1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ”4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You[B] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”REFLECTIONSWritten by Stephen SheadNo one. Jesus says, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Lots of people find that offensive, because we naturally tend to think that at least some people (hopefully me!) will be able to earn their way into the kingdom of God, or at least get there without needing much help from God. But Jesus is saying that the only possible way anyone can reach the joy of God’s everlasting kingdom is if God does a profoundly miraculous work in them – a work that none of us can possibly do for ourselves.Jesus’ language of being born of “water and the Spirit” comes from Ezekiel 36, where God promised his sinful people that one day he would wash their sin away, give them a new heart, and put his Spirit in them to help them obey him (see Ezekiel 36:24-27). What Jesus says to Nicodemus is: That saving work is like a complete new birth – it’s a radical transformation, a new start; and it’s also something you can’t claim any credit for. That would be like claiming the credit for when you were born as a baby! This is 100% the work of God.That can offend our pride, but I find it a relief, because it means I’m not in control of how and when God gives new birth. It doesn’t (or shouldn’t!) take away my burden for the millions who haven’t yet found life and hope in Jesus, or my desire to share the message of Jesus with as many as possible. But God’s Spirit is the one who ultimately can, does, and will give them that cleansing and transformation that is new life in Jesus.Today’s reading is amazing timing, because yesterday (Sunday) I baptised 5 members of our Bossley Park morning congregation. Baptism is a beautiful picture of the spiritual realities Jesus is describing here. In the words of the baptism service, it symbolises “the extraordinary work of God in cleansing us from sin and giving us a new heart to trust and serve him.” It was so encouraging to hear the testimonies of these 5 brothers and sisters – to hear how they came to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and the complete assurance they have now of salvation and of God’s love for them. Pray now that God would give us the joy of baptising many more people in 2026 – that his Spirit would pour out new life in Jesus, for his glory.





























ABOUT THE AUTHORStephen is our senior minister.

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