John 3:5–8 Our teacher Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit has always spoken to us and God doesn't want any one to go through life without His presence. Some, sadly, never recognize His voice.

In Him there is wisdom, hope and comfort in the good and the difficult times of our lives.  He will always offer us God’s  peace.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

In John’s Gospel, “I once was blind, but now I see.” Maybe we all begin there. To acknowledge our own blindness. To remove the cataracts from our souls, by letting go of what we expect to find before we begin the search. 

Let us be still. Let us pay attention. We choose from this place, because we are no longer detached, or victims to yesterday or tomorrow.

Presence is the currency for embracing, listening and reclaiming (with “new eyes” or ears) that which has been forgotten—the fruit of the sacrament of the present moment... light, understanding, kindheartedness, tolerance, gratitude, mercy, second chances, hope, open heart, open mind. Sabbath Moments

John 3:5–8

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” The New King James Version

There are several interpretations of the phrase born of water and the Spirit. (1) Jesus was referring to water baptism (see Acts 10:43–47). (2) Water is to be understood as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Thus the phrase could be translated “born of water, even the Spirit.” (3) Water is to be understood as a symbol of the Word of God. Similar imagery can be found in other New Testament passages, specifically Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:23. (4) Jesus used the phrase “born of water” to refer to physical birth. He then used the contrasting phrase “of the Spirit” to refer to spiritual birth. (5) Jesus used the phrase “born of water” to refer to John the Baptist’s baptism. (6) Jesus used the Old Testament imagery of “water” and “wind” to refer to the work of God from above (Isaiah. 44:3–5; Ezekiel 37:9, 10). 

Wind is an alternate translation of the term Spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: Flesh cannot be made into spirit. A person must experience a spiritual rebirth. 

In the Greek text, you is plural. Here Jesus spoke not only to Nicodemus, but to all whom he represented. 

Jesus used the wind as an illustration of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated Spirit also means “wind.” As the wind seemingly blows where it wills, so the Holy Spirit sovereignly works. Likewise, no one knows the origin or destination of the wind, but everyone knows it is there. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus elaborates on the meaning of being born from emphasizing the need for spiritual birth. The old testament overtones of the Greek phrase used here, literally rendered as “born of water and spirit,” are meant to make Nicodemus realize that Jesus is inaugurating the age of renewal anticipated by the old testament prophets. 

In this regard, Ezekiel 36:25–27 clearly combines the imagery of cleansing by water with inner renewal by the spirit (pneuma) from God. 

Interpretations of this verse often attempt to connect Jesus’ statement with some type of water baptism, understanding references to both physical and spiritual rebirth symbolized by baptism. The phrase “born of water and spirit” could refer to two births, since John 3:6 contrasts being born of the flesh with being born of the Spirit. 

In the Greek text of this verse, the first “you” is singular and the second is plural. The implication is that Jesus is speaking about God’s kingdom in reference to all people, not just Nicodemus.

The Greek word used here, pneuma, can mean “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” John uses the metaphor of the wind as a power that is felt but unseen to explain the power of the Spirit of God. Faithlife Study Bible

This new birth is from heaven and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Ecclesiastes 11:5 

As you do not know what is the way of the wind,

Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,

So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

Ezekiel 36:25 

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; 

I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.