BE BORN, AGAIN?

Judea:  Born again? This phrase was made famous by Jesus through Nicodemus, a well-known figure from a political party called the Pharisees. He confronted Jesus late one night when he was afraid to let others see him with Jesus, because the other Pharisees hated Jesus. Deep inside him, he knew that Jesus was not just a man. “Is He God?” he often asked himself for he saw all the miracles He did. That day, the meeting with Jesus Himself changed him forever.

He was taken aback when Jesus uttered this statement, “I tell you the truth, no one can see kingdom of God unless he is born again.” The last two words, especially, created a great curiosity in him. He had never heard of such a phrase before in his entire life. Impossible! He knew in his own life he had done many bad things and if he could go back to his mother’s womb and be born again, that would be great. Probably, he would try to be a better person.

Jesus then began to teach him what “born again” really meant. It was indeed impossible for Nicodemus to be born again through the human help of his mother.

There was a greater meaning in those two words awaiting him. It was more powerful than he could ever imagine.

God, the Creator was waiting to recreate him and make him into a new person. He could now become a new creation or be “born again”.

“Born again” here meant being born of God and that was far better than being born by human descent. In other words, he could be saved from going to hell and instead, would be on the way to Heaven where he can live forever and ever with God.

Jesus led Nicodemus to focus on the heavenly things when He said that he must be born again. That’s why Jesus told him that He Himself came from Heaven and He could be trusted.

Then Jesus uttered the greatest statement and the most beautiful one for the entire world to hear.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

From then on, Nicodemus knew that God offered hope to every man who needed to come near to God. The hope of eternal life. That hope was in Jesus.

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he knew that God had finally revealed the truth to him and was giving him the chance to be born again. He understood it all. He had to believe in the Son of God, who was just standing right in front of him.

That night, Nicodemus thanked God over and over again that he was able to meet Jesus. “What if I hadn’t met him?” or “What if I had been so afraid of my friends that I missed the greatest appointment of my life?” He didn’t dare to imagine the consequences. He went back home reiterating the same words, “I need to be born again”

He was also committed to tell others too. “You need to be born again,” he told others confidently. – PS BIBLE News

REFLECTION

Everyone needs to be born again! The good news is everyone can be born again. This story was found in John chapter 3. God said in His Word that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. The word ‘whoever’ includes you and me. God is always waiting for us to call upon Him because He loves us very much. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Have you called upon Jesus to save you? If not, why don’t you do it today?

HOPE REKINDLED: THE RISEN SAVIOUR APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES!

Galilee:  Peter, a strong disciple of Jesus was extremely sad. When his Master was cruelly hung on a cross, he ran away from the scene. His mind couldn’t take anymore the anguish of being so helpless. He had already denied Jesus three times when He was put on trial. Moreover, he was thinking real hard about why Jesus as God could have been so easily and humbly captured by mere men. He was confused and frustrated.

Peter and the rest of the disciples of Jesus were shocked when their Master appeared in front of them even though the doors were locked. When Jesus had calmed them down, they were all overjoyed, especially Peter. He had every reason to rejoice because he wanted to turn away from God after failing many times to be a good disciple. Now, his hope had been rekindled once more.

One of Jesus’ disciples named Thomas did not want to believe this extraordinary occurrence unless he could touch Jesus himself. The next day, Jesus appeared to Thomas and asked him to touch His hands. After realising Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, he went down on his knees and worshipped Jesus as his Lord and his God. Jesus forgave his disciples for running away when He needed them to stand by Him at the cross. All of them repented from their cowardice. Peter was the one with most hurt when he saw his Saviour alive again. His heart broke into many pieces when he renounced Jesus. In his mind, he did not want to see Jesus at all. He was too ashamed.

One day Jesus took him aside and forgave him personally. He asked Peter three times whether he still loved Him. This triggered off the memory that he had renounced Jesus three times, too. Peter felt his heavy guilt lifted away from within him. In tears, he understood now that Jesus had known everything about him all along. His nagging question of whether he could still serve and follow Jesus was answered in a remarkable way. Jesus asked him to tend to all His people and to glorify Him. Peter was overjoyed and made a commitment to follow Him all the way even if it meant dying on the cross.

(After having served the Lord for many years, Peter died for his faith in Jesus on a cross hung upside down. He died as a martyr. He was happy to die for His Master as he knew He would take him home to Heaven to live forever!) – PS BIBLE News

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU - 1 Peter 5:6-7

REFLECTION

This story is found in the book of John chapter 20 and 21. It tells us that Jesus is indeed risen from the dead. What does that mean to you? To Jesus’ disciple, it was a hope rekindled after He left them. They were a confused lot when their Master died on the cross. They were so delighted to know that Jesus’ words had come to pass when He said that He would rise again from the dead when they literally saw Him alive again.

What about you? Does Jesus rising from the dead mean anything to you? Absolutely yes! In fact, to you and everyone who lives on the earth. All the other founders of different religions in this world died. Their graves are still here on earth. Jesus is the only Person who claimed that He was God and proved it by rising from the dead. And He really did it! Nobody ever found Jesus’ body and nobody ever will because He is risen. Therefore, Christians are not believing in a dead man’s testimony but words right from the mouth of a living Saviour!

SAUL SEES THE LIGHT: THE PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH BLINDED BY A GREAT LIGHT!

