John 3:5-6
“The Message – Jesus said, ‘You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.”
“Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.’”
Jesus is facing an uphill battle to widen this Israelite’s understanding of God’s character and the life he calls him to. Original sin perverted early human’s idea of who God ought to be. God spent 2,000 years developing monotheism in Hebrew culture and teaching of a god who was entirely other, not a reflection of self. Now he wants them to see beyond appeasement to relationship– from rules, the deserved, to grace, the undeserved. It was time for God to reveal his essential self and the closeness he desires with us. The only way was to tell us in person.
Lord, I am overwhelmed at your revealed persistence teaching us of yourself. Thank you for persisting with me. You are ever present in my life even when I am unaware. You are good. You are love. Miracle of miracles, you love me!