Monday 26 June 2023

Psalm 56

Background

This powerful passage in John’s Gospel recounts a dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who belonged to the strict religious party of the Pharisees (3:1). Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night, unwilling to reveal publicly his interest in the young rabbi, and tells Jesus that he recognises him as a ‘teacher who has come from God’ (3:2). Nicodemus wishes to find out more!  

Jesus explains that to see the kingdom of God, to enter the fullness of life Jesus brings, requires one to be ‘born from above’ (v. 3). Since the Greek words used can also be translated as ‘born again’, Nicodemus struggles to comprehend Jesus’ meaning, wondering how someone might return to their mother’s womb (v. 4). But the kind of birth Jesus has in mind is birth ‘of water and Spirit’. Commentators debate what is meant by ‘water’ in this context; while some suggest the water points to baptism, water might also signify the cleansing that the Spirit brings (Ezekiel 36:25-27).  

The Greek word pneuma can be translated both as ‘wind’ and ‘spirit’, and so Jesus compares the Spirit to the wind which blows where it wishes (v. 8). Jesus’ point is that it’s God who saves, God who brings new birth into the lives of believers through the Spirit. New birth is a mysterious gift not a human achievement. 

The final paragraph of the passage highlights that Jesus has a unique role in bringing the ‘eternal life’ that the Spirit provides. Jesus is not simply ‘earthly’, speaking of earthly things, but is ‘heavenly’, having descended in his incarnation to humanity. Jesus is the one who reveals the way things really are. To be saved – to have eternal life – is to look to Jesus, just as the Israelites in the wilderness looked to the serpent and were healed (Numbers 21:9).  

To Ponder:  

• How might we better engage people who are interested in Jesus but unwilling to say so publicly? 
• how does the image of being ‘born from above’ or ‘born again’ connect to your own faith journey?