What Jesus Did! 'Born of Water and the Spirit' — John 3:4-5

Friday, February 11, 2022

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus [when Jesus told him he must be born again to see the Kingdom]. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"

Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."

— John 3:4-5 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus tries to move Nicodemus from a philosophical discussion to a personal one: "Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God," Jesus told him. [1] Nicodemus tries to pull the discussion back to a philosophical one by couching it in human terms when he asks "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus reminds him that "no one," not even a respected high council member and teacher, can enter the Kingdom without the water/Spirit birth.

As a respected teacher, this requirement is hard for Nicodemus to hear. We can hear him think in shock, "What? What? I must be baptized like a Gentile or like those miscreants that John the Baptizer is baptizing? I must have something radically done by the Spirit of God?"

Yes! That is Jesus' point. Clinging to his old righteousness, surpassing others in religious practice, reputation, and effort, isn't going to cut it with God. Only a new birth will do — a birth from above, a birth facilitated by God. Nicodemus has to stop his earthbound thinking. He has to open himself to God's new work through the Spirit, or he will miss the glory of God's Kingdom. The very best that Israel has to offer can't enter the Kingdom without faith in Jesus and a new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[1] John 3:3.

Today's Prayer

O righteous Father, forgive me for trying to hang on to my earthbound righteousness and religious practice. I know that I could not be a part of your Kingdom without being spiritually reborn. Thank you for providing the sacrifice that atones for my sin. Thank you for providing me the means to confess my faith in Jesus and to share with him in his death, burial and resurrection. Thank you for remaking me by the power of your Holy Spirit. Please help me share this grace with others. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
  • Titus 3:3-7
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13

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Illustration

Illustration of John 3:4-5 NLT — "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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