A new birth

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:3-6

Have you ever experienced the birth of a child? If you are a mom then you understand an aspect to this that us men will never experience. Sigh of relief guys. I am a dad of three amazing children. And I had the amazing experience of being an eye witness and a "coach" on all three of our births. I truly was speechless especially after the birth of my first born. I was literally filled with tears of joy when I saw him finally come out after three days of labor. Yes! My wife is amazing!

I can just see the wheels turning here as Nicodemus tries to wrap his head around this being born again thing that Jesus so plainly speaks of. Nicodemus is visualizing what I just described in the last paragraph, a natural birth a second time. Obviously he knows that this cannot be possible and so Jesus helps him a bit by reminding him that it is not a birth of the flesh but more importantly of the Spirit. Jesus was amazed that Nicodemus being a highly trained scholar did not understand that. Then again how many Pharisees and Sadducees understood or received this new birth?

We must not be surprised as Nicodemus was that all who desire to know God must be born again. There is no other way to the Father but through this rebirth of the Spirit. Our only hope for eternity is to embrace the Spirit in a new birth or regeneration where we literally pass through the old and into the new. Just like a baby being born, coming out of the womb and into the world, so all who desire eternal life must be born again.