What It Means to Be Born Again

In celebration of Theophany (6 January) or Epiphany, as it’s called in the Western tradition, I discuss the meaning of baptism, starting with the baptism of Christ, what it means to be “born again” symbolically, and how Scripture, our sacraments, and the Theophany icon illustrate and explain this to us.

📱 SOCIAL MEDIA

My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

[fishosoficaldebaitsphiloso]

Tomorrow on Theophany I’m being baptized and chrismated! I’m so excited! I’m a sixty year-old woman who lives remotely 120 miles from the nearest Orthodox Church. Jonathan had a key role on my transformation which took a couple of years. Glory to God! Thank you Jonathan!

[Mr.Misfit-]

The depth you and Jordan have provided for my life cannot be overstated.

[zzzaaayyynnn]

Wow, was about to leave soon for my Orthodox baptism and chrismation. Went to turn off my computer, and this video popped up!

[dabeez]

I joined the Orthodox Church a year ago.
I tell my Protestant friends and family. There's so much more to Christianity than what we have been raised to believe. They look at me like I've lost my mind.

[StayClear]

Christianity has infinite wisdom. Thanks Jonathan

[Hoyts_Hillside_Farm]

Wanted to let you know that after falling away from God, angry after deployments to the Middle East, a path in Buddhism to heal from PTSD, your videos were part of my journey back to Christ who opened my heart. So thank you. And if you read this, tell Jordan Peterson that he was the first angel to change my direction on the path and that I’m thankful for your work together. You both made the Gospel palatable and then exciting. My family and I have come to love a non-denominational church in our community and find great peace and joy. But the “Sam Harris - Waking Up” … the part of me that allowed me to “touch the non-dual” … is still finding ways to harmonize with the Christian teachings. Rather, the community. I feel like I have to hide the “mystical” part of me. I don’t want to go to another church. Wondering if you have a nugget of wisdom that allows me to integrate that “Buddha Mind” into the Christ Consciousness within the framework that I worship? Or is that what you mean by clearing out when I start a new job? Do I effectively need to forget the pointers that led me to “here”? With there being so many parallels, it seems understanding the strategies of the East, within the framework of the West, would be helpful to the same types of people like me, needing a path through the mind before God can soften their hearts. I know I’m getting lost in logic here, but this seems to be a wall that is lingering.

[AS-yhxu]

I got baptized and Chris mated on December 23d in Orthodox Church. Thank God! Jonathan’s teachings for last 3 years helped me get here as well. May God bless you, Jonathan Pageau🙏🏼

[jayjaychadoy]

I finally got the meaning of the twig. Jesus says I Am the Vine, you are the branches.
Bless your interpretation.

[ZealousEZRA]

The tree analogy was very beautiful, I study trees and it made me also think about the structure and function of a cell.
The cell has a core which has the blueprints of “the kingdom” and from this Nucleus as it is called comes instructions for the rest of the cell 🙏🌿
What proteins to be made and what to be done it sends messengers and starts processes also it receives information which it reacts to 🌞
God has truly revealed Glory to us in nature 🌿✨
Be blessed ❤️

[dailybibleverses]

I know I was born again from one simple fact: change. And that can also relate to the fruits you bear. When I converted, after being a Catholic for 32 years, what the bible says came true in me, my eyes were opened, the Bible became a book that it seems I had never read, although I went to mass almost every sunday and read the Bible so many times at my Catholic school. I understood it now in a way that I could not have imagined (not all of it of course, but so much more than before, as it pertains to the purpose of my life), I was lost and I became found, I was burded and I became free, I was in a path to destruction and death, and I left that life and beaome instantly free of my addictions and many other slaveries. Not everything was immediate, many habits and sins I still battle, but I can say for sure say that I experienced a convension, no doubt in my mind. And most importantly, all around me could see that too and were very surprised, I became a testimony.

[Richard_Paradise]

I have not thought of the parralel between the Dove that descends on Yeshua and Noah's dove before. That's a great observation Jonathan!

[billtimmons]

The podcast "Lord of Spirits" and this channel are great dance partners in understanding a Christian mystical world ...a world that provides much more meaning than the banal, material "spirit" that engulfs our Western culture. 2024 is off to very good start. Happy New year to all.

[SA_SwangnArk_KlumzyG]

i have a new teacher!!!! TY Jonathan P!!!

[Hugex]

"Knock and you shall find" god... That is just so true, I find it awesome how I wouldnt have been able to find these teachings if I had not Knocked. Thabks Jonathan, I hope I someday am half the man you are now

[anhumblemessengerofthelawo]

When one experiences true "mystical union with the One", the world one returns to is not the Same.

[jamesmcnicholas]

Loved loved this..Thank you brother 🙏✝️ 💜fromN.Ireland

[humble_servant]

You’re on fire with the Spirit brother - The Lord has blessed you with a deep understanding! Glory to God!

[anastunya]

I love the cooking recipe analogy! Looking forward to seeing(on the Internet) Jonathan speaking about Christian Symbolism with Father Josiah & many others at St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church in Riverside CA at their Lenten Retreat in March. Hope to organize a viewing in Savannah, just met Ralston College’s professor of Greek, Ignatius, who is Orthodox. Happy Feast of Theophany and Christ is Born to all Old Calendarists.

[e.a.c.]

I love how bravely you attempt to explain the Mysteries of faith. These concepts are so fundamental that it's difficult to identify. It's like seeing air. God bless you.

[Porphyrogen]

God bless You, thank for your work Jonathan ! 🇬🇷🔥🐬