“2 [Nicodemus] 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.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ”

— John 3:2-3

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

23 Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God”

— 1 Peter 1:3; 23

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”

— Titus 3:5

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

May the Holy Spirit empower you all your days!

John recorded an account that reveals the need and the way to be “born again”, to be regenerated. Nicodemus, an influential and wealthy Pharisee member in the Jewish ruling council, was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Unwilling to compromise his stature among his peers and community, Nicodemus sought a private conversation with Jesus at night to ask his rising questions. Little did Nicodemus know that he would encounter the Light of the World in the darkness of that night.

Nicodemus told Jesus that He should have come from God and God should be with Him otherwise He could not perform those miracles in divine power. Nicodemus’ words set up a basic question every person must answer: Who is Jesus? Rather than responding directly to Nicodemus’ statement, Jesus reached for his heart. Jesus replied to him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Living as a devout and upright Jew, Nicodemus did not doubt his place in God’s kingdom. Jesus, taking an unexpected turn, upended Nicodemus’ preconceived ideas by unveiling his need to be born again.