From: brandtk@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Keith E. Brandt, MD)
Subject: Born-Again Jew
Originator: brandtk@copper.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Community Hospitals of Indianapolis Family Practice
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 23:50:18 GMT

This is taken from the Summer 1992 Messianic Times
 
A "Born-Again Jew" - What's That?
by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
 
  One of the more intriguing incidents in the life of Yeshua 
(Jesus) is his famous dialogue with Nicodemus.

  Shortly after His mikvah (baptism), Yeshua proclaimed Himself 
Messiah and performed miracles to authenticate His Messiahship. 
As a result, many believed. Standing in the crowd was a rabbi 
called Nicodemus. He was stirred greatly and had to find out who 
Yeshua really was. 

  The initial part of the interview is found in John 3:12:

     "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler 
  of the Jews: the same came to Yeshua 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."

  Nicodemus was a pharisee, which means that he was a rabbi. The 
passage notes that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, which means 
that he was a member of the Sanhedrin.

     "Yeshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say 
  unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the 
  kingdom of God. 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?"

 
Nicodemus questions Yeshua

  As the interview began, Yeshua clearly stated to Nicodemus that 
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 
Note how Nicodemus responded: "How can a man be born WHEN HE IS 
OLD?" Nicodemus didn't question being born again. What confused 
him was how a man might be born again in old age. 

  To understand Nicodemus' question, it's necessary to understand 
that in Pharisaic Judaism there were six ways to be born again.

  When Gentiles converted to Judaism, they were born again, 
Nicodemus wasn't a Gentile so he couldn't qualify in this manner. 
A second way was to become king, for a man crowned king was said 
to be born again. Nothing is said about Nicodemus being of royal 
lineage. He didn't qualify in these ways.

  But Nicodemus qualified for the four other ways to be born 
again. First, when a Jewish boy becomes bar mitzvahed, a son of 
the Law, at the age of 13, he's said to be born again. As a 
Pharisee, Nicodemus had certainly fulfilled this requirement. A 
second way was by marriage, for when a Jew married, he was said 
to be born again. We know nothing of his wife, but to be a member 
of the Sanhedrin Nicodemus had to be married. Thirdly, a Jew 
who's ordained a rabbi is said to be born again. Nicodemus was a 
Pharisee, thus he had been ordained as a rabbi. The final way is 
to become the head of a rabbinical school. In verse 10, Yeshua 
told Nicodemus that he was *the* teacher of Israel, suggesting he 
was head of a rabbinical school. 

  Nicodemus had undergone every possible process to be born 
again. The only way left at his age was to re-enter his mother's 
womb and start again.
 
Water and Spirit

  Yeshua 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and 
that which is born of the spirit is spirit."

  Pharisaic theology qualified a Jew by birth to enter the 
kingdom of God. But Yeshua said, "Except a man be born of water 
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

  To "be born of water" was a Jewish expression for physical 
birth. Yeshua told him that one must be born of water and the 
Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God.

  In other words, one must be born both physically and 
spiritually. Yeshua said further: "That which is born of the 
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." 
So to be born of water is to be born of flesh, and is not 
sufficient to enter the kingdom. Nicodemus had to have a 
spiritual rebirth.

  How is that accomplished? The answer is found in John 3:16-18:
 
God Loves Us

  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to 
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be 
saved."

  Yeshua told Nicodemus how God loved the world and gave His only 
Son to die for the world. Nicodemus had to respond by believing. 
If he would, he'd be born again, have eternal life, and qualify 
for entrance into the kingdom.

  These two basic steps hold true today. God has done His part - 
He let His beloved Son die on the cross for sinful man. Have you 
accepted the sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah and made Him Lord of 
your life?
 
Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum is Director of Ariel Ministries.


===============================================================================
Keith E. Brandt, MD              ||  Goodbye, cruel world that was my home-
 Family Practice Resident        ||     there's cleaner space out here to roam.
 Community Hosp. of Indianapolis ||  Put my feet up on the moons of Mars-
brandtk@copper.ucs.indiana.edu   ||     sit back, relax, and count the stars.
===============================================================================