John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, “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.’”
Back when we were reading about baptism, we wondered whether Jesus was refering to baptism when he said, “unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” But reading his words again in this context, it seems that Jesus is contrasting being born of water with being born of water and the Spirit. Being born of water is being born a part of God’s creation. (Always interesting to try to imagine floating in fluid, every day becoming more and more aware of sounds and sensations reaching us from outside the womb, followed by the active process of birth!) But when we receive the Holy Spirit as a follower of Christ, our lives and our futures are changed forever. Water brings us safely into our earthly existence, but the Holy Spirit allows us to be born again into God’s eternal presence.
Holy Lord, I am thankful for every part of my life. My mother gave birth to me nearly 65 years ago in a small hospital in a small town. My parents made sure I knew you by bringing me to church. Somewhere in my childhood your Holy Spirit (heard my prayers?) came to me, and you have never left. I was born of water, but born again of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Becky, transforming
Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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.’
Jesus was talking about the fact that Nicodemus was spiritually dead and he needed a spiritual birth from God. Obviously Nicodemus did have a physical birth. Now he needed a spiritual birth. That is the meaning of “born again.” Every man and woman comes into this life physically born. But God warns us that even though we are…
John 3:5-7
Jesus’ late night conversation with Nicodemus is the first Scriptural explanation of the new birth we undergo when we enter into faith in Christ. He was at first incredulous, but came to believe in Jesus. To this very day, the new birth in water and Spirit is misunderstood or flatly rejected by many. It is our task as faithful Christians to convey via our words and actions what New Birth in water and Spirit means in our lives so that others can take the step that Nicodemus took toward salvation.
Prayer - God in Heaven, while I have no specific recollection of my baptism, I give thanks for my parents who thought enough of my spiritual formation and…