Damascus:  An amazing thing happened to a nasty man named Saul. He was greatly feared for his atrocities toward the people from the church. Back in Jerusalem, he used to beat them and drag them to prisons to be tortured. His heart cared for no one except for his pride in obeying the laws of his religion. He was very close to the high priest of his religion. Once, Saul asked him to grant an approval for him to capture the Christians who fled to Damascus, a city far away from Jerusalem. He was very persistent in persecuting them. More amazingly, the Christians were not angry with him. Instead they prayed for him. they believed the Creator God is stronger than anyone in this world.

While Saul was travelling to Damascus to persecute them, he saw a powerful glaring light. It was so magnificent, shining form above the clouds that Saul and his companions were thrown off their horses. Then a powerful voice started to thunder from where the light came. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” the voice said. Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Saul was spellbound and sat on the ground in utter disbelief. Was he wrong in turning against the people who believed in Jesus? Was Jesus alive as the Christians claimed Him to be? Question after question pounded in his confused mind.

He wanted to look at the light again just to see if it was still there but he could not see a thing. He realised then that he was blind!

His companion did not know the meaning of the light and the voice. They led him to a house in Straight Street near here and quickly ran off.

One of the disciples of Jesus named Ananias was called by God to go to him. He was a bit hesitant due to this notorious man and his fervour in persecuting the Christians.

He obeyed the Lord Jesus. He went to the house where Saul stayed and prayed for him. Instantly, Saul was healed of his blindness. He then told Saul what Jesus had done for him.

Finally, the truth was revealed to Saul in a miraculous way. Today, he knows that Jesus is his risen Saviour and Lord. He is still shaking his head at the wonderful mercy of Jesus for giving him a chance even though he was murderous in dealing with God’s people.

And so is Ananias. He cannot comprehend how God is so compassionate and loving in saving Saul.

No matter how bad a person may be, God is able to change him. – PS BIBLE News

REFLECTION

Another powerful story from the Bible! It is found in the book of Acts chapter nine. God can change a murderous and unmerciful man into a beautiful saint. How true! After Saul was saved by the Lord Jesus, he went to his own people, who once were together with him persecuting the Christians, to tell them about the Saviour, Jesus. What an amazing turnaround! Have you experienced it yourself? If not, why not let Jesus add colour to your life?

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10b

The main reason for Jesus to come to this earth is to save mankind from their sins. Sin in this world has clouded mankind from seeing the true colours of life through God’s eyes. Jesus loves us so much and he could not bear to see us going through life in doubts, disappointments, despair and finally towards destruction. He came so that our life could be full of happiness, hope and love. We can see clearly now the way that leads us to Heaven and towards ultimate joy with Jesus as our living Saviour.

Therefore, let us walk in His way and follow His commands. Some people do not have joy in God because they choose not to follow Jesus and do what He says. That’s why there are still millions of people living in darkness and despair. The good news is that many people too, have taken the right step to follow Jesus. They have found the joy that they never had before in Jesus. Have you?

GOD'S WORD IS VICTORIOUS!

Jordan: On the hill of Jordan while most of the people still sleeping, a tremendous fight took place. It was a fight of different nature. PS BIBLE News called it ‘The Duel Between Light and Darkness’.

Jesus Christ, claimed that He is God who came as a Man, went there to pray when he met Satan, nicknamed ‘The devil’. The devil had been very active lately trying to deceive the villagers to turn away from God. He wanted to disrupt Jesus from doing God’s will and so decided to tempt him. Satan wanted the Son of God to bow down and worship him as he had done so to many villagers before. The first subtle attack came!

Thus, the fight began! The Tempter said, “If you are really the Son of God, turn these stones to bread” He knew that Jesus was hungry. Satan was shocked when Jesus refused to yield to him. Instead Jesus challenged him with the Word of God. He said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” Jesus followed His heavenly Father instead of listening to Satan.

The devil was dejected at the defeat. As usual, he did not quit. As they were walking towards the highest point of a temple, he dared Jesus to jump down. This time, Satan too quoted God’s Words but he was merely saying it to suit his own desire.

Jesus did not jump. He was angry at Satan using God’s Word for a wrong purpose. Then he jabbed the evil one with another round of God’s Word. He refused him by saying “God says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’ ” With these powerful words, he again foiled Satan’s attempt to make Him Satan’s servant. Satan was devastated! The Word of God used by Jesus is too strong for the devil to withstand.

Satan was desperate! He led Jesus to a high mountain and showed him the beautiful kingdom below.

This time he was willing to give everything away to Jesus. Everything the devil ever had was gained through deception. All these would be given to Jesus with one condition: that he must bow and worship him alone. Satan laughed and thought surely this time, Jesus would agree to his proposal. But “Away from me, Satan! God says, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’,” Jesus rejected him.

“What!” The devil screamed in anger. He covered his face and fled like one chased by a hungry, fierce wolf.

The fight was over!

The infallible word of God triumphed over evil. Truly, darkness has to flee when light comes! – PS BIBLE News

REFLECTION

In this simple story of the Bible, Jesus showed us the example of using God’s Word in times of difficulties and temptation. This true story is found in Matthew 4:1-11. in Hebrew 4:12, it says that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates deep inside us and judges our thoughts and the attitude of our hearts. Psalm 119:105 says that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It simply means the Word of God guides us through this life!

God’s Word is like a sword! It is used to counter Satan’s temptations. Ephesians 6:17

God’s Word is like fire and a hammer! It consumes and crushes falsehood. Jeremiah 23:29

God’s Word is like water, washing away unrighteousness from us. Ephesians 5:26; see also John 15:3