How Can A Man Be Born When He Is Old?

How Can a Man Be Born When He Is Old?

—John 3:4

This question came immediately after one of Jesus’ most famous declarations: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And this question was asked by a man named Nicodemus, who was the epitome of moral righteousness and theological acumen, yet he had entirely missed the point of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus was not speaking of a physical birth, but of a spiritual birth. He went on to say: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. . . . ‘You must be born again’ ” (vv. 6–7).

“Born again”—rarely has a simple phrase been more misunderstood. And rarely has the meaning of two words been such an eternal life-and-death matter. Therefore it is essential to grasp the meaning—the who, the when, and the what—of this engaging dialogue that took place in a dark alley of a silent night in the city of Jerusalem two millennia ago. Why? Because, like Nicodemus, you too “must be born again.”

THE WHO IS IMPRESSIVE

Talk about an impressive resume! Nicodemus had prestige: he was a Pharisee, one of the brightest of the Jewish leaders and a recognized protector of Hebrew law and heritage. He had position: Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling council for the Jewish people, virtually the Jewish Supreme Court. Nicodemus had power: he was “a ruler of the Jews” (v. 1). And he had popularity: he was regarded as one of the most upright, righteous, and moral men in the city.

Nicodemus’s very name comes from two Greek words. One means “superior” or “conqueror.” In fact, the shoe company Nike derives its name from this Greek word. The other means “people” or “of the people.” So Nicodemus was well named: “superior over all the people.” During his lifetime, he had gained a reputation for intellectual prowess, moral uprightness, and leadership par excellence. He had no equal in all of Israel. Today, we would count Nicodemus a fine leader in any community. He would be a citizen of which any municipality would be proud to call its own.

Nicodemus had it all, yet he knew there must be something more to life than all of his head knowledge. After hearing the miraculous reports about Jesus, Nicodemus approached Him that night, humbled himself, and said to the lowly Galilean: “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (v. 2).

Nicodemus was not just any common man off the streets. He was a well-respected Jewish leader who was an authority on giving answers. Now he was asking Jesus to answer one for him. The “who” is impressive.

THE WHEN IS IMPORTANT

According to John, Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night” (John 3:2). He waited until darkness enveloped the city and quietness had settled like dew upon the narrow lanes. Why? We don’t know exactly. Some scholars speculate that he didn’t want to invite the criticism of his ecclesiastical colleagues who thought they were too sophisticated and intellectual to come themselves. Or perhaps so many people wanted an audience with him that Nicodemus was busy from sunrise to sundown. Or maybe Nicodemus desired uninterrupted time with Jesus, who, during the daylight hours, was followed by massive crowds everywhere He went. I, however, like to think that Nicodemus was so consumed with seeking truth that he simply couldn’t wait until the morning, so he went at night.

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain. Underneath his long robes that night was a heart—perhaps like yours—hungry for something more. Nicodemus definitely had an abundance of head knowledge. What Nicodemus needed was what each of us needs: a new heart. And so he came and approached Jesus, hoping that in the darkness of night, he might find the light of truth.

THE WHAT IS IMPERATIVE

Wasting no time in His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus went directly to the point: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And the brightest man, the sharpest mind, in Jerusalem, didn’t understand. “How can I?” he wondered aloud. “I can’t get back in my mother’s womb and be born again. How can a man be born when he is old?” (v. 4, paraphrased). Then, looking into Jesus’ loving eyes and listening to His gentle yet authoritative voice, Nicodemus began to realize that this was indeed He of whom the prophets spoke. Nicodemus had spent his entire life studying, teaching, and applying the Word of God. Now, before his very eyes, was the Word Incarnate.

Jesus said to Nicodemus—and His message applies to you and me—“Do not marvel that I say to you, ‘You must be born again’ ” (v. 7). It is not an option. It is a command, an imperative. We who desire to see and to enter the kingdom of God must be born again. The apostle Paul, a member of the Sanhedrin himself, later described this as being “transformed” (Romans 12:2). We get our English word metamorphosis from this single compound Greek word. The picture is of a caterpillar spinning a cocoon around itself and later emerging as a new creation, a beautiful butterfly. No longer doomed and destined to crawl on its belly, this butterfly can now soar above the trees. Similarly, we experience a new birth when we recognize our sin, repent of that sin, and trust in Christ alone to forgive us. Yes, we MUST be born again.

Our family now makes up an even dozen with my wife and me, our two daughters, their husbands, and the six grandchildren. And each of us celebrates two birthdays every year. On our physical birthdays we gather to celebrate the life God has given and mark another year off the calendar. But we also have a celebration at each of our spiritual birthdays to remember when we were born again. January 3 is my spiritual birthday, and although I am still not the man of God I want to be, I haven’t been the same since that cold January morning when, as a seventeen-year-old, I was born again.

What about Nicodemus? Did he become a follower of Christ that night? There is ample evidence in John 19 that, indeed, he did. As Jesus’ body hung in death upon the cross, two men arrived, removed the spikes from His wrists and feet, took the mocking crown of thorns from His head, lowered Him from the cross, carried His body to the tomb, prepared Him for burial, and placed His lifeless body into the tomb. One of these two men was the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea in whose tomb the body was placed. And the other man? “[It was] Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night . . . Then [Nicodemus and Joseph] took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury” (vv. 39–40). Yes, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Q & A: “How can a man be born when he is old?” A man can’t be born a second time physically, but Christ can take out your old heart and put in a brand-new one. This new birth is a spiritual birth. You MUST be born again. It is not an option but a necessity for anyone who will inherit eternal life. No one—not even a righteous Pharisee, much less a rough prostitute—is exempt from this divine call and command. The new birth is God’s gift to you. Receive it. By faith, come to Jesus.