Born of the Flesh

 

Born of the Flesh

The “Red Letter” Words of Jesus

Day Twenty-Six

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, 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.’”  John 3:5-7

Let’s set the scene one more time:

It’s nighttime and Nicodemus seeks out Jesus. He’s hoping Jesus is the Messiah but he’s not for sure. He does know He’s a man sent from God because of His miracles and teachings. What he doesn’t bargain for is that Jesus messes with his theology and everything he thought he knew about God and the Law.

I like what is written in the Pulpit Commentary regarding verse six. “That which hath been born of the flesh, is flesh” is not the physical as opposed to the spiritual or immaterial, nor is “flesh” necessarily sinful, as we see from John 1:14 but as it often appears in John’s writing and Paul’s, “flesh” is the constituent element of humanity as apart from grace – humanity (body, intellect, heart, conscience, soul, spirit) views on its own side and merits and capacity, without the Divine life, or the Divine supernatural inbreathing. The being born of the flesh is the being born into fallen humanity.”

In other words, “apart from grace” we are separated from God as a result of sin brought about by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Nicodemus struggled to understand the rituals of the law (including the strict ritual of washing the hands and body) weren’t enough to give him access to the kingdom of God and renew his relationship with God. Even John the Baptist’s teachings of water baptism and repentance didn’t open the portals of heaven.

Although he adhered to the Law, Nicodemus’ flesh was as lost as the worst heathen of his time. He probably thought Tiberius, the Roman emperor known for his partying ways and murderous insecurities, was evil personified. He had to come to a point where he understood his flesh was as lost as Tiberius’. This new teaching confounded Nicodemus. No wonder he stood there, in the middle of the night, with a shocked look on his face.

Like Nicodemus, I can go to church my entire life and still be separated from God. My flesh (body, intellect, heart, conscience, soul, spirit) is lost apart from God’s grace. Thank God, His grace is sufficient for all humanity, including me.

 

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/john/3.htm

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/john/3.htm

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/john/3.htm