Life Source - Week 2 - Day 1 ** John 3

Read John 3. 

One of the unique features in the gospel written by John is the writer's emphasis on the discourses of Jesus.  The other 3 gospels focus on the events in Jesus' earthly life.  In John, we get these incredible teachings, these discourses from Jesus.  There are 10 of them throughout the book.  In chapter 3, we find the first one.  Discourse #1 is about the "new birth". 

Do you think you would like Nicodemus or not?  I think I would have liked him.  He was smart, respected (a member of the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin) and willing to seek answers for puzzling questions.  I'm not sure the fact that the visit was as night is significant.  Perhaps it did mean he was coming in secret ... but it could also mean that he was coming at the end of his work day.  We don't know.  What we do know is that he came.  And he came because he had seen and heard about the miraculous signs that Jesus was performing.  So the puzzling question?  Who in the world are you? 

Did you notice that Jesus did not answer the question?  He gave this man what he needed ... not what he wanted.  I need to remember that.  Sometimes I don't even know my needs ... I just know my wants.  Can you relate?  That's where trust comes in ... trusting that my God knows my needs.  What follows is the discourse on new birth.  The law of reproduction says, "like reproduces like".  That is why a flesh birth cannot give us what we need.  Our need is for a spirit birth.  And that cannot be done by flesh, by man and woman. 

Jesus says that rebirth is by "water and spirit" (verse 5).  Commentators tell us that this is an unusual expression.  I find the 3 primary interpretations quite interesting ...

1.  "Born of water" it is a backward look to the baptism of John by water.  John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, concerned with purifying.  If that is the water reference, then Jesus sets the two baptisms in contrast.  "Born of spirit" would be the new life from above, from God.

2.  "Water" may be connected with procreation.  From Leon Morris:

This conception is quite foreign to us and we find it difficult at first to make sense of it.  But ... terms like "water", "rain", "dew", and "drop" are often used of the male semen.  If "water" has this meaning here there are two possibilities.  Being born "of water" may point to natural birth, which must then be followed by being born "of the Spirit", i.e. spiritual regeneration.  Or better, we may take "water" and "Spirit" closely together to give a meaning like "spiritual seed".  In this case being born "of water and the Spirit" will not differ greatly from being born "of the Spirit".  

3.  "Water" may refer to Christian baptism.  Remember John is writing around 60 years after the church has been established and the reference would create a natural association.  The only negative to this interpretation is that Nicodemus could not possibly have understood that allusion. 

What we can know for certain ... new birth ... required!  This new birth is from the Spirit.  And water plays a part.  Have you been?  Born from the Spirit?  God's "seed" in you?  If not, why not?  If you are not sure, send me a note (gailm@bammel.org) and let's talk! 

The dearly loved John 3:16 is in the context of this discourse on new birth.  To the Jewish mind, God loving the "world" was a new idea.  The idea of God loving Israel was certainly not new ... but the "world"?  Salvation - regeneration - rebirth - life ... all come from God, out of love, for all, through the "one and only" Jesus.  Our response?  Worship ...

Heavenly Father, great is Your love for the world, far beyond all comprehension.  Great is Your love, even for us, those who have sinned against You, who have lived as Your enemies.  Great is Your love, so great that You sent Your beloved Son to die so that we who believe in Him might live forever with you.  So great is Your love, lavished upon us, that we may be called Your children.  So great is Your love that nothing in all creation can take it away from us.  "Amazing love!  How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"