Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Sacrament of Holy Baptism

John 3:1-8
V. 3.  In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Baptism is the Christian rite of initiation practiced by almost all who profess to embrace the Christian faith.  The practice is in direct obedience to the explicit mandate of the Lord (Matt. 28:16-20).  Seven sacraments are administered in the Mar Thoma Church.  Baptism is one of the two sacraments instituted and associated with our Lord known as Dominical Sacraments.  The ceremony of Baptism is an indispensable means of becoming a member of the Christian Church.  Baptism is an outward act of an inner experience.  It is a faith-union with Christ, and an identification with the death and resurrection of Christ (New Testament Studies - Rev. Dr. M.V. Abraham). Apostle Paul writes in his letter to Romans, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were, therefore, buried with Him through Baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (6:3-4). It is important that the baptized individual (child or adult) should continue to grow in the faith which was professed at Baptism.
 The Bible passage (John 3:1-8) is an account of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.  He was a Pharisee, a high-ranking Jewish rabbi, an esteemed teacher of Israel and a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.  The Pharisees placed their trust in the outward observance of the Law but neglected to purify the heart.  Apostle John  tells us that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.  He chose to come to Jesus by night for fear of Jews as we see in John 7:50 and 19:39. Jesus didn’t refuse to receive him for that reason. Jesus knew exactly what was going on in his heart and chose to speak not to his words but directly to his heart.  As a Pharisee, Nicodemus dedicated his whole life to obedience to the Law.  It appears that Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, you have spent your entire life doing things for God.  And tragically you have missed the point.  It’s not about what you can do for God. It’s about what God wants to do in you.”
 Later, on His way back from Judea to His native Galilee, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well (John chapter 4).  The contrast between these two individuals could hardly be more extreme.  The Samaritan is a nameless, immoral woman who meets Jesus in the heat of day, probably because she is too ashamed to draw water when other people are at the well.  In both instances, Jesus directed the conversation to what He perceives to be the central issue of their hearts.  In Nicodemus case, his need to be born again, and in the case of the Samaritan woman, her need to repent from her sinful lifestyle and to trust Jesus the Messiah.
 Nicodemus began his conversation, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with Him” (v. 2).  Jesus immediately spoke to him of the concerns of his soul.  “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (v. 3).  It is equally important for us as well to understand the meaning of Jesus’ declaration.  That is, if we desire to see the Kingdom of God, we must also be born again.  It was difficult for Nicodemus to understand the notion of a new beginning and a decisive inner transformation of a person’s life
(v. 9).  The concept of a new spiritual birth is similar to that of a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).  During subsequent conversation, Jesus made Nicodemus understand his need to be “born from above.”
 Would Nicodemus be open to acknowledge his spiritual need and humble himself before God?  Would he be receptive to this new revelation? The later chapters of John’s gospel (7 and 19) give us the answer of his conversion to be a disciple of Jesus.  Now, it is our turn to be convinced ourselves of the need to be born again as well.

 PRAYER

Loving and Gracious Father may our understanding of who we are in Christ grow today so that we may walk in the victorious life You have secured for us by Your sacrificial death.  Help us by Your Holy Spirit to understand the need for a spiritual transformation in our lives.  Amen. 

 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 God became man to turn creatures into sons; not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.  C.S. Lewis.

Daniel Thomas, Orlando MTC, Florida
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more