June 2, 2026
Do You Like a Mystery? - Part 2
John 3:4-6
06/02/2026
4 Nicodemus said to him, ``How can a man be born
when he is old? Can he enter a second time into
his mother's womb and be born?''
5 Jesus answered, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'' (ESV)
This week we are looking at the mystery of the Trinity, that
we worship one God yet Three Persons. The third chapter of Saint
John's Gospel shows us the work of each Person.
Nicodemus, a member of the ruling council of the Jews, came
to ask Jesus about His teaching. Immediately Jesus told
Nicodemus, ``Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom
of God.'' No matter how good one is in keeping the law of God,
and Nicodemus, as a Pharisee, was an outstanding example of the
perfect pious man, you cannot earn heaven.
Nicodemus said to him, ``How can a man be born when he
is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's
womb and be born?'' Jesus answered, ``Truly, truly, I
say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.''
Our new birth is not physical, but a gift of God given
through baptism as the Holy Spirit uses the water and the Word to
create faith. It is the the work of the Holy Spirit to call us
to God as we are shown our sin and as we hear the Gospel.
This truth leads us to the definition of the Church, the
people of God who are gathered in faith around the Word and
Sacraments. This truth leads us to the understanding that
salvation is by God's rich love alone.
May our Lord, the Triune God, grant us faith to hear and
trust the Words given to us by Jesus Christ. Amen.