When Were the Disciples Born Again?

The question posed is "When were the disciples born again?", but can we also ask the question "Were the disciples born again?" I suppose one doesn't normally think about the disciples as born again but I ran across some verses that brought me to ask that very question one day.

I'm not sure why I came to that question now, just wondered, I suppose that if we have to be born again to see the kingdom of God then wouldn't all men need to be born again? That lent itself to the thought that the disciples were men and not some special creation, thereby requiring them to be born again like everyone else that is of the household of God.

Sometimes we think on the surface of a matter only and not inside of it. We taste the outside of the fruit or smell the fruitiness and don't really sink our teeth into it, bite off a hunk and chew on it for a while. When it comes to spiritual matters I like to go a little deeper than the surface and taste the depth of what I read or see. It certainly makes life much more interesting. How about you?

We should know about the story of Jesus and Nicodemus meeting in the evening and discussing the subtleties of Nicodemus's religious questions on Jesus origin and connections to God. Jesus sort of sidesteps him and goes to the point with the famous response, "unless a person is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" and then discourses about the way that transpires. He refers to the wind blowing where it will and hearing the sound but not knowing where it came from. He says that is the same way with everyone who is born from above.

Remember also that Adam received the life-giving breath of God and became a living soul? He didn't have a water birth nor a mother, but was created by God alone. Yet he received life to live from God as He breathed into his nostrils. He didn't need to be born again because he was a created being and already received Gods breath of life. But we have not received that breath of God as Adam did. We are in need of that breath of God. The disciples were no different. They needed that breath of God to be born again.

So next we look at that time of their lives when they are hiding in fear for their physical lives, holed up in a room in Jerusalem, pretty paranoid to open the door or go outside because they believed they were wanted men. They were, but they didn't realize it wasn't so right then. They have just come back from the tomb of where Jesus was laid, seen the empty tomb and left before Jesus comes on the scene and talks to Mary. She runs back to where they are and tells them about it and they stand there in confusion and utter shock as Jesus appears in the room with them and says, "Peace to you."

He then shows them his hands and side to help them regain conscienceness and come to the reality of Him really being there in their midst. He says to them again, "Peace to you, As my Father has sent me, even so I send you." and then somewhat strangely "breathes" on them as He says "receive the Holy Spirit."

Do you see it? Did they see it? They must have because at that moment they did not hide out any longer, nor did they doubt the person who was standing before them. They "knew" he was the Lord, Son of God, King of Kings. They could now see the kingdom of God on the earth and they never departed from it. There was a divine revelation for them to believe.

Later in Acts we are told that they receive power from above to do what they needed to do there in Jerusalem, bringing thousands to the power of God, in order that they could be saved. Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit before going out as he was ready to ascend into heaven. The Holy Spirit filled them and they spoke in the various languages of the people assembled there to bear witness of the Lord and His power. They fulfilled the commission that they were sent to do by Jesus, in that room where they were first "breathed upon" by Him.

There you have it. The "born again" experience of the disciples, receiving the life of God through Jesus breathing upon them and then the empowerment of their very souls and spirits to go forth and make disciples of all nations.

So, I leave you with this thought from Paul's writings to Timothy as he reminds him that "Every part of Scriptures is God-"breathed" and useful one way or another, showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live Gods way." And I leave you with a question, "Has God breathed upon you?" If not, maybe he will meet you where you are and lead you into the greatest life ever lived, the life of Jesus Christ.

If you have a question or a comment about this subject, please write me or visit our website.

Mr. Chamley, husband and father of six boys, member of a Christian community in west Tennessee, invites you to expand your knowledge about Christian living by visiting http://www.rosecreekvillage.com. This community has been vibrantly growing for over 20 years on the belief that Christian living must be acted upon and not just spoken about. Your lifestyle may just be challenged and you may come to realize that your relationship with God and others needs to be more closely examined.