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It is never good to interrupt a conversation but that is what happens if we stop in the middle of these verses in John Chapter 3. It is a crucial conversation and we are so privileged to be permitted to overhear it. The conversation is between Jesus Christ and a man called Nicodemus. It is one of the most crucial conversations ever to be recorded.

Nicodemus is a religious leader in Jerusalem. We could even regard him as a professor of theology. When we meet him he is blind – not physically but spiritually. Here is a theological professor who is spiritually blind. He has seen something of the miracles of Jesus, and he is hungry and thirsty, and he knows there is more to experience than what he has experienced.

He has seen someone who has more than he has, and he realises that what Jesus has is for real.

If we are honest, we know when we have got the real thing and we know if we have not got the real thing – especially when we draw near to death.

Jesus Christ has shaken this man’s cosy comfortable academic and intellectual world.

If we do not have a real spiritual experience, Jesus does shake us and disturb us.

Nicodemus comes at night and they spend some time together. Nicodemus realised that he was no nearer the Kingdom of God than when he had begun his teaching ministry. That must give a man a terrible feeling – to have been in the church of the day all these years and to be aware that the most important element is missing!

Nicodemus had tried hard. He had taught others to try hard. Just try your best, and in the spiritual realm that is the most futile and useless and even frustrating advice you can ever give a man. How hard do you have to try? How good do you have to be? That is long lonely trail. You are never sure if you have been good enough – and how many good deeds do you have to do to please God?

This is how Nicodemus and all the other teachers were living.

But he did see this, and this is vital and this is so important. Rabbi, Teacher, God is with you, and the implication is that He is not with me! Now, there is honesty and there is openness. Jesus Christ can always work with someone who is honest and open, and not trying to be what he isn’t.

Jesus knew Nicodemus’ questions before he asked. Nicodemus, you are disappointed with your religion. It has not given you power in your life. You are looking for something and you just cannot see it. You know it is there but you do not know where it is. You can almost see Nicodemus nodding in agreement. How many may just be in that situation? I have tried – I have strived – I have worked hard at being good – and to no avail. Failure is all around me!

During Ramadan a Moslem serving in a shop was asked if he was observing Ramadan and the answer came back right away, “Yes”. Does your religion give you satisfaction and he was flustered and lost for words and the questioner drew a blank.

It is at this point that the words come, “Nicodemus, you require such a radical change that you need to be born again”.

A baby’s body exists before birth, but it cannot see, or hear, or communicate. When people say – I cannot see that – I just don’t understand that – I can’t communicate with God – is it because, like Nicodemus, they still need to be born again?

We will interrupt the conversation there but the challenge comes to us and must go out to all to make sure and ensure that they are fully and adequately ‘born again’.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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