and saving power (3:1-16).
Conclusion: In contrast to man's self-made designs of life (that ends in shame, destruction, and death), God's new design of life is promised to exist even with everlasting quality, "eternal life" (vv. 15-16). Therefore, this is a life, full of heavenly taste and flavor, and is so pure and holy to be God's dwelling place by His Holy Spirit. In fact, this is about being born anew to becoming the eternal temple—dwelling—of God, that is full of true love, grace, mercy, power and eternal glory and beauty. Born of love, grace, and power!!
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