Born of the Spirit

Nicodemus visits Jesus.

John 3:1–2 ESV

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.”

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus? Why did he come at night? Was he there to learn from the Rabbi, to escape the decay of their socio-moral decay? We need to check the context.

Jesus cleanses the Temple

At the end of chapter 2 John recounts the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. He uses a whip to chase the money changers and merchants from the Temple grounds. While we interpret this as a great spiritual cleansing it was also very political. It spit in the face of the Sadducess, the “chief priests” who controlled the Temple and its function.

Pharisees, Sadducees, & the Sanhedrin

The Sanhedrin

The Great Sanhedrin is a religious assembly of 71 sages who met in the Chamber of Hewn Stones in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Great Sanhedrin met daily during the daytime, and did not meet on the Sabbath, festivals or festival eves. It was the final authority on Jewish law.

Local Sanhedrins consisted of different numbers of sages, depending on the nature of the offenses it dealt with. For example, only a Sanhedrin of 71 could judge a whole tribe, a false prophet or the high priest. There were Sanhedrins of 23 for capital cases and of three scholars to deal with civil or lesser criminal cases

Chapter 7, 11, & 18

Sadducess

The Sadducees were elitists who wanted to maintain the priestly caste, but they were also liberal in their willingness to incorporate Hellenism into their lives, something the Pharisees opposed. The Sadducees rejected the idea of the Oral Law and insisted on a literal interpretation of the Written Law; consequently, they did not believe in an after life, since it is not mentioned in the Torah. The main focus ofSadducee life was rituals associated with the Temple.

Pharisees

Pharisees were in a sense blue-collar Jews who adhered to the tenets developed after the destruction of the Temple; that is, such things as individual prayer and assembly in synagogues. The Pharisees believed that God also gave Moses the knowledge of what these laws meant and how they should be applied. This oral tradition was codified and written down in what is known as the Talmud.

Nicodemus

Maybe he’s there to learn of his own volition, maybe he is tasked with the responsibility to ascertain the political ideals of this influencer. Either way Nicodemus is bringing his Pharisitical world view to the context of their meeting.

Jesus teaches Nicodemus

To give an overview the Pharisees believed that how they followed the Law had eternal significance. In other words, “What they did on earth had heavenly significance.” “What they did in the flesh, had spiritual impact.” This perspective makes it very difficult for Nicodemus to understand what Jesus is teaching because Jesus’ perspective of the relationship between earth and heaven is radically different....

John 3:3–4 ESV

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?”

To a man who knew he was destined for resurrection in the messianic age this is a bold statement, maybe even offensive. “How can you suggest more is required of me? Have I not upheld the Law?”

Jesus is describing the different natures of earth and heaven. He says

John 3:5–7 ESV

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.’

What one does on Earth has earthly significance for he is not of heaven, and what is done in heaven has heavenly significance.

Nicodemus is stressed

You can see why this would stress Nicodemus out. “Wait!? you’re telling me that the obedience to the Law has no heavenly significance?” How then should we live? How can we have any security in this life?

These are big questions that Nicodemus needs answered if He is going to learn from Jesus.

John 3:8 ESV

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.”

Jesus describes the nature of the Spirit in regards to the Law. I would like you to think of it in the Lutheran 2nd & 3rd uses of the Law.

The Holy Spirit uses the Law to condemn sin in us and also to accomplish the will of God through us.

My time at BASIC NICARAGUA. Building the house I felt good about myself (2nd use) and yet God provided for these people’s needs (3rd use).

Sermons - Pastor John preaches and I recieved thanks. LOL “God is faithful”

Jesus Explains how the flesh is made eternal.

John 3:12–15 ESV

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.

Jesus then explains to Nicodemus how Earthly things are made eternal. Because He who descended from Heaven was born also of the water is lifted up and by believing in Him we have eternal life.