One man, Nicodemus, who had seen the Lord Jesus, wanted to learn more. He seemed to fear to talk with Him when the men who were against the Lord Jesus would hear, so he came to where Jesus was at night. This man was a master, or teacher, and a ruler. He was in charge over the people and so a wise and well-known person.
He believed Jesus had power from God, but did not know Him as the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus’ words to him that night were written that all since may learn, too.
Jesus told him everyone must have new life to be in God’s kingdom, or holy rule. The man had natural life, the same as we, but Jesus said he must be “born again,” “of water and of the Spirit.” The man knew better than we do what was meant by that “water.” He knew about the many washings listed in their laws, to make them fit to honor God.
The Water of the Word
Yet those washings only cleanse them outwardly and for a time, and make them know all must be pure for God. Water itself could not clear the heart of sins; but their scriptures, which we also have, taught that God’s words were the “water” to clean the heart.
One psalm (Psalm 119) taught much of God’s words. This man would have known that from his youth, for it was their lesson book with a verse for each letter of their alphabet. In that Psalm a young man was told to “take heed” (to pay attention to and believe) “according to Thy Word” (Psa. 119:99BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)).
The same Psalm also told that God’s words “quicken,” which means give life: “Quicken Thou me according to Thy Word”; “Thy Word hath quickened me” (v. 25, 50).
The Role of the Spirit of God
Water cannot help us unless we use or take it ourselves; so every boy, girl, man, or woman must “take,” or believe God’s words in the heart. This causes each to repent of his own sins, that he may be given God’s Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus told of the Spirit in words easy for us to understand. He said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth (pleases), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
No one can see the wind or air, but all feel its motion, and power, and know it is here. In a similar way we cannot see the Spirit from God, but His action is real for all who believe God’s words, giving them a new life.
Our natural life is a wonder to us; how much greater wonder the new life given of the Spirit from God. We can only believe Him and all His words and so learn more of Him.
Further Meditation:
1. Why was the Spirit of God compared to the wind?
2. Where else in scripture is “water” used as a symbol for the Word of God?
3. New Birth, Eternal Life, Quickening, Sealing, Salvation, the Old Man and the Old Nature by A. C. Brown gives a brief introduction to some of these themes that are discussed in this chapter.