Water and the Spirit

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, ia ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, lwe 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. 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.” (John 3:1-8 ESV).

 

Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus is very important for us to understand. The meaning of His direction of our need to be “born of water and the Spirit” to enter the kingdom of God is essential. He is not saying that it is essential to be baptized with water to be counted among God’s people. God has shown that he saves people apart from water baptism. But God uses water baptism to engage with us and to communicate his grace, so that is the usual practice in the church today.

 

At this point we do well to keep in mind the example of the criminal who was crucified along with Jesus. This man saw who Jesus was, and he asked to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom. And Jesus told him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Clearly, he was not baptized with water. In John 3, I think Jesus is echoing prophets like Ezekiel, who spoke about water as a symbol of cleansing from sin, and about the Spirit of God, who comes to fill us and renew our hearts (cf. Ezekiel 36:24-27). That symbolism is picked up by John and Jesus in their practice of baptism.

 

The key is the baptism of the Spirit which takes place post-Pentecost when the Holy spirit calls and quickens our spirit. It is that moment when we are born again. Baptism is a wonderful expression of that transformation, but it is not an essential part of the process. God does all we need to be born again. Thanks be to God!