Scripture: 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.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:1-15 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, John makes a brief notation to his audience that in light of the altercation at the temple and the religious leaders’ rejection of Jesus’ authority, many believed in his name—but only because of the miraculous signs he performed. Regardless, Jesus did not rely on the testimony of others to validate his identity and calling. Moreover, he “knew” the nature of humankind and thus did not entrust himself to fellow Israelites.
Today’s devotion chronicles one last encounter in Jerusalem before Jesus and his disciples travel to Galilee. John introduces us to a respected leader among the Pharisees, Nicodemus, who seeks an audience with Jesus under the cloak of darkness. Paying his respects to Jesus as a rabbi (teacher), even though he eclipses Jesus based on formal education and priestly standing, Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus’ superior prophetic signs as verification of God’s presence with him. Skipping the polite response and knowing what Nicodemus truly seeks, Jesus speaks forthrightly to him and declares one must be born again to see the kingdom of God.
Missing the spiritual context, Nicodemus asks Jesus how a person can be physically born again. Jesus respectfully clarifies that rebirth refers to our spirits. The Holy Spirit and water spark our regeneration and our means of entry into God’s kingdom. In other words, using the imagery of wind, even though we cannot see and fully comprehend how the Holy Spirit operates, he gives birth to our spirits. Perplexed with this new teaching, Nicodemus expresses his dismay. At this point, Jesus questions how someone of his familiarity with Scripture would not believe that the Holy Spirit gives birth to our spirits. Jesus adds that a lack of belief will stunt further knowledge of these spiritual matters. Moreover, no one to this date has ascended into heaven with a complete understanding of these matters other than himself.
Lastly, Jesus appeals to a story familiar to Nicodemus from Numbers 21:4-9 of grumbling and ungrateful ancient Israel encountering God’s wrath in the form of poisonous snakes. Acting as a mediator, Moses appeals to God’s mercy, and the Lord instructs him to cast a bronze snake, place it on a pole, and raise it for repentant Israelites to look upon (believe) and find new life. In the same way, the Son will cover over God’s wrath toward our sins by submitting to evil men who will lift him on a cross so that those who behold and believe in him will receive eternal life.
Takeaway: Regarding Jesus’ reply that we must be born of water and Spirit (verse 5), the contextual meaning of water carries three possibilities: baptism, repentance, or the Word of God. John begins his Gospel with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus through a baptism of repentance. And the Jewish community would baptize converts with water as a symbol of purity under submission to the law. Meanwhile, Paul likens water to the cleansing Word. Describing Christ as the church’s bridegroom, he states that Christ sanctified the church by washing it with the water of the word (Ephesians 5:25-26).
Incorporating all three, we can understand “being born of water and spirit” to mean that the Holy Spirit woos us to faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8) by attesting to the truth of the Crucifixion and Resurrection revealed in the Word that provokes our repentance. The theological term for our conversion experience is regeneration, for the Holy Spirit regenerates our being with a living, eternal soul. And like the wind that blows, while no one can see our inward rebirth, many will witness its impact. And there’s no better way to be a world-changer than to continue to immerse (wash) ourselves in the Word of God through personal reading and reflection, corporate worship, and the wisdom of those who expound the Word.
Still, we must put the Word into practice, for no amount of education or knowledge will substitute for obedience. Eriudite Nicodemus initially missed the point. But as John later tells us, Nicodemus stood up for Jesus before his peers (7:50-51) and even exposed himself as a devoted follower when he partnered with Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus (19:38-40). Thus, like Nicodemus, we must stay grounded in the Word. And there’s no better way to remain grounded than to focus on the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us (1:14): to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith who, for the joy set before him, endured his cross for us (Hebrews 12:2).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you and your Son for the gift of your Holy Spirit who woos us to you, sparks our repentance, grounds us in the Word, and leads us onward and upward as spirit-filled kingdom-builders. Still, we confess that we sometimes feel like giving up under the weight of our sins and that of others. So would you please pour out your grace on us in remaining grounded in obedience to your Word while focused on your Son so that we might find the strength and joy to do our part in building your kingdom as we journey toward eternity? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling