'Born Again'- Living Forever, Part 1 (TMF:3005)
Friday, November 13, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Jesus’ friend Martha is going to say to him later in our book of John, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (ESV). Now, for us today, as Paul said, it includes the fact that Christ has died for our sins and risen from the dead. Let’s not let that last part of the verse escape us: “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (ESV). “[H]e cannot see the kingdom of God.” “[H]e cannot see the kingdom of God.” Ultimately, that’s the core essence of the whole thing. The internal drive and intention is to live forever. Death is avoided at all costs. The shattering truth is that there is actually a way you can do that. A way exists where anyone can do that. Anyone can avoid death. Anyone can live forever. Sure, everyone is going to physically die. The material body is going to expire. Additionally, within each one of us is a spirit, and that spirit is eternal. The spirit lives forever.
'Born Again'- The Change Inside, Part 2 (TMF:3004)
Thursday, November 12, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
This change of heart, this born again-ness, this second birth, comes into play that moment each of us makes that free decision. It’s a free decision to indeed choose Christ. Again, referencing the Apostle Paul, he tells us specifically and yet simply how this comes about. He told the Romans, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV). That’s the crux of it at first. That’s how it becomes real. A confession with the mouth. That’s why preachers and teachers often have that prayer at the end, like at the Billy Graham crusades from not too long ago, so that individuals can come to believe in God. It’s that alter call, as it’s also called. That’s the confession with the mouth. In Jesus’ time, at that point before his death, burial, and resurrection, it would have simply been acknowledging Jesus as Lord. That’s the simplicity of it. Simon Peter did this in Matthew 16, where it is recorded, “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16, ESV).
'Born Again'- The Change Inside, Part 1 (TMF:3003)
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Becoming “born again.” Born again. An interesting and yet sort of strange concept. The sound of it is admittedly appealing. Decades later, the Apostle Paul words it a little bit differently for us in saying: “[I]f anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). Of course, the glance at our image reflected back to us in a mirror or observing others around us reveals how real our first birth was, our physical birth. We can see the tangible results of birth. But now, now, it’s not just going to be the following of a strict set of rules in a religious community with like minded individuals. No, rather, it’s going to be a change on the inside instead of the outside. It’s not just merely an external change of life, change of the way we do this, that, and the other. Or, the way we relate to people. Sure, it will include those things. Really, though, in reality, it is a change on the inside the results in all those ‘external’ things. It’s a change of the heart.
Jesus Cuts to the Heart with Nicodemus (TMF:3002)
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
The question presented by Nicodemus doesn’t ask about how he can personally be saved from his sins, and yet, surprisingly the whole notion is implied. After all, it is Nicodemus who is coming to Jesus seeking answers. There isn’t any other reason he would be coming to him, to seek him out. The assumption on the part of Jesus is that it must be. Nicodemus is wondering what this whole thing is about, what Jesus being here, what his earthly ministry, is all about. And the answer is presented to him. Jesus cuts straight to the heart. He jumps straight to the point. He tells Nicodemus, and indeed all of us who are listening, how a new life is possible. The desire of the heart of God for each and every individual, for “the Jew first and also the Greek” as the Apostle Paul will tell the Romans (Romans 2:10, ESV). Up and to this point, steps have been made by Nicodemus down his own path, the current path of all Jews at the time. But Jesus is telling him now that circumstances are different. The rules are changing.
Nicodemus Visits Jesus by Night, Part 2 (TMF:3001)
Monday, November 09, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Nicodemus himself is supposed to have all the answers, and yet he is seeking this Jesus, who isn’t part of the Pharisees, on religious matters. Not something that would go over well with his fellow peers if they knew about it. Even though he uses the plural “we” in his question, it’s likely that a lot of his fellow Pharisees aren’t wondering the same things as he. It’s probable they aren’t and wouldn’t be on Nicodemus’ side. Regardless, he addresses Jesus using the proper term “Rabbi,” which denotes respect toward him. Now for Jesus’ response. Verse 3: “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (ESV). The question presented by Nicodemus doesn’t ask about how he can personally be saved from his sins, and yet, surprisingly the whole notion is implied. After all, it is Nicodemus who is coming to Jesus seeking answers. There isn’t any other reason he would be coming to him, to seek him out. The assumption on the part of Jesus is that it must be.
