Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. – John 3:4,5
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the powerful Jewish court that made decisions for Jews all over the world. We do not know for sure what purpose Nicodemus had for seeking out Jesus. He came to him in the dark of night. Perhaps he was trying to get information to seal Jesus' fate, or perhaps he was a secret disciple. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the fact that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night means that he was not ready to give up power and position and throw caution to the wind to follow Jesus.
John also tells us that Jesus had an encounter with a woman at Jacob's well. She was a hated Samaritan. Moreover no Jew would speak to a woman except on a matter of business. We even learn that she had such a sordid past that she had to come and draw water at noon rather than the traditional times of early morning or late evening. She did not dare risk meeting the other women in town. Yet Jesus met her at the height of the day. He promised her “living water.” The earthly meaning of living water was freely running water. The spiritual meaning was that of life itself. She accepted this gift of living water and ran into town to tell her tormentors of this messiah who was at Jacob's well. The townspeople came out to where he was and after seeing and hearing him, they declared, "We have come to know for a certainty that this one is the savior of the world." In that day, Savior of the World was a title reserved only for the Roman Emperor. These people from the fringes of society saw the light and entered it openly.
The question for us is, “Will we hang on to the restrictions of law, doctrine, rules, and commandments, or will we be born from above and be free to follow Jesus with all that might ensue in our lives? This living water of the Spirit is a gift that frees us from fear of danger and of death. We live in the wondrous grace of God, whose love is so great that he is willing to enter our realm and face death for the children he loves. Can we do any less? Our love for our fellow human beings must be as free as God's love is for us. We cannot live in the darkness of law and doctrine.
Jim Wallis, the editor of Sojourner Magazine puts it this way. “The constant temptation of the prophetic vocation is the sectarian tendency to let freedom slip into law. To let courageous witness slip into judgment. To let the holding out of alternative possibilities slip into rigorous requirements of others. To let liberating simplicity slip into a rigid lifestyle. To let grace slip into works. To let joy slip into weariness. And to let lightness of spirit slip into burdens that seem heavier and heavier to carry.”1
Prayer: Precious Father, we come to the water seeking life and freedom. Give us the courage to step out into the light and freely confess our allegiance to you and all that it entails. We are fearful of danger and death. Through many dangers, toils, and snares we have already come. 'Tis grace has brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home. Give us a deep draught of that living water that will sustain us through all that we yet might face. Baptize us not only with water, but with the Spirit that gives us the power and strength to live our Kingdom lives. Endow us with a true love for our fellow human beings and for all who suffer because of the law and because of empire. We offer this prayer in the name of The Savior of the World, even Jesus the Christ. Amen