Nicodemus meets Jesus – His Eminence Mor Andrawos Bahhi

On this third Sunday after Epiphany, His Eminence Mor Andrawos Bahhi tells the story of Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees who came by night to see Jesus.

A lot of people during Jesus’ life on Earth came to Him. Some of them left broken hearted and sorrowful because they didn’t choose to listen to Jesus. When Nicodemus came to Him at night, he was confused because he heard about his miracle.

The minute Jesus met with people, he changed their life.

Nicodemus wanted to know the truth and he was looking for answers. He was a very honored person among his community and he was a very educated and religious person. and yet, he was looking for the truth.

When he came to Jesus at night, he was looking for someone who can change his life. he was scared of his people. They would say “You are a Pharisee and a religious leader and you came to this person who broke the Sabbath and did this against the Law of Moses”

He came to Jesus looking for a real answer. He went to talk to him and addressed him as a leader. He said “Rabbi, we know that you come from God, for no one can do the things you are doing unless God is with him”. He said, “I know you are a Godly person and you change a lot of people’s lives, but please, can you also change my life?”.

Jesus answered him, “Unless you be born again or born from above, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus knew the scripture but still he asked, “How am i going to be born again?”. Jesus told him, “Unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot be born again. You must be born from water and the spirit, and you will enter the Kingdom of God.”

If you want to be saved and if you want to enter the Kingdom of God, there is no other way except to come and be baptized. But its not only baptism, but also the life that we live after the baptism.

This is what Jesus said, “The person born who is from flesh is flesh. The person who thinks about the earthly things, he will remain on earth. But the person who thinks spiritually and is born from spirit, this person will understand and be saved.”

You have to be born again and change your mindset the way you think in order to be a spiritual person and to enter heaven.

For us, baptism is becoming a new creation and a new person.

St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans; “Do not be conformed to this world. But be transformed by renewing your mind”

The message that today Jesus is telling us through His word is, “The only way to heaven is having faith in Him and being baptized on His name and you will enter the Kingdom of God.”

Sayidna Andrawos reminds us to love God, the giver of our gifts, and not fixate on the gifts themselves. Live a life to honor all of God’s gifts and open your hearts to Christ each day