Nicodemus was a respected leader among the Pharisees. He was also a teacher. He knew the commandments. He studied the Law. Outwardly, he appeared righteous. He sought to live an upright life. It looked like he had everything going for him. And yet, something was missing.
Nicodemus came to Jesus because he was searching for answers. He was curious about Jesus’ identity. He had seen the miracles Jesus performed and concluded that Jesus must be a prophet from God. He knew that no ordinary man could do such miracles. He basically asked Jesus, “Who are you?”
But before Jesus answers this question, He first addresses Nicodemus’ greatest problem. Nicodemus believed that entrance into God’s kingdom depended upon one’s own righteousness. He thought that salvation was earned by obedience to the Law. He believed that good people enter heaven because they have lived good lives.
And if that were true, then there would be no need for a Savior. There would be no need for Jesus to die upon the cross. There would be no need for Jesus to make payment for sin. There would be no need for the forgiveness of sins.
So, Jesus immediately confronts Nicodemus’ false theology. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The Greek word translated “again” can also mean “from above.” Jesus is speaking about a birth from above, a birth from God Himself. He is not speaking about physical birth, but a spiritual birth.
Nicodemus, however, does not understand. He thinks only according to human reason. He asks, “How can a man enter his mother’s womb a second time?” Nicodemus cannot comprehend what Jesus is saying because human reason cannot understand the things of God. Nicodemus still thinks in terms of works and human effort. Jesus, however, teaches that salvation is entirely God’s work.
So Jesus explains further: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Here Jesus clearly speaks about Holy Baptism. Water and the Spirit are joined together. The Holy Spirit works through water and the Word to give new birth. Just as the Spirit hovered over the waters at creation, so also the Spirit works through the waters of Baptism to create new life.
Salvation is not something we accomplish. It is not a decision we make. It is not a work we perform. Salvation is a gift given by God.
We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him because we all possess a fallen nature. By nature, we are spiritually blind, dead, and an enemy of God.
That is why Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” Sinful parents give birth to children who are also sinful by nature. Fallen sinners produce fallen sinners. From Adam we inherit sin and death.
The prophet Isaiah confessed this when he cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips.” So also, we confess that we are poor miserable sinners. We have sinned in thought, word, and deed. We have failed to love God with our whole heart, and we have failed to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Our sinful nature rebels against God. It wants salvation by works. It wants a Christianity without the cross. By nature, we do not seek God. We flee from Him.
But Jesus goes on to say, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” You were born of the Holy Spirit. He gave you a spiritual life. He converted you from unbelief to faith in Christ. He gave you a new birth—not physical but spiritual.
In Holy Baptism, God gave you a birth from above. He washed away your sins. He united you with Christ’s death and resurrection. He adopted you as His own dear child. Through water and the Word, the Holy Spirit created saving faith in your heart. You were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Just as a baby contributes nothing to his physical birth, so also we contribute nothing to our spiritual birth. God does everything. God gets all the credit.
Your first birth was physical, according to the flesh. Your second birth is spiritual, according to the Holy Spirit. Your first birth brought sin and death. Your second birth brings forgiveness and eternal life. Your first birth came from Adam. Your second birth comes from Christ.
This is why Baptism is such a treasure. It is not merely symbolic. It is not simply a public confession. It is God’s gracious gift of salvation to you. Who are you? Your baptism identifies you as a child of God.
The Holy Spirit continues to sustain your new life through the Gospel. The absolution you hear is Christ Himself forgiving your sins. The Lord’s Supper is not ordinary bread and wine. It is the true body and blood of Christ given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Nicodemus struggled to understand all of this. He asked, “How can these things be?”
So also, our human reason demands answers. We want to understand everything about God before we believe. Yet many of God’s works remain mysteries. We do not fully understand creation. We do not fully understand the Trinity. We do not fully understand how Jesus can be both true God and true man. We do not fully understand how Baptism saves or how Christ’s body and blood are truly present in the Sacrament.
Our Epistle reading from the book of Romans says that God’s riches and wisdom are very deep. They are beyond our comprehension. We do not know God’s mind. His ways are higher than our ways.
But faith does not rest upon human understanding. Faith rests upon God’s Word. A child trusts in his mother. So also, faith trusts the promises of God. We simply believe in the one true God and in the salvation which He has provide through His Son.
Jesus then points Nicodemus to an event from the Old Testament that Nicodemus knew well. While Israel was in the wilderness, the people rebelled against God and against Moses. Because of their sin, God sent fiery serpents. They bit the people and many died. Then the people cried out for mercy. And God had mercy upon them.
God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it upon a pole. Whoever looked upon the bronze serpent would live. Human reason asks the question, “How could simply looking at a bronze serpent heal anyone?” Yet God attached His promise to it. Those who believed the promise lived. Those who rejected the promise died.
Then Jesus says to Nicodemus, “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.”
Earlier, Nicodemus basically asked Jesus, “Who are you?” Jesus is now able to answer this question. Who is Jesus? He is the promised Messiah foretold by the prophets. Jesus will be lifted up on a cross. Jesus will take upon Himself the poison of sin and death. Left to ourselves, we would perish eternally.
But God, in His mercy, provided the cure. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Who does God love? He loves the world. He loves the tax collector, the adulterer, the thief, the addict, the proud, and lazy. He loves you. He loves me.
And how did God show that love? Not merely with emotions, but through sacrifice. “He gave His only begotten Son.” The Father sent His Son into our flesh. Jesus took our sin upon Himself. He carried our guilt of sin to the cross. There the wrath of God against sin was poured out on Jesus instead of us. Saint Paul says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Love is not merely a feeling. Love acts. Love sacrifices. Love gives on our behalf and for our salvation.
That is what Jesus has done for you. He was not sent into the world to condemn the world. He came to save. Every world religion teaches salvation by works. Every false religion says that man must climb upward toward God through works.
But Christianity is different. Christianity teaches that God came down to us. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh. He entered our suffering. He carried our sins. He died our death. And He rose again victorious. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone. John 3:16 says that whoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting life. You believe in Christ as your Savior. You shall not perish. On your last day, you will enjoy everlasting life in heaven.
This Gospel eventually transformed Nicodemus. At first, he came to Jesus by night, fearful of what others might think. But after Jesus died upon the cross, Nicodemus publicly helped Joseph of Arimathea take the body of Jesus down from the cross. Nicodemus now believes. He now understood who Jesus truly is. Jesus is not merely a teacher. He is not merely a moral example. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the eternal Son of the Father.
Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Because of Jesus, eternal life is yours. And because you belong to Christ, your life is no longer empty or hopeless. The Holy Spirit now bears fruit through you. He teaches you to love your neighbor. He gives you joy in suffering, and hope in the midst of death. You no longer live in fear. You live with joy as a baptized child of God. You willingly serve and love family and friends.
What does all of this have to do with Trinity Sunday? You have a heavenly Father who loves you. He sent His only begotten Son for your salvation. You also have a Savior who shed His blood for you. In Christ you have forgiveness and life. You also have the Holy Spirit who called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, and sanctified you. He keeps you in the true faith. He helps you to love the neighbor.
There is only one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct persons in one divine being. We don’t understand it. It is a mystery. Yet we simply trust in who God is and what He does for us and for our salvation.
All praise and honor be to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
