Born From Above

John 3:1-14 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

* Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7.

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and of course a Jew.  Although it is not discussed, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night likely because of fear of the rest of his colleagues, who would not approve of his relationship with Jesus.

What I like about Nicodemus is that he sought Jesus out.  He came by night, and it’s interesting that further on Jesus talks about darkness, but still he came straight to Jesus to talk to Him, rather than send others as the Pharisees did. 

"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

Nicodemus had heard about the miracles Jesus had done and believed Him because of them.  Jesus answered his statement with a comment:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

Jesus must have known his heart, and that Nicodemus wanted to know how to get to heaven.   I love how God cuts to the chase with us—He knows what we need and how to give it to us.

Unless you are born from above, Nicodemus, you cannot see the kingdom of heaven.  “What does that mean?  How is that even possible?”  Then Jesus explains: “you have to be born both of water, and of the Spirit.”  When a woman is about to give birth, the water sac holding the baby breaks.  So a child is “born of water.”  In Spiritual rebirth, Jesus comes to enter a heart as Spirit.  Is it confusing? 

We certainly can’t understand the logistics—there must be scientific parameters within which to understand this, right?  Maybe…or maybe this is one of those things we don’t understand, we just accept “by Faith.”  Nicodemus didn’t get it either, apparently.  Maybe Jesus looked at him and saw the confused look on his face, because He explains further—

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.'  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 

Jesus may have been referring to the passage in Ezekiel where God promises to make alive those dry bones found in the valley.  A.R. Faucett notes that “the valley” mentioned is probably in Mesopotamia, where Israel ended up after rebelling against God.  God tells Ezekiel: Prophesy to the wind (ruakh—breath.)

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

The wind here is the breath of God or Spirit of God—“breathe on these slain that they may live.” 

God promises to breathe on His people and make them alive again—make them truly His.  Other prophecies about this are found in Jeremiah and other Old-Testament books.  Verse 14 states:

And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD. 

Jesus reminded Nicodemus that He would put His Spirit within His people.  They would be Spiritually reborn.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

You can’t grasp the Spiritual Kingdom of God unless you have the same Spirit in you. 

I can travel to Mexico and use my (really bad!) Spanish to talk to people there, but it’s going to be evident pretty quickly that I’m not Mexican.  I don’t look it and I don’t talk like it, neither am I familiar with the culture or traditions.  Now, I’ve taken some college classes about Mexican culture and had a couple of semesters of Spanish, but that doesn’t make me Mexican.  Even if I moved there, I wouldn’t be Mexican.  But a friend of mine, Marissa, is Mexican.  She was born there.  She is very aware of the differing traditions and holidays that occur throughout the year, the phrases that connote deeper meaning in the language, the look of people from differing regions there.  


I have friends who don't really understand why I go to church or get involved in ministry.  They don't get it because they aren't spiritually alive.  We who are born into the Kingdom have an understanding of spiritual things.

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Jesus is plainly telling Nicodemus who He is.  He came from heaven.  He's God.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Jesus would be “lifted up” on the cross, allowing for healing from death, even as the children of Israel were healed from the venomous snake bites they had received when they looked upon the brass serpent.  Brass is a type of sin, and like that brass serpent on the staff, the sins of man are placed on Jesus on the cross. 

…that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Nicodemus became a disciple, we know this because he would defend Jesus to the Sanhedrin and later help Joseph of Arimathea to embalm Jesus’ body (See John 7 and 19.)  Church tradition tells us that Nicodemus was martyred for his faith sometime during the first century A.D.

You must be born again.  Are you?  Are you waiting for a “logical” explanation of spiritual things?  Are you searching for God in the spiritual realm, looking for the answers but lost in them?  How often people try to pigeonhole Christianity!  But it’s not something that can be understood apart from being reborn.

You must be born again.  Being spiritual has nothing to do with physically handling spiritual things.  Having a big Bible won’t save you, or wearing a big cross around your neck.  Neither will going to church, even if you went every time the doors were open.  Mike Warnicki used to say “going to church won’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s will make you a cheeseburger.”  It’s all about the Spirit. 

Sometimes we doubt if we are saved.  Maybe our behaviors make us wonder if we’re really His.  It can be confusing when you don’t know what makes you “saved” or not. 

There are two questions I would ask you:

1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you knew for certain that you have eternal life?

2.  If you were to die tonight and you stood before God, and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?”  What would you say?

Send me an email with those answers and I’ll help you figure it out.  

donnalcologna@gmail.com

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your plan to save us!  Lord, sometimes I think about how You saved me, and I am overwhelmed with love and appreciation for You, for the goodness You showed toward me. 

Thank you for allowing me to know You.

Love,

Donna