In the previous post, I discussed the phrase “water and spirit” Jesus used in his conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). I pointed out that we need to understand the Old Testament background to this phrase in order to understand the significance of what Jesus said to Nicodemus. If we do not understand that Jesus was alluding to Ezekiel 36:22-32, then we are likely to miss Jesus’ meaning, just as Nicodemus did not understand because he interpreted Jesus’ words too literally.
To recap, in Ezekiel 36:22-32, God promises to clean people with water and to them a new heart and put a new spirit within them – a heart of flesh to replace their current heart of stone. Hence Jesus’ talk about needing to be born of water and spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. Note that being born of water is not a reference to a natural physical birth, where a pregnant woman’s water breaks in the early stages of labour. Jesus uses the term, “born of the flesh”, to refer to a natural physical birth (v.6). Being born of water in this conversation is a reference to being cleansed of sin by God (and it is accompanied by being born of spirit = having our heart renewed to become a heart of flesh).
I would like to advance this discussion by noting that in the following chapters of John’s Gospel, Jesus refers to the spirit a few more times. The next significant occurrence is in his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-41). The Samaritan woman brings up a point of contention between the Jews and the Samaritans: where is the proper place to worship God – is it in Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim in Samaria. Both locations have an historical precedent they could claim to support their case, so this is not merely a political issue, it involves theological and political issues intertwined.
Jesus’ response is that the time will soon be here (and in fact it is already here) when people will worship God in spirit and truth (NRSV). Once again, we need to understand that this phrase, “in spirit and truth”, is not referring to two separate things. To worship God in spirit is to worship him in truth. We already know that worshipping God in spirit involves a new heart that is responsive to God (a heart of flesh, in contrast to a heart of stone). Jesus now brings out a new aspect of worshipping God in spirit: it is also worshipping God in truth.
It seems that part of Jesus’ message that he told people as he moved about is that they must change the way they worship God. It is no longer acceptable to merely go through the motions of observing the Jewish sacrificial system, food laws and holy days. The time has arrived to be cleansed of your sin and sinfulness, to receive a new heart and to begin worshipping God authentically and truthfully. He said it to Nicodemus and he said it to the Samaritan woman.
Jesus even brings out this new way of living in his discussion with the wider group of his disciples in John 6. This chapter involves an extended discussion on eating, bread, manna, sustenance and God’s provision for his people. Jesus argues forcefully that the people are looking for the wrong thing from God. They want material security and prosperity, while God is providing spiritual and everlasting life, which is far more important. Jesus says, “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (v.63).
Jesus has now connected worship, spirit, truth and life together in a union. To worship God with an new heart of flesh that responds to him is to truly worship God and leads to life, or is the type of worship of those who are alive and need not to fear death.
Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that this life is intimately connected to himself. If you want life – real life that lasts – you have to eat and drink of Jesus. Once again, many people take him too literally and find what he says unacceptable, as if he is advocating cannibalism. But Jesus is actually telling people they have to shift their allegiance from the Jewish system (or Samaritan system) to himself. It is by accepting Jesus and following him, living ‘in him’, that we find truth and life in this world.
the art of constructing 