The Path and the Periphery

The Path and the Periphery

(John 3:1–21)

Once, a businessman decided to sell his old bungalow and the property surrounding it.

Since the large building had been unoccupied for months, it had suffered considerable damage. Many repairs were also needed.

When a wealthy man expressed interest in purchasing it, the businessman explained all the repairs he was willing to make.

But the prospective buyer had a completely different plan.

“Don’t worry about any of these things. When I buy this property, I am going to build something entirely different here. I am not interested only in the building...

I want the whole property!”

Something similar happens when we try to hand over the property of our lives to God.

Rather than trying to repair our little shortcomings one by one, what we need is to surrender ourselves completely to the Lord for a total transformation.

In today’s passage, a distinguished man named Nicodemus comes to Jesus.

Nicodemus

▪️ He was a spiritual man — a Pharisee.

▪️ He was an educated man — his name was of Greek origin.

▪️ He was an influential man — a ruler of the Jews.

Coming to Jesus...

From his conversation with Jesus, we can understand that his goal was to enter the Kingdom of God.

He...

...believed that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God.

...acknowledged the signs and miracles that Jesus had performed as evidence.

Jesus’ Response

For entry into the Kingdom of God...

▪️ Being born into a Jewish family is not enough!

The Jews had been taught that being descendants of Abraham guaranteed them heaven. According to some of their traditional stories, Abraham would even stand at the gates of hell, watching to make sure that none of his descendants had accidentally ended up there.

▪️ A moral or religious renewal is not enough!

The Jews believed that an experience of religious renewal would open the door to heaven. Spiritual renewal was a primary goal of the Pharisees.

▪️ If Jesus had told a Gentile that he must be born again, perhaps Nicodemus would have found it easier to accept...

Being Born Again Is Essential

Imagine that a country passes a law stating, “Only those who are born in this country can live here.”

In that case...

...simply adopting a familiar name from that country,

...learning its language,

...following its customs,

...living according to its religious traditions,

...having many friends there,

...having parents who were born there,

...or imitating the way people there dress,

would be of no benefit whatsoever!

In the same way, if Jesus clearly declared that entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is possible only through being born again...

...having a Christian name,

...speaking good and religious language,

...having friendships with God’s children,

...wearing white clothes,

...or having parents who are believers,

would be of absolutely no benefit!

The first thing Jesus told Nicodemus was that the way of salvation is not through heritage or tradition.

The second truth is recorded in the golden verse of the Bible, John 3:16.

The scope of salvation is not limited to the Jewish people. God loved the whole world and sent His only begotten Son for the salvation of all.

Dearly Beloved,

If even the Jew, God’s own chosen people, could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven without being born again, then is there any benefit in claiming to be a traditional Christian..?

Let us obey the Word of Christ...

Let us be blessed...

Let us become heirs of eternal life...!

May God bless everyone.