The dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus continues: John 3:5-17
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
v5 This is not about baptism. The Greek word for both spirit and wind is the same word (pneuma). As a Pharisee, Nicodemus’ mind would begin to turn towards Exodus 14:21 (the Exodus) when the strong wind dried up the red sea and made a path to allow the children of Israel to walk into the promised land. God had to do a miracle with the wind and the water.
Israel in a sense, was reborn at this moment. Nicodemus was beginning to understand the direction of Jesus as he spoke about the wind and the water.
Born of water and the spirit.
Water has 3 main pictures in the bible:
1.the Gospel-see Isaiah 55
2. Word of God Eph 5:26
3. Holy Spirit John 7:37-39
In v5 its meaning is the water as the word of God.
v6 Our bodies are not suitable for heaven- we will receive a spiritual (resurrection) body in heaven. Theology is flesh, Truth is spirit.
v.7-8 Nicodemus is shocked! Jesus uses the illustration of the wind. No person knows where it begins or ends but we can clearly see and/or hear its effects, but we know it is real.
The new birth is as real as the wind! The effects are felt internally.
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
v9 Nicodemus is shocked and cannot grasp what Jesus is telling him.
v10 Jesus suggests to Nicodemus that as the top religious person in Israel he ought to have deduced these things from the scripture.
v11 When Jesus says ‘we’ here he means himself and the Holy Spirit are witnessing to Nicodemus, but he still does not get it.
v12 Jesus says that if Nicodemus cannot receive earthly truth in his soul, then how much less can he receive heavenly truth in his spirit.
v13 Jesus prophesies that he will shortly ascend to heaven after his resurrection.
Jesus now continues talking to Nicodemus right though v14-21.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
v14-17 Jesus now preaches his wonderful Gospel message. Although most Christians know the verse John 3:16, few realise it was part of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus.
In Part 4 we will discuss whether or not Nicodemus became a believer in Jesus Christ and also learn how we can bring the message of the new birth to the unbelievers we meet in life.
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