John 3:3-8
Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Within this passage rests a verse that has been at the heart of Evangelical Christianity in the twentieth century: “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” This phrase – “be born from above” can also be, and often has been, translated, “born anew” or “born again.” And it’s this particular translation – Jesus’ command that we must be born again – that became not simply the rallying cry but the defining identity of those Christians who emphasize our role and decision in salvation through accepting Jesus as our savior.
I have no particular interest in challenging at this point “born again” theology or “believers’ baptism” or any of the other elements of this tradition. These are important discussions, I think, but I also believe that Christians can disagree on any variety of things and still share faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ. And this devotional space doesn’t seem the time or place to hash out these arguments.
But I will point out that Jesus, using Nicodemus’ confusion as an excuse to take him deeper, amplifies and explains what he means by being born from above (or anew or again) with the following statement: “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Many have taken this to be a reference to Baptism, though whether infant or adult is not necessarily clear and has been the subject of intense debate.
But before we arm ourselves with arguments for the particular tradition we may favor, Jesus throws a wrench into the works by reminding us that, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” If we imagine that the wind correlates with the Spirit, we realize that this being born from above/anew/again is somewhat beyond our control. It’s not something that we simply decide or even submit to. God’s favor is not subject to our will or mechanisms.
Or is it just the Spirit Jesus is talking about? For his elaboration continues: “So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” It’s not simply the Spirit that blows where it will, but those born of the Spirit. There is inherent in the life of faith, in other words, a freedom, even an unpredictability. And while our presence may at times be rather unobtrusive, our impact will consistently be felt, making a difference in deeds as well as in words. That, at least, we can all agree on.
Prayer: Dear God, work through us for the sake of your people and world you love so much. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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