A New Heart: The Ezekiel series, part 66 (36:24-26)

Poor Nicodemus. That guy really gets a bad rap. Nicodemus was the Pharisee who famously came to Jesus by night, because he was afraid if he approached Jesus during the day that people might see, and people might talk. He was a wise man, a religious man, a scholar. And it’s a good thing that he comes to Jesus in the middle of the night like this because if anyone did hear what Nicodemus was saying, he’d never hear the end of it. When he was told that he must be born again, inJohn 3:4, he replied to Jesus,How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?And if this were a sitcom, modern people will stick the laugh track right here and we’ll all high-five and laugh at the dumb question. So Jesus makes this statement:(Verse 5)Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.Nicodemus is still confused. He says to Jesus,“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?”Now the laugh track probably goes off again, but we should stop and consider this question. It’s actually kind of a tricky one. Jesus expects Nicodemus to know this. But why should he be expected to understand this? Why should Nicodemus know about concepts like “born again” and “born of water and the Spirit.” It’s not like the Old Testament teaches about these things.Or does it? You’ll find out today on the Cross References podcast.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - v24, The Return4:20 - v25, Cleansed by Water13:00 - v26, 19:30 - A Note on the Future23:40 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]