BORN AGAIN
BORN AGAIN
A new Teacher had arisen in Israel for all to see,
He taught with power and great authority.
More astonishing was that He was also able to heal,
Nothing fazed Him; He served with wonderful zeal.
His teachings were sharp and to the point,
No word, no phrase, nothing was out of joint.
How could this Man seemingly come out of nowhere?
And then capture people’s imagination everywhere?
Nicodemus, a learned, respected teacher of some note,
Came to Jesus seeking to ask Him questions on what He spoke.
Jesus did not mince words when He spoke to Him,
“You must be born again or you will die in your sin.”
Nicodemus was puzzled and taken aback,
Why had Jesus taken this tack?
What does it mean to be born again?
Would Jesus take the time to explain?
The natural birth is easy enough to understand,
The new birth would require faith to comprehend.
It is the work of the Spirit where one becomes a new creature,
God graciously gives the believer a wonderful new nature.
But what about a lifetime devoted to learning?
Do they count for at least some thing?
Nicodemus knew the answer even as he thought,
All good works cannot salvation wrought.
The new birth was a rare and important teaching,
Sadly it was missing in people’s reasoning.
The heart must recognize the need to be born again,
The Spirit will give to the soul a new refrain.
It takes humility to accept what Jesus had to say,
It would be great foolishness to keep the truth at bay.
If the heart cries out to God to be born again,
The Holy Spirit creates a new nature there and then!
John 3