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.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (vv.1-3)
Here in chapter 3 a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews came to Jesus at night in order to speak with Him (vv.1-2). Perhaps Nicodemus came by night because he was timid, or perhaps he wanted an uninterrupted interview with Jesus. Nevertheless, his conversation began with, “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.” In using the pronoun "we" it is difficult to know if Nicodemus spoke of himself, of the Sanhedrin, or of popular opinion. But one thing is sure, Nicodemus believe Jesus was "a teacher come from God" (v.2).
Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus shattered the Jewish assumption that their racial identity – their old birth – assured them a place in God’s Kingdom. Jesus made it plain that a man’s first birth does not assure him of the kingdom (v.3); only being born again gives this assurance. The ancient Greek word translated again (anothen) can be also translated “from above.” This is the sense in which John used this word in John 3:31 and in John 19:11 and 19:23. Either way, the meaning is essentially the same. To be born from above is to be born again.
Jesus clearly said that without this – that unless one is born again – he cannot enter or be part of the kingdom of God. Moral or religious reform isn’t enough. One must be born again. This isn’t something that we can do to ourselves. If Jesus had said, “Unless you are washed, you cannot see the kingdom of God” then we might think, “I can wash myself.” A man might wash himself; but he could never birth himself.
Nicodemus then 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?" (v.4) Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, 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.’ The wind 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" (vv.5-8).
Jesus was emphatic in saying that man does not need reformation, but a radical conversion by the Spirit of God. We must be born of water and the Spirit. Born of water I believe refers to our physical birth, since we come forth from a sack of water. This idea does make a good parallel with the idea of that which is born of the flesh (is flesh) in John 3:6. Born of the Spirit refers to a radical conversion by the Spirit of God. We must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
Scripture tells us that, "Man is dead in his trespasses and sin" and that the only way to Life is through the Son.
The Truth: "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God."(John 1:13)
