Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him” (John 3:2)
Jesus: “You must be born from above” (John 3:7).
Jesus’ teaching opens wide a whole new world to Nicodemus – and to us.
Jesus is speaking about a SPIRITUAL birth. This is no simple observance of pious practices or good manners. “Born from above” means we are to experience a deep conversion and real transformation.
Saint Paul expresses Jesus’ teaching in this manner: “Put away the old self of your former way of life…and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).
Deep interior change only happens by means of God’s grace flooding our minds and hearts. Of course, it is for us to cooperate with God’s actions if they are to be substantial and lasting. On our part we must direct our imagination, memories and intellect toward things eternal and not squander them away on that which is superficial and fleeting
Sadly, many Christians fail to progress in their relationship with God because they neglect their own responsibilities. They fail to attend to focusing their imagination, memory and intellect upon the beautiful, good and true.
