Promised Treasures - Water

The Second Sunday in Lent

March 5, 2023

John 3:1-17

 “Precious Treasures – Water”

Water is the most common element in our world, and makes up approximately 71% of the earth’s surface. Our own bodies are, on average, about 60% water (What percentage of the human body is water? (medicalnewstoday.com). It shouldn’t surprise us then water appears so often in the Scriptures. At creation, we are told how God separated the waters above from the waters below (Genesis 1:6ff.); how Noah and his family were saved in the ark when it rained for forty days and nights, and the fountains of the great deep burst forth (Genesis 7:11ff.). God made a way for his chosen people through the waters of the Red Sea, rescuing them from Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 14:21ff.), and provided them water from the rock in their wilderness wandering (Exodus 17:1ff.). The beloved Psalm 23 reminds that our Good Shepherd “leads me beside still waters.” More and more, in drought-stricken areas of the world and our own nation, water is seen as a very valuable commodity; a precious treasure. That precious treasure of water figures into Jesus’ nighttime conversation with Nicodemus in today’s Gospel lesson. And not just any water, but the water of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit that is Baptism. Today we focus on Jesus’ words: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Our Lenten series, “Precious Treasures,” continues today as we focus on water. May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

Nicodemus had heard all about Jesus and what he had done. And now, Nicodemus has questions – lots of questions; questions that he must ask Jesus. But he is also a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the Ruling Council in Jerusalem. He can’t be seen talking with this controversial, itinerant rabbi. People would get the wrong idea, which is why he comes to Jesus at night under cover of darkness. Nicodemus confesses up front that he understands Jesus to be sent from God. There’s no other explanation for all of the signs and miracles that Jesus has done. And that’s when things start to get really interesting in this late-night conversation. Jesus tells Nicodemus that it is necessary for a person to be “born again,” and that no one can enter the kingdom of God without being “born again.” That phrase, “born again,” is used a lot today by various branches of the Christian church. It is a phrase loaded with a lot of baggage. It is usually understood that being “born again” is when you receive Jesus as your Savior, make a personal decision to believe in Jesus and follow him. The original word here (άνωθεν) can mean to be born again, but a better translation is to be “born from above.” To be born again is to be born from above. Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth that comes not from earth or any personal decision on our part. Jesus makes clear: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). No, this rebirth comes from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus doesn’t get it; he doesn’t understand, and so Jesus breaks it down for him – and for us: : “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This is Baptismal talk! This is the spiritual rebirth that comes from above that Jesus is sharing with Nicodemus. This is the spiritual rebirth that Jesus provides for us today through the precious treasure of water and the Spirit in Baptism.

Thoroughly confused and befuddled by everything that Jesus is saying, Nicodemus can only respond: “How can these things be?” (John 3:9). From an earthly perspective, it makes no sense. From an earthly perspective, we make our own way in life. We chart our own course. We are masters of our own destiny. But that’s not how it works in the kingdom of God. Everything comes about through the Spirit, who “calls us and keeps us in this one true faith.” Without faith, Baptism just looks like someone is pouring water over your head. The precious treasure of the new birth by water and the Spirit is received by faith alone, and even that faith is not our own doing. “It is the gift of God, not because of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). As we heard in today’s Old Testament lesson (Genesis 12:1-9), as well as the Epistle lesson (Romans 4:1-8, 13-17), it is by faith that Abraham believed in God’s promise that he would make of him a great nation, and that in him all families of the earth would be blessed. Abraham’s faith did not rest in himself, but in the promises of God.

Following in Abraham’s footsteps, we also have been given great promises from God. In a world filled with broken promises, it is good to know that all of God’s promises find their “yes,” their fulfillment, in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). It is in Jesus that we have not only been given the promise, but the assurance, the certainty, of God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy. As Jesus himself said to Nicodemus, so he says to each one of us: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). When life seems like it’s just one thing after another, filled with trouble and heartache; when everything is piling up and we don’t know where to turn, hold onto this saving truth: the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross for you! All that Jesus did there on the cross – the offering of his life as the sacrifice for our sins – is given to us through Holy Baptism. In the precious treasure of the waters of Baptism, we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection.

One of the most well-known and beloved passages of Scripture is contained in today’s Gospel lesson: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). But the next verse is just as beautiful – full of good news: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). This is the good news that we have to share with the world – good news that makes an eternal difference in the lives of people! John 3:16 is the whole message of the Bible reduced to just one verse. It’s sometimes called “the Gospel in a nutshell” because of this. If someone – a friend or coworker – would ask you, “Hey, you go to church, right? What exactly is the Gospel? What does that mean?” What would you say? How would you answer? Point them to John 3:16 – it even spells out “Gospel.” Flowing from the precious treasure of our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection, we are called by Christ not just to speak the Gospel, but to live it. Our words and our actions, our whole life, becomes a living witness to the Lord.

We know that Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus had an impact on him. Scripture reveals that later on Nicodemus stood up for Jesus before the ruling Council (John 7:50), and after Jesus had given his life on the cross, Nicodemus is named as one of those who helped bury Jesus’ body (John 19:39). In doing so, Nicodemus demonstrated that by the power of the Spirit he was, like us, blessed to be born from above. May the precious treasure of that water of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit keep us all in faith to life eternal. Amen.