How Can a Man be Born Again? - John 3:4

John the apostle shared how, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”, and in chapter three and verse four of his book, John shared how Nicodemus asks, “How can a man be born when he is old?” where we read:

Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

The verse reads, “Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?” John began with the words, “Nicodemus said unto him” which means “Nicodemus whose name means conqueror and was a member of the Sanhedrin uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked Jesus”, “How can a man be born” or “in what way and manner is a person whether male or female able or capable of being begotten, engendered and birthed” “when he is old” which means “at the time and moment the person whether male or female an aged person”? John shared how “Nicodemus” questioned Jesus concerning the “way” a person is able to be “born” after they have already “aged, are well along in years or old”.

The verse continues, “can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” John added the words, “can he enter the second time” which means “is the person whether male or female able to make entrance into, arise and go” “into his mother's womb” or “the lower region or belly within the person's immediate female ancestor or progenitor”, “and be born” which means “and be begotten, engendered and birthed”? John shared how “Nicodemus” wondered if being “born again” meant that a person would have to “re-enter” their “mother's stomach, womb or inner belly”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we notice that “Nicodemus” was attempting to solve the “way” a person could be “born again”. He was thinking about “physical birth”, and Jesus meant “spiritual”. Jesus will explain this more in our next verse, but for now let it suffice us to know there is a “physical” birth, and there is a “spiritual” birth. People are “born physically”, but for them to have a personal relationship with God, they must be “born spiritually” as well. This is why Jesus came, and as He explains the importance of this, let all who read His words carefully consider all He says and believe and trust in Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".