Rev. Sudha Mehta©

It is not uncommon to hear parents say their baby is a gift from God. I say that to this day about my children and grandchildren.

Even named my first born son to reflect  that I received him as a  Blessing from God.

My first born, I understood and received as a blessing FROM God, my second born I named to reflect my PRAISE to God for giving me her.

The picture above portrays my heart so well, I just had to write this blog.

You may not notice it in first glance, and perhaps the photographer did not conceptualize it this way either, but what I see in this picture is more than a natural birth, I see a Spiritual birth.

Perhaps the photographer was trying to convey the concept of a stork’s nest, and it is cute, but I see more.

I see the feathery clouds, representing heavenly, I see the baby nestled in as a new born coming down from above.

I see a Crown (minus the Thorns). the thorns I can visualize in my mind. I see a new Christian, BORN AGAIN, from ABOVE nestled safely in the Crown that Jesus wore on the Cross. Born Eternally in His Kingdom, I see Glory in this picture. I hope the Photographer will not be offended with my concept, but every artist has to allow the seer to see what he or she wants . . . . right?!

You have heard about those “Born Again Christians.” the term get thrown around quite a bit. Often misunderstood, sometimes made fun of, it is a term even some pastors have difficulty explaining.

Meet Nicodemus:

John 3: 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Nicodemus was a religious leader in the time of Jesus. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin. You might say he was very much a part of the religious elite. He came to see Jesus in the late hours. Some say he did so because he didn’t want to be seen in the company of someone who appeared to be a rebel leader in the daytime. you know, he had to guard his own reputation. It’s possible.

I think it may just as possible that in the day Jesus was swamped by the crowds in need, miracle needers, genuine seekers, curious onlookers, trouble makers and the like. He was busy teaching, healing, taking on the Pharisees and Sadducees, etc, etc. so Nicodemus came in the quiet of the night to get some One-on-one time where he could get some answers. He did not come flouting his position as a Pharisee for he called Him Rabbi or Teacher. Nicodemus did not try to lord it over Jesus, rather he came as a seeker. We know Nicodemus became a follower, so we no he was on a genuine quest for answers when he came.

When Jesus spoke of the need to be Born Again, he was confused just as you might be!

I wonder if you would allow me some latitude and let me try to explain really very simply what it looks like.

When a baby is born, it comes out of the amniotic fluid where it has existed for 9 months without breathing air. The oxygen the body needs comes to the baby via the umbilical cord through oxygen rich blood. The blood is cleansed when mama exhales carbon dioxide and breathes in fresh oxygen.

When the baby is born it takes it’s first breath independent of mama cries out with a “waah, waah! and everyone rejoices because the cry is evidence of the baby being able to breath on it’s own.

Let us go back to Adam for a moment in the Book of Genesis:

Gen. 2: 7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

The breath God breathed into the nostrils of Man was His own breath, the Holy Spirit. The original Adam was a being who contained the Holy Spirit in him. when Adam sinned along with Eve by eating the forbidden fruit, the death they both suffered was not evident immediately in that they still lived, but the sin caused the Holy Spirit to depart and now death entered the physical body so that in time they died.

The Holy Spirit is the Eternal-Life-Giver for He is the Breath of God, and God Himself.

Look what is said in vs. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Not understanding Jesus words in vs. 3, Nicodemus asks how it is possible to be born  a second time. Jesus clarifies it. there are two births required to see the Kingdom of God. the first is the natural birth born of water (amniotic fluid), as a descendant of Adam, the second is a supernatural birth wherein the Holy Spirit, who left Adam as a result of Sin, enters the human body to take residence and thereby bringing Eternal life.

When you make the simple sincere, heart felt request that you want to be His child, that you would like His Holy Spirit to come and take residence in you, the very next exhale you do, you give up the life of the old you. the very first inhale you now do is the same as ADAM had. God Himself breathing into you His own spirit. you are now Born a second time. you may cry”Waah, Waah,” like a baby or use any other means to thank God, but you now, are a bonafide Born from Above, child of God.

just think about this: What the original Adam and Eve being the very first parents did by their disobedience, lost the Spirit of God in one fell swoop for ALL of us, for we are ALL their descendants. What Jesus did on the Cross coming as the Son of God, leaving His Divinity behind, taking on human flesh, living a sinless life (that was the Catch . . . NO SIN), now opened the door for each of INDIVIDUALLY to receive the SAME Spirit of God back into us, so we now become His Children.

Take a look at the picture again. do you see new born you nestled in the heavenly nest made of the Crown (of Thorns) He wore?

His Crown looked like this:

No, you see a soft cushy nest. He wore a crown like this even though He was the King of the Universe who had a royal crown. He died, so you can live. He gave His life, He suffered, so you can be His. He labored more than any woman ever will, He did so without any guarantee that you or anyone else will accept His sacrifice. He asked for no robots, He designed you with free will, able to make your choice. The Father raised Him up again from the grave for the grave couldn’t hold a guiltless man. He did it all, for what . . . the love of you, and me!! The picture doesn’t show the thorns, It wouldn’t make artistic sense, it would look cruel. Rightly so, but in my mind’s eye, I see the blood bought birth. He shed all His blood just for the love of you.

So, that is my simple explanation of what Born again, or Born From Above looks like.

Remember, life is about choices, this is by far the biggest choice you will ever make. Choose eternal life, or live only for this one. what will it be??

If you like this blog, share it with someone else. make them aware of the choice they have as well.