John 3: "You must be born again"

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’" (John 3:5-6)

The above words were spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, who having seen the signs that Jesus was performing, came to see him at night. 

Nicodemus wanted to know - or at least he thought he did.  We can never be entirely sure what conclusion Nicodemus eventually came to - for many followed Jesus and then fell away - but we see from the passage that he was curious, and we know from later events recorded by John that he was sufficiently moved by Jesus' teaching to publicly defend and aid him later on (John 7:50-51, 19:39).

But at first, at least in exchange we have recorded here, Nicodemus is blinded by his own worldview and experience. He is at first puzzled at Jesus' words because he takes them literally (“How can someone be born when they are old?...Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (v4)), but even after more explanation he declares: "How can this be!" (v9). Jesus is exasperated: "You are Israel's teacher...and you do not understand these things!" (v10). Nicodemus isn't getting what Jesus is trying to teach him.

Flesh gives birth to flesh. Flesh (grk: sarx) refers to the worldly realm, fallen and ruled by sin and death. We are born into sin. Being born into sin can mean many things - the selfish desires of our hearts, the immoral influences of world we are born into, or the actions in which we directly or indirectly partake that we cannot avoid, but that have impacts on others and on God's creation (unequal and environmentally degrading economic structures fall under this category). Flesh giving birth to flesh is a combination of all these things and maybe more - but the point is that we cannot save ourselves. No amount of good deeds, ritual purification, or discipline will change the fallen nature of the flesh. Even things that are good in themselves are not enough to save us.

Nicodemus was a teacher of the law. He was an expert. An expert (or so he thought) in teaching people the way to get right with God. He had enough humility to want to learn from others - perhaps he thought Jesus may have some new insights on applying the law - but I imagine that what he expected to learn was still within the confines of his worldview: salvation comes from following the law.

But Jesus says that anyone who wants to enter the Kingdom of Heaven must be 'born of water and the Spirit' (v5) - the water of repentance (reference to baptism), and new life breathed by the Holy Spirit. It is only in turning to God, the source of all life - rather than the dying world and our fallen bodies - that we can receive eternal life.

For someone who has invested a lot in looking for all the right things to do and the right rules to follow, this is a hard teaching. That was Nicodemus, but it may be us too. Are you still investing time in trying to get right with God by your own merits? That is a spiritual position from which it is hard to accept the free gift of grace.

But we do know that Nicodemus's heart was moved - with God all things are possible.

Prayer: Lord, reveal to us the ways in which we are still trying to trust in the flesh - in our own efforts, bodies, rules or religion. Help us to cast them aside and put all our trust in you, coming to you in repentance and humbly listening to you through your word and your Holy Spirit, as we await you coming in glory.