John 3 - 4

Born Of The Spirit

Today's portion contains several incidents that are recorded only in John.  The theme of both of these chapters is that the believer must have the Spirit of God, i.e. must be born again.  Nicodemus was a Rabbi of great stature in the synagogue and was well learned (3:10). To his credit, Nicodemus realized there was something special and unusual about Jesus.  Careful to not be seen with Him, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (3:2).  Jesus immediately tells him that he must be born again or, in the Greek, "born from above" (v.3).

This teaching of Jesus' is critical to understanding the Christian faith. It is not a faith based on geography (as we will see in a few moments) or one based on a set of rules and strict liturgy, it is solely based on being identified with Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus failed to grasp this at first (3:4), but Jesus continued to explain the importance of the new birth stating that it is impossible to understand spiritual matters without the Holy Spirit (3:5).  He ties this in to His purpose on Earth, i.e. His sacrifice. This is summed up in John 3:16, perhaps one of the most quoted verses of Scripture there is: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  This ties the love of God to the purpose of Jesus' life on earth to the will of God. God loved all; He gave His Son for all; He wants all to have eternal life.

This segues nicely into the meeting of Jesus with a woman in Samaria at Jacob's well.  Jesus is thirsty and asks for water, but the woman is more concerned about racial issues (the dissonance between Samaritans and Jews). Jesus quickly brings up the spiritual thought that He has water that, when drank, slakes all thirst. This ties in perfectly with what Jesus told Nicodemus. She wants this water, but like Nicodemus, she puts a carnal interpretation to Jesus' words. When Jesus asks her to bring her husband, we find out why she is so defensive.

First she was at the well at noon (4:6) instead of early in the morning with all the other women. This was because she was an immoral woman living in adultery (4:18), which Jesus identifies.  She finds this shocking, but yet still understands that Jesus is a prophet (v. 19).  However she then tries to divert Jesus' attention from her sin and starts explaining how Samaritans worship at a certain mountain.  Jesus tells her that the Jews know more (in a religious sense) about worshiping Jehovah than Samaritans, but that soon none of this will matter. The Messiah is ushering in an era of worship not tied to geography or tradition. Instead those who follow the coming Christ will worship anywhere irrespective of man-made traditions and will worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Despite her sinful condition, she knew that the coming of the Messiah was nigh (v.25) and Jesus, sensing her willingness to believe makes an outstanding statement in verse 26, "I AM the Messiah!"  His use of I AM identifies Him with the I AM that was revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14.  So startled was the woman that she ran to the city testifying of Him. Her testimony was convincing because the Samaritans prevailed on Him to stay two days and, according to verse 39, "many Samaritans ... believed in Jesus."

While He was talking to the woman, the disciples returned with food they had gone to purchase and insisted that Jesus eat (v. 31).  Jesus' answer is eerily similar to what He said to the woman, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about." Once again, Jesus speaks of things in a spiritual manner, but His words are interpreted (this time by the disciples in verse 33) in a carnal way.

We see that the new birth, the living water, and the nourishing food from God all are speaking of the same thing - the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer.  We must be born again.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.