Jesus tells Nicodemus, the ultimate religious insider, that he must be 'born again' to see God's kingdom.
The episode is a sermon delivered by Pastor Sean Slade at Redeemer Church of Knoxville, part of a series titled 'The Way of Jesus.' It begins with a welcome and practical instructions for following along in the Bible, specifically John chapter 3, verses 1-16. Slade introduces the church as a community focused on loving God and neighbor through resting in, reminding of, and reflecting God's love. The sermon centers on Jesus's interaction with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who comes to Jesus at night. Slade highlights that Nicodemus represents religious insiders, being educated, moral, and respected, yet Jesus tells him he must be 'born again' to see the kingdom of God. This challenges the stereotype of 'born again' as only for outsiders or emotional Christians. Slade explains that Nicodemus misunderstands Jesus's signs, such as turning water into wine, seeing only the miracles and not what they signify about Jesus's mission. Jesus emphasizes that being 'born again' is a gift from God, involving being 'born of water and the Spirit,' which Slade links to Ezekiel 36's prophecy of cleansing and new heart. He connects this to Jesus's baptism and the role of baptism in Christianity as a sign of the new covenant. The sermon explores how Jesus redefines the 'Son of Man' as one who descends and is 'lifted up' in death, like the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, to bear sin and offer healing. Slade cites John 3:16 to underscore God's love as the motivation. He concludes by noting Nicodemus's later appearance at the cross, where he claims Jesus's body, showing transformation through identifying with Jesus's death. The sermon ends with an invitation to the communion table as a means of experiencing God's love.
