9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
What the Lord is Saying: As I have been looking at this passage, what has stood out is the Work of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirt, in awakening people to regeneration. We do not see this with our eyes. We only see the outcome of this in what a person says and acts. The Spirit is also likened to the blowing (invisible) wind.
Message: Mysterious Regeneration
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: As I have been looking at this passage, what has stood out is the Work of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirt, in awakening people to regeneration. We do not see this with our eyes. We only see the outcome of this in what a person says and acts. The Spirit is also likened to the blowing (invisible) wind.
Some churches teach baptismal regeneration or that baptism is needed for salvation. But if the Spirit's work is invisible, how can we say that the personal act of baptism will regenerate a person? Baptism seems to be more a picture of the cleansing and renewal that occur in regeneration. It is necessary, but I don't think it is salvific. But let me study more.
Going back to verse 5, what does it mean when Jesus says, "I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit?" In verse 9, Nicodemus asks, "How can these things be?" Verses 5 - 8 are recorded within quotes and as one complete quote and thought by Jesus. It starts with verse 5 and then also includes mentioning the contrast of water/Spirit and born of flesh, but most of the discourse of these verses is regarding the Spirit. And yet, with Nicodemus response of "How can these things be?" we wonder if he is also mentioning the idea of being 'born of water' in verse 5. As such, the challenge here is to determine what meaning was trying to be conveyed by Jesus here.
[Note: Looking now at commentaries.] John has already been mentioned and so baptism seems to already be apparent. In the Tabletalk reading of today, the writer mentions that Christian baptism has not been instituted yet. That statement seems odd but maybe 'John the Baptist baptism' and 'Christian baptism' are different. And yet John made the statement that while he baptized with water, Jesus would come and baptize with the Spirit (John 1:26, 1:33). And so this must have been in the mind of Nicodemus when he said, "How can these things be?"
Perhaps what is occurring is a combination now: water and Spirit. Jesus is recorded as saying in Mark 16:16, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." I think some have argued that since Jesus stated condemnation does not include baptism that somehow baptism is important for salvation. Not sure about that. It seems clear as I have discussed that the heart must be changed by the Spirit.
Ezekiel 26:25-27 is an interesting set of verses running parallel to this:
25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
This is a great set of verses and has become one of my favorites since seeing the movie, "The Case for Christ" when I first realized verse 26 as it was a verse the wife was encouraged to pray over her husband, Lee Strobel, for his salvation. And it is a verse I have since echoed often for my youngest son.
It is a fascinating set of verses declared by the Lord (as stated in verse 16). He says that after giving his wrath to them, in coming out of the land, he declares his name above the nations by saving and setting apart these people. He saves people. Why? To make His name great (v. 23). It speaks of being sprinkled which introduces another idea in the water baptism realm. But with the clean water the person is clean. The Lord will give a new heart and put a new spirit in them. And put His Spirit in them and cause them to walk in His statutes and they will carefully observe ordinances. Some may say this was only meant for Israel at this one time, but that seems odd to say that for God to act differently from one people group to another.
Numbers 19:19-20 is another interesting verse because it shows similar words of washing that was needed by the Jews, and thus needed to be clean, to even appear before God in the tabernacle or temple: 19 Then the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify him from uncleanness, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and shall be clean by evening. 20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.
Yet, Matthew Poole in his commentary writes this, "Thus our Saviour plainly instructs Nicodemus of the absolute necessity of an inward spiritual change and renovation, thereby showing the inefficacy of all the legal washings and sprinklings, that could not purify and make white one soul, which were of high valuation among the Jews."
It is puzzling, was the water symbolic or supposed to be used towards salvation? It is crazy, but I continue to study these passages and continue to walk away unsure. One thing I know of is I can't go wrong being baptized. Both Ezekiel and Numbers speak of water to clean, but perhaps that was necessary at that time to appear before God, but now through Christ, he makes us clean. And yet does he involved water and sprinkling, bathing and so baptism?
I return back to John 3:9-10. One thing I notice again is Jesus has explained the meaning in verse 5-8 of being born again and yet in verse 9, Nicodemus states, "Huh?" Most would say Nicodemus is a natural man, bent on good deeds salvation, and so doesn't understand. Possibly. Maybe the Spirit needs to awaken in him the understanding and before that happens he doesn't understand.
In verse 10, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus and wonders of the one that teaches, or of Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel and yet he does not understand. Jesus speaks with authority. Interesting that the word teacher that Jesus uses is the same word for teacher that Nicodemus used toward Jesus (didaskalos).
It must have been a sobering moment for Nicodemus. And maybe a reminder that even the teacher needs to be taught and has much to learn.
Summary: Even to the Jewish leader and teacher, the things of truth can be mysterious.
Promise: The Spirit in us is how we understand God and truth.
Prayer: God, you know me. I continue to bounce back and forth on this subject of baptism. I can't find the comfort of knowing what is the requirement. Did you intend it mainly as a picture of the change that occurs, to show my cleansing while also believing in the need for me to be baptized and walk in the path that You and John walked? This is where I reside at the moment. And yet I hear so many others state variances to this and I struggle with it. I wish at times people were more understanding and everyone wasn't so dogmatic. Maybe my analyzing struggles to conclude an answer. Maybe I am too agreeable when people are so stern in their convictions. I am not sure, but I do see it is important. Thanks for these lessons and continuing to take me on the past of understanding.
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