2/3/19 - Nicodemus is Born Again! - John 19:31-42; 3:1-8

"Religion is the opiate of the people." Karl Marx.  Marx's view is shared by many to this day. A more modern take is to believe that religion is for people that can't handle the harsh realities of life. You're born, you die and that's it. I must admit that I agree with Marx…about religion. Religion is man's effort to please God and earn His favor. Religion is a form of control over God Himself. It's a way of retaining your power and this gives a false sense of comfort. Christianity is different than this. It rests on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus himself spoke the words, "It is finished!"  Christianity is for everyone including those who are religious. This is proven in John's account of two men: Joseph and Nicodemus. Both men are highly respected, wealthy, educated and belong to the Jewish religious ruling class known as the Sanhedrin. However, unlike their peers they are open minded and open hearted. In John chapter 3 Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He's sincerely interested in knowing more about this man from Nazareth. Jesus tells him, "You must be born again." We don't know how Nicodemus receives this until chapter 19. He and another one of his Jewish brothers are seen caring for the body of Jesus. They do this at great personal expense. They are now considered traitors to the Jewish faith. Nicodemus was truly born again. Do you realize it was Jesus' joy to give you this new birth? Consider these words… When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. John 16:21 Moms, you know the feeling don't you? You're smiling just thinking about that moment. Your newborn child is handed to you for the fist time and you stare into that sweet little face. The joy of the new birth quickly replaces whatever pain you endured. Jesus takes the metaphor and applies it to himself. There is no birth without pain and Jesus took the pain so that you could be spiritually reborn. He says it was a joy for him. This is how he feels about you!