Daily Bread 2011 - John 3
Daily Bread 2011 – John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
What Does This Mean?
Unlike the other gospels, John records several encounters with various people over the next several chapters that reveal John’s more theological gospel. In this chapter, we see Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, a Pharisee (or religious teacher in the Jewish faith). He came to Jesus at night, perhaps because he did not want to be associated with Jesus during the day and be noticed.
Nicodemus is focused on the signs (John’s term for miracles) that Jesus is doing, and Jesus tells him that you can’t understand the meaning of these signs, unless you are born again. Nicodemus, thinking on a physical level, is confused. But then Jesus explains to him that being born again (lit. born from above Gk. “anothen”) is a work of the Spirit. The Spirit does the work of us being born again, or born from above. Meaning it is God’s work.
Although it is not clear in this passage if Nicodemus receives Jesus’ teaching, later at the resurrection he assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial. He was venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and tradition has it he was martyred.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes the word “born again” is used pejoratively in circles today. Yet, we see it is a key aspect of biblical revelation and theology. Key to this understanding is that we are “born again” or “born from above” by the Holy Spirit. While God and the Spirit are clearly part of our natural birth, they are clearly responsible for our spiritual birth as well.
As God comes to us in His Word/Gospel (Preaching/Teaching) and Sacrament (Baptism) we are born again or born of the Spirit. This makes us children of God. It is this same Spirit that leads us every day of our lives and raises us from the dead someday when we die. That is why the eternal kind of life begins as we come to faith and are baptized. For we are immersed with everything God is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We don’t need to be afraid of the word being “born again” as it is the very essence of our salvation and coming to Christ and new life in Him.
Heavenly Father we thank you that you so loved the world (the verses that come right after this..) that you gave us Your only Son, and through our faith in Him through the power of the Spirit, we can become born again and members of Your Holy Family ! Amen.
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
What Does This Mean?
Unlike the other gospels, John records several encounters with various people over the next several chapters that reveal John’s more theological gospel. In this chapter, we see Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, a Pharisee (or religious teacher in the Jewish faith). He came to Jesus at night, perhaps because he did not want to be associated with Jesus during the day and be noticed.
Nicodemus is focused on the signs (John’s term for miracles) that Jesus is doing, and Jesus tells him that you can’t understand the meaning of these signs, unless you are born again. Nicodemus, thinking on a physical level, is confused. But then Jesus explains to him that being born again (lit. born from above Gk. “anothen”) is a work of the Spirit. The Spirit does the work of us being born again, or born from above. Meaning it is God’s work.
Although it is not clear in this passage if Nicodemus receives Jesus’ teaching, later at the resurrection he assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial. He was venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and tradition has it he was martyred.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes the word “born again” is used pejoratively in circles today. Yet, we see it is a key aspect of biblical revelation and theology. Key to this understanding is that we are “born again” or “born from above” by the Holy Spirit. While God and the Spirit are clearly part of our natural birth, they are clearly responsible for our spiritual birth as well.
As God comes to us in His Word/Gospel (Preaching/Teaching) and Sacrament (Baptism) we are born again or born of the Spirit. This makes us children of God. It is this same Spirit that leads us every day of our lives and raises us from the dead someday when we die. That is why the eternal kind of life begins as we come to faith and are baptized. For we are immersed with everything God is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We don’t need to be afraid of the word being “born again” as it is the very essence of our salvation and coming to Christ and new life in Him.
Heavenly Father we thank you that you so loved the world (the verses that come right after this..) that you gave us Your only Son, and through our faith in Him through the power of the Spirit, we can become born again and members of Your Holy Family ! Amen.
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