The Gospel of St. John tells us that “a ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1), Nicodemus, comes to visit our Lord “at night” (John 3:2). We might conclude that Nicodemus does not wish to draw attention to this visit or is there something deeper here? Nicodemus is obviously curious but also attracted to Jesus, because, as he says, “no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with Him” (John 3:2). St. Augustine makes an insightful comment. He observes that Nicodemus is like a catechumen, there is a basic appeal, a fundamental belief, but “Jesus has not trusted Himself to him” (St. Augustine, Tractate 11, #3). Our Lord will gently take Nicodemus by the hand, as the Church does with any catechumen, and lead him more deeply into the mystery of the “kingdom of God” (John 3:3), entrusting “Himself to him.”
“Amen, amen, I say to you,” our Lord continues, “no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (John 3:3). Rebirth is essential, but Nicodemus completely misses the point of how this rebirth takes place and interprets the image quite literally. Our Lord explains, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). Nicodemus must not think in the flesh but in the spirit (John 3:6). We cannot read these words and ignore their sacramental implications, which is precisely how St. Augustine interprets them as well. Our Lord is referring to Baptism. Easter is a great baptismal celebration, when catechumens receive Baptism and we renew our own Baptism. This Baptism is not the end of a course of studies, although there has been preparation. Baptism is rather a beginning, where the believer entrusts himself to the Lord and in turn our Lord entrusts Himself to the believer. To be “born of the Spirit” is as exciting, mysterious, and powerful as determining the origins and destiny of the wind (John 3:8).