New Birth

Truly I tell you

(NRSV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Very truly is translated basically amen, amen. Have you been in a conversation with someone and you are telling them something so unbelievable that you have to reassure them that you are telling them the truth, no matter how unbelievable it might seem?

This passage is embedded with this type of confirmation throughout. It is important that we understand this message. Notice that Nicodemus is a teacher of the Bible. Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. () He came to Jesus by night. Do you find this to be suspicious? There could be many reasons why Nicodemus might have chosen this time of day to visit with Jesus. Perhaps he wanted to come at a time when Jesus would not have been as troubled by his followers! Or perhaps Nicodemus did not want anyone to see him approach Jesus! Notice that he comes to Jesus with some since of respect. He calls him Rabbi. (NRSV)

2 He came to Jesus by 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 do apart from the presence of God.” Nicodemus, by calling Jesus a Rabbi, gives him honor. It also shows that he expected to learn from his visit. Notice that he also gives him credit for having God on his side, because without God he could do none of these things. Ask yourself, what was Nicodemus hoping to learn? Something not quite so obvious is that Nicodemus is visiting Jesus for more than himself. Notice the we in verse two. We know.

Ask yourself, when did Nicodemus ask Jesus about the Kingdom? Nicodemus gives Jesus credit for being a teacher and Jesus knows what Nicodemus and his band of brothers wants to know. Is Jesus telling Nicodemus that he and his band of brothers cannot see the things above? Nicodemus and those who follow him, are so caught up in the physical world that they cannot see the things from above. So is there more to see? Notice the response from Nicodemus. (NRSV)

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” So now think about water and spirit. Also think about the first miracle performed by Jesus at a wedding in Cana. (NRSV)

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. If you go back a chapter and read about what Jesus did at that wedding as he turned water into wine, we read about a miracle. We can all say amen to that miracle can we not? If you look into the miracle you can find more understanding. These jars that were used were for ceremonial cleansing. To be made ready. You see this is a symbolic happening. Jesus takes jars used for ceremonial cleansing, jars used over and over, to make wine. Are we not amazed every time we see someone transformed? Think about these jars, the head of the household would be surprised would he not when the servants brought him water from a cleansing jar and it is transformed into fine wine?

I would guess that the servants were ready to explain the situation, when to their surprise the water is good, not filthy, but fine wine. If we are going to be teachers of the kingdom, we must first of all be able to associate with the kingdom.

(NRSV)

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Jesus goes on to tell us, or Nicodemus, that we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen. In order to see these things we must be born into things of the kingdom realm. The physical things will only veil the things of the kingdom from us seeing them.

How do you think Nicodemus explained all this to his passe back at the Temple? But, isn’t there always a but? The testimonies of the disciples of Christ continually tell of the things that they had seen, yet the people would not believe.

(NRSV)

11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. It takes a person of great faith to believe in the things that we cannot see. (NRSV)

12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?