The Testimony of Birth

Introduction

There are few things that rival the birth of a child. It doesn’t even have to be your own child. When people we know and love have a child we share in their joy. The birth of a child brings a sense of a new beginning. New opportunities abound. We think of possibilities and wonder as we hold that baby what lies ahead for such a small defenseless one. The baby comes into this world through the initiation of parents. The baby cannot conceive himself; the baby is at the mercy of parents. Only parents can conceive and bring life into this world. In many ways, the child reflects the parent. No one looks at a baby and thinks “I wonder how he got here?” We know that two people came together and brought life into this world.

In our text, Nicodemus comes to Jesus seeking understanding about who he is and what his mission is about. Jesus will speak to him of birth. But just as a physical birth doesn’t happen on its own, so Jesus speaks of a spiritual birth which doesn’t happen on its own. Nicodemus is presented in John’s gospel as the first of many who come to Jesus to confront their faith. We have had those who have rejected the testimony of another about Jesus—the religious leaders rejected John’s testimony. We have had some who accepted John’s testimony—the disciples. But now we have an individual who meets Jesus and a decision is called for. He must decide what he will do with Jesus. And so must we.

Familiar texts are more difficult to preach. You already know the story, but I remind myself that each generation needs to hear the story again. So for some it will be an old story and you might be tempted to tune me out. But before you tune me out, let me suggest to you that this story and its application can provide an opportunity for you to deepen your faith as we once again explore what Jesus means by a new birth. For those who have not heard this story, this is another piece of evidence for you to consider. Nicodemus does not stand alone. By his own words, he represents others who are struggling to make sense of Jesus. Maybe you are struggling to make sense of him too. Perhaps our study time will help you to decide.

Seeking Answers

Nicodemus is a member of the ruling council of the Jews. He is among the most respected in Jewish tradition and custom. He has seen Jesus’ miracles. He knows there is something special about Jesus and so he comes to speak to him. John will use the fact that Nicodemus comes at night as a way of highlighting the light that Jesus is in contrast to the darkness.

Nicodemus approaches Jesus with a respect rarely reserved for someone as young as Jesus. Calling him “Rabbi,” a title of respect, Nicodemus wants to engage Jesus in a bit of conversation. But as John has already told us Jesus knows the hearts of men and so he cuts to the chase. Jesus speaks of the need to be born again or born from above in order to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus takes Jesus literally. It isn’t possible to experience natural birth again. So Jesus uses the same phrasing but different words. One must be born of the water and the spirit.

Such language reflects a couple of passages from the Old Testament—Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Isaiah 44:3-5. Both of these texts speak of God initiating changes in the hearts of people. Both of these texts speak of water and the spirit. Jesus is speaking of a spiritual transformation which must take place. It isn’t a physical birth which makes one a child of God. It is a spiritual birth. God must do something. Nicodemus’ inability to grasp this spiritual concept results in Jesus’ rebuke. Jesus compares himself to an event in Israel’s past.

In Numbers 21, Israel is judged through the presence of poisonous snakes. Salvation came through the lifting up of a bronze serpent. When bitten, the person would look up to this bronze serpent and he would live. But the analogy isn’t just look to Jesus and you will live. It isn’t just being lifted up as a reference to his death that Jesus has in mind. Those who look to the lifted up Son of Man must believe in order to have eternal life. Faith demands recognition that the one who is lifted up is the only who can save. To be lifted up is to be exalted. Jesus’ comparison is not to the bronze serpent but to the lifting up. The spiritual rebirth means that we exalt Jesus.

Spiritual Birth

The phrase “water and the Spirit” is an interesting phrase. What did Jesus have in mind when he spoke these words? First of all, let’s recognize that Jesus’ overall point is that a spiritual birth must take place in order for one to see the kingdom of God. In 1:12-13, John has already demonstrated that it is God alone who allows us to be his children. He gives us the right to be his children through his grace by our faith. So how does one experience such a birth? We have John’s testimony in 1:33 that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John, the author of this gospel, is a master at using words that will have double meanings. Such is the case here.

What Nicodemus understood and what others reading this account generations later are similar yet different because of the fuller meaning given after Jesus’ death. Nicodemus heard the words water and spirit and should have put together Ezekiel and Isaiah to understand that Jesus is speaking of a spiritual rebirth. But every generation after that got the point but have been able to understand a fuller meaning based upon the practice and scriptures. This rebirth would have included immersion in water and the giving of the Holy Spirit as seen in Acts 2.

But it isn’t just the physical act of being immersed that saves. Some go through the physical act of immersion believing that a spiritual birth is taking place. But John makes it clear that such is not the case. Look at verse 8. Jesus compares the wind and the Spirit. The wind blows but we don’t know where it comes from and we don’t know where it goes but we see its effect. The Spirit comes. We don’t see him but we see his effect. Paul has the same idea in Titus 3:5 in which he says we have been saved through the washing of rebirth and the giving of the Spirit.

More than a physical act of immersion, to be reborn means that we must also be touched by God’s Spirit. We don’t see him, but we see his effects. How does this work? To be spiritually reborn is to exalt Jesus. In John 16:14, Jesus says the Spirit glorifies him. Part of the Spirit’s work is to exalt Jesus. Spiritual rebirth means that we look at the lifted up Christ and by the help of the Spirit we exalt him and him alone.

What does that look like? We spend less time worrying about what others think of us and our faith and more time making sure that people see Jesus. We spend less time trying to maintain and keep an exalted role in this world and spend more time using our role to point to Jesus. We spend less time focusing on self and more time exalting Jesus. To be reborn as Ezekiel and Isaiah point out means that we have a new heart that only God can give. God does the work to change our heart and we cooperate with God and His Spirit to keep our heart set on him. In order to see the kingdom we must be born from above. We must be born of water and the Spirit.

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