Birth And Re-Birth

In the days of the New Testament there were three levels of teacher in the Jewish community, the ḥâḵâm, the sôpçr and the ḥazzân. These levels were obtained not on the basis of academics but on the basis of morality in the person’s life. Nicodemus is thought to be of the highest order because of his title ruler of the Jews. Therefore he must have been a very moral man.

He comes to Jesus by night. Many commentators believe this was because he feared his fellow Jews and did not want to be seen communicating with Christ. This may be true but there were witnesses present, one being John the writer of this account. We also know from other scripture that Nicodemus had no trouble standing up for Christ in John 7:4 and he stepped forward to claim the body of Christ when all of the disciples had fled the scene. I would be more inclined to believe Nicodemus came at night in order to have a personal private audience with Christ, something that would have been nearly impossible to accomplish during the day when Christ was ministering to the following throngs.

What was his reason for coming? Scripture does not tell us. When George C. Stebbins penned the words to “Ye Must Be Born Again” he made beautiful poetry but unfortunately it is inaccurate from a scriptural standpoint. Nicodemus never asks Christ the “way of salvation and light” nor does scripture say or even imply that was his intent for coming. In fact we can gather, from the dialogue which follows, that Nicodemus thought he knew the way of salvation and light and was well secured in it.

He begins with a statement. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:” By making this statement Nicodemus shows that he believes he and the other Jewish rulers have a place of authority in the kingdom of God. “We know” implies that the Jewish rulers are in position to determine what is and is not of God. He also states that the proof of Christ’s being from God is seen on the physical level, “no one can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

Christ corrects him on both points first He says. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Being a member of God’s kingdom is not a result of physical birth which Nicodemus mistakenly believed, it is a result of “re-birth”. The Word of God often causes us to reevaluate misconceptions that we have accepted as truth for our entire lives. Such was the case for Nicodemus. Since a child he had been taught that the being born a Jew gave him the special birthright of being a member of God’s chosen people. Suddenly he is confronted by the Word of God and told that his physical birth into the nation of Israel is not enough. Another birth is required.

His reaction was the same as many who are told the truth after a lifetime of believing a lie, incredulous disbelief and a somewhat sarcastic reply. “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

Nicodemus had it all wrong. His entire life had to be rethought. So the Great Teacher, the Creator of the universe takes him back to the beginning to explain the necessity for rebirth. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Remember Genesis? There were two elements present at the time of Creation, the physical created element which was seen in the water and the spiritual Creator who was manifested in the Spirit. Genesis 1:1-2 1 In the beginning of God’s preparing the heavens and the earth— 2the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness is on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters. (Young’s literal translation.) God formed man of the physical and breathed into him His Spirit and Adam not only became a living soul he also became a part of God’s Kingdom enjoying the pleasure of God’s fellowship and eating of the tree of life. Then Adam sinned and the spiritual part of Him died. He was cast out of the garden and lost fellowship with his Creator.

Man still is a created being but our first physical birth, whether to the house of Israel, Christian parents, or a certain denomination of the church does not insure entrance into the kingdom of God. Only the one who is born again of the Spirit will enjoy renewed fellowship with God and gain access to the tree of life. And no, Nicodemus, it is not up to you to enter the second time into your mother’s womb to be born. Just as in the beginning, it is up to the Spirit. Like the wind, the Spirit goes under God’s direction. He touches God’s children and they hear His voice and even though they cannot see where He came from or where He goes they know the line of communication with God has been restored and they are born of the Spirit.