John 3:1-17
In first grade on a summer’s day in Ravenna, NE I remember reciting John 3:16. I remember being pressured to give myself to Jesus, to become “born again,” or else! Since then my thinking about God, scripture, and religion has drastically changed. Has yours? It’s all about good questions like the debate between Jesus and Nicodemus. (Sprinkled with John’s thoughts put into Jesus’s mouth.)
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. [Greek can mean “from above”]”“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 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 (plural) must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (Can mean: “wind.” Probably a play on words.)”“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. [Greek: instead of Son of Man can be translated as “Man who is in heaven.”] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [or exalted] that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [Greek has no quotations so it could be quoting Jesus through verse 21.] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save (heal or make whole) the world through him.” John 3:1-17 (NIV)
One of the things I love about this passage is that it gives a taste of how they talked about religious ideas. The first person would make an outlandish statement. The next person responds with an equally extreme or opposite understanding. It goes back and forth until they arrive in the middle where Truth often resides. The full debate didn’t make it into John’s Gospel. Instead John jumps to the conclusion.
The other thing is the bit about being born again as a metaphor. It’s earthy and relatable. Before there were hospitals people gave birth in their homes and communities, and everyone could hear about it. People knew firsthand how the water breaks right before birth. And if all goes well the baby will take its first spirit (wind or breath). So literally we are born of the water and spirit. But Jesus takes this as a metaphor for something deeper. It’s not enough to breathe. We need more than simply existing. We need a connection to the Spirit beyond ourselves—greater meaning and purpose with excitement. Being “born again” should not be some test for salvation, but an invitation to grow into God’s community of faith becoming more.
Questions for Reflection:
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What has changed for you? What do you now question? What’s your new solution?
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Does your healing, wholeness, health, life eternal or eternal life (the meanings in Greek for the word for salvation) come from your having to believe? Why or why not?
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Do you find comfort in knowing God believes in you whether or not your state of mind believes in God?
Prayer
Lord God, let your Spirit breathe within us. Give us a vision of your grace filled parenting that will not give up on us when we give up on you. Let the gift of trust in you enliven us for healing, wholeness, and beyond. Amen.
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