Nicodemus Visits Jesus by Night, Part 1 (TMF:3000)
Friday, November 06, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
John chapter 3, starting in verse 1: “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (ESV). We begin with a scene at night, and Nicodemus’ visit of Jesus by night demonstrates his true inner feelings, that he doesn’t want others to know he is visiting him. It would cause criticism for him, after all. His fellow Scribes and Pharisees would question his intent, but maybe in his mind was that he didn’t want anyone to witness this visit, like those of a crowd. Nevertheless, the text tells us that Nicodemus is a ruler of the Jews. A high ranking individual we conclude, one with influence and power. One that people looked up to, to lead them, which, in considering that, begets another reason for the choice of this visitation at night. Nicodemus himself is supposed to have all the answers, and yet he is seeking this Jesus, who isn’t part of the Pharisees, on religious matters.
The Forward Focus of Jesus, Part 2 (TMF:2999)
Thursday, November 05, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:12, 13, ESV). Surely, the forward focus of Jesus is about making everything right again, and he’s going to start that process with the various kinds of healings, and the speaking of the truth to the multitudes. But before this can happen, there is one part that needs to be gone through, and it’s as the writer of Hebrews tells us of Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). Truly, that part, namely, the cross, would have to be accomplished first.
The Forward Focus of Jesus, Part 1 (TMF:2998)
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
This vision from Genesis, however, isn’t the only vision likely referenced in this verse. Indeed, Jesus calls himself for the first time in the Gospel of John by the title “the Son of Man.” If one examines the Gospels, one will find that this is the most common title Jesus Christ gives to himself. We could say it’s his favorite designation. That being said, it likely has its roots, its origins, in Daniel chapter 7. If we look there, we can read in verses 12 and 13: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Surely, the forward focus of Jesus is about making everything right again.
Jesus's Premonition Regarding Nathanael, Part 3 (TMF:2997)
Tuesday, November 03, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Verse 51: “And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” With this saying from Jesus, it’s almost certain that he is paralleling the dream Jacob had, found back in Genesis 28. Back there, let’s read verse 12, which says, “And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!” In understanding the parallel, then, Jesus would represent the ladder. Thus, this would show that Jesus is how persons, represented by the angels, actually access the Father. This is just another example of the Old Testament prophesying what was to come in the future, and how God was going to deal with the sin problem in the world. The plan had been decided way back, and at this point in time, at this point in Jesus’ early ministry, God is executing his plan.
Jesus's Premonition Regarding Nathanael, Part 2 (TMF:2996)
Monday, November 02, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
We do know he was likely doing something spiritual, something that pertained to God himself. That explains Nathanael’s response, in his surprise of him having this knowledge, that Jesus must be the Son of God. However, notice how Nathanael jumps straight to the king part, the fact that he believed Jesus must be the coming king. Again, we are faced with the focus of the worldly part of what the Jews were looking for, and not the sacrifice for sin part. The temptation lies also for us—for us to get too caught up in the worldly, to get too caught up in our present Christian circumstances. But Jesus explains he saw Nathanael under the fig tree, an apparent reference perhaps to a vision he himself saw while he was praying, or perhaps it’s simply some kind of divine knowledge granted to him by the Father. Nevertheless, Jesus acknowledges that it is a miracle, showing that whatever Nathanael was doing under the tree couldn’t have been known by anyone else, including Jesus. Jesus notes that in the future he would do greater miracles, and it’s not going to be too long before that prediction comes to pass.