1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.”

3 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.”

4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?”

5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

7-8 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” (The Message)

There is speculation as to why this prominent Jewish teacher came to Jesus by night? Was it fear of being seen? Was it that he thought an unhurried conversation would be more possible at a late hour? Was it some other reason? The truth is we don’t know. However, we can say that he acknowledged Jesus’ miracles to be genuine, and in using the word ”we” (2) he intimated that there were others among the Pharisees who shared Nicodemus’ belief. Nevertheless, as one commentator asserted, Jesus, in an abrupt statement, swept aside all that Nicodemus stood for and demanded that he be re-made on the inside by the power of God. What Nicodemus needed (and what we all need) was a new creation. He needed to be ”born again” (or ”born from above”). Religion will not cut it. There has to be a work of God’s Spirit on the inside of a person, making them new. This also applies to clergy!!

”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor.5:17)

(Note that ‘seeing’ and ‘entering’ (vv.3,5) the Kingdom of God are two sides of the same reality.)