Water And Spirit

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-8)

I wonder about this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.  It occurred at night. No one would have heard it and certainly would not have recorded it.  It’s more likely John used his imagination to create this discourse so important in its detail especially as it pertained to baptism – being born of water and Spirit as well as entering the Kingdom of God. 

It seems especially interesting that, according to John, a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus, went to Jesus to ask these important questions. Nicodemus actually addressed Jesus as “Rabbi” and acknowledged him as a “teacher who has come from God” and one who could do signs proving God was with him.  Now that’s substantial confirmation coming from a ruler of the Jews!

We don’t ask the foolish question Nicodemus is supposed to have asked: “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"  We understand the purpose of baptism and the spiritual nature of our anointings and the pouring on of water.  We realize that ritual makes us “born again” with an obligation to make our rebirth meaningful though our words and deeds consistent with Jesus' commandments to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.

Deacon David Pierce