John 3:4 (A)

Jesus has just said to Nicodemus that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." We have spent a little time explaining what the term "born again" means, and we will discuss it still more later. Right now we must turn to examine the response from Nicodemus. Does he know what it means? He says in verse 4, "How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

As mentioned, the word usually translated "again" in verse 3 can mean either "again" or "from above," and in our context, both. Nicodemus, it seems, takes what Jesus says only in a physical sense, and formulates his response as a rhetorical question that assumes a negative answer (NASB, ESV). As many commentators point out, he speaks with a "crass literalism" that, at least on the surface, betrays an extreme spiritual dullness, and this dullness is such that it has become an issue in interpretation.

That is, because Nicodemus understands the term "born again" as referring to a second birth, and because it appears he takes this in a purely physical sense, his response is to wonder incredulously as to whether a person can enter into his mother's womb, and then be physically born for a second time. The issue for interpretation is whether Nicodemus could really be so spiritually dull, and if not, then a superficial reading of his response would tend to produce a misrepresentation of his perspective.

It remains to be seen as to whether Nicodemus could really be so dull, but before we discuss that, I must point out an error that is common to both Nicodemus and the commentators, although they commit this error from different angles. His rhetorical question assumes that an old man cannot enter into his mother's womb and be born a second time, and many commentators also assume that Nicodemus could not be so dull as to understand what Jesus has said in this way because such a physical rebirth is obviously impossible.

However, when the subject is religion, then the special providence of God could always be a factor unless it is precluded by principles and assumptions that are previously stated. But once God's power is involved, not only is it possible for an old man to enter his mother's womb and be born for a second time, it is even easy for this to happen. God could make the same person be reborn this way several thousand times a day if he so wishes.

So in a religious discussion, nothing should hinge on whether something like this is possible or impossible. Why should anyone find it strange that God the Son would enter the world through a virgin? Why should anyone find it incredible that God would raise the dead (Acts 26:8)? Why? There is no rational justification for the doubt. What is strange, what is incredible, is that anyone would find miracles strange and incredible. But sin is what explains this irrationality of unbelief.

Since all things are possible with God, what is possible or impossible should have nothing to do with what it means to be born again. However, if all through the discussion the person is thinking of only what he can do to make himself more religious, then for someone to tell him that he must be born again would naturally appear impossible, because it is indeed impossible for him.

But what is impossible with man is possible with God. This is Christianity! God performs that which is impossible for man to do. Thus as long as a person is fixated on finding out what is in his own power to do to save himself, or to make himself acceptable to God, he will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This is certainly a stumbling block for the Jews, and especially for the Pharisees. It is reasonable to think that this is at least part of the difficulty that Nicodemus has with what Jesus says in verse 3, that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

(to be continued)

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