Scripture Reference: John 3:1-18
The Conversation With Jesus (John 3:2-15) – Continued
Jesus introduced His answer to Nicodemus with the words “Most assuredly” (verses 3, 5, 11). “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 did Jesus mean by “born of water”? Some see it as baptismal regeneration. Others see it, along with “Spirit,” as spiritual cleansing. But it is so very important to interpret the Word of God in the context with which it is given. The problem here then is the difference between natural and spiritual births, for that is what Jesus is comparing for Nicodemus.
Everyone familiar with the natural birth knows that it is accompanied by water. Obviously, the spiritual birth is accompanied by the Holy Spirit. Thus Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the difference between the two: “born of the flesh is flesh,” and “born of the Spirit is spirit.” So, actually verse 5 is like the meat and cheese between two slices of bread used to make one sandwich. Verses 4 and 6 are analogous to the bread.
By the fleshly birth, a person is born into a natural, family with natural relationships and responsibilities. One born of the Spirit is born into a spiritual family with spiritual relationships and responsibilities. Therefore inn verse 7, when Jesus states “do not marvel” the word marvel renders a verb meaning “to wonder without understanding.” So, literally, Jesus said, “Stop wondering without understanding that I said, It is morally and spiritually necessary for you to be born again [from above].”
Nicodemus’s problem was that he was reaching out for understanding rather than faith. If we understand something, it is not through faith. There is nothing wrong with understanding for it is important in its own right, but without faith, all our knowledge and understanding mean nothing in eternity.
Jesus often taught from spur-of-the-moment events. It is possible that at that very moment a breeze began to rustle the leaves of a nearby tree or blowing on curtains on the roof. In effect, Jesus said, “Do you hear that, Nicodemus? That movement of the leaves and the curtain is caused by a breeze. Do you see the breeze? Or do you understand it?” Of course, neither was true. Nicodemus knew the breeze was there only by the effect of its power and presence.
I read the following in one of my older hard-cover commentaries:
The ancients formed their language out of experience. They experienced an invisible force in nature, either a gentle breeze or a tornado. They called it pneuma. They recognized an invisible force (breath) in humans and animals. They also called it pneuma. Likewise, they saw a power in human religious experience, and they called it pneuma. Thus, depending upon the context, pneuma may mean any of these: wind, breath, or spirit.
So, most likely, Jesus chose this following example to try leading Nicodemus to comprehend the spiritual birth, the birth from above. “The wind [pneuma] blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit [pneuma].” G. Campbell Morgan suggested that this may well read literally, “The Spirit works as He wills.” We do not see the wind. But we accept it because we see its results. In like manner, we do not see the Holy Spirit. But we see the results of His work. We may well think of the Holy Spirit as the attending physician as each soul is born into the kingdom of God.
However, Nicodemus was so ingrained to the natural that he still didn’t comprehend the spiritual. So he asked, “How can these things be?” If he, a recognized and honored teacher, did not understand the figure of the wind, how could he grasp the deeper things of the Spirit?
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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