TurtleSox
Member
I think what may be overlooked in Jesus answer to Nicodemus is, because all human birth is of water, as noted, amniotic fluid, Jesus was then making a difference in his allegory when distinguishing, that which is born of flesh is flesh.
Which Jesus would know as well as know we are born from the water of the womb.
Which I think is why he distinguished this when telling us that which is born of flesh is flesh.
But he was teaching something beyond this. How to be born again.
He would not reiterate the birth in the flesh, as that was initially what Nicodemus was confused about with regard to Jesus saying we must be born again.
Rather, I think Jesus, who was speaking to Jews familiar with the OT scriptures, from whence many of his parables derived, was informing them of the import of being reborn of water and the spirit because they would know the import of the Mikvah.
Being cleansed of one's sins, being washed clean of them in water , regenerated, and in the spirit of the holy ghost who is in scripture also identified with water. Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 44:3-4.
And remember too John the Baptist, who Baptized Christ.And after that Jesus' ministry began.
If we discount the importance of Baptism, what say we when Jesus taught by example, was Baptized before beginning his ministry.
Which Jesus would know as well as know we are born from the water of the womb.
Which I think is why he distinguished this when telling us that which is born of flesh is flesh.
But he was teaching something beyond this. How to be born again.
He would not reiterate the birth in the flesh, as that was initially what Nicodemus was confused about with regard to Jesus saying we must be born again.
Rather, I think Jesus, who was speaking to Jews familiar with the OT scriptures, from whence many of his parables derived, was informing them of the import of being reborn of water and the spirit because they would know the import of the Mikvah.
Being cleansed of one's sins, being washed clean of them in water , regenerated, and in the spirit of the holy ghost who is in scripture also identified with water. Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 44:3-4.
And remember too John the Baptist, who Baptized Christ.And after that Jesus' ministry began.
If we discount the importance of Baptism, what say we when Jesus taught by example, was Baptized before beginning his ministry.
