When we want to understand a word or phrase, we try to see how it fits into the whole message. The surrounding words and events form the context, which is always important for learning a word’s meaning. In this case, the context explains what “water” means in John 3. Whatever the meaning, it is of supreme importance. For Jesus firmly insisted that one cannot enter God’s kingdom unless one receives the birth of water and Spirit (John 3:5).
The Context Of Events What has “water” to do with the new birth? Begin with what was happening at the time. John 3 took place shortly after Jesus began His public work (John 2:2-11,13-16; 3:2). John the Baptizer had been announcing the arrival of “the kingdom,” and Jesus was now doing the same (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 5:3,10,20; 7:21; 8:1; 9:2,11). They required people to prepare by repenting and being baptized in water (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:4-15; John 4:1-2). (The English word “baptize” is borrowed from the Greek language. In New Testament Greek bapto means to dip e.g. Luke 16:24; John 13:26. Baptisma, a noun, means the act of dipping e.g. Luke 3:3; 1 Peter 3:21. The related verb baptizo means to dip, to immerse for purposes of faith e.g. John 1:25-26; Acts 2:38; 22:16. These definitions may be found in any New Testament Greek dictionary. Biblical descriptions of baptism reflect the fact that it is a brief placing of a person under water e.g. Matthew 3:5-16; Mark 1:8-10; John 3:21-23; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12 cf. 2 Kings 5:14 in the Greek Old Testament.)
This inspired preaching, with its requirement of immersion in water, had just burst on the scene. It emphasized all three elements in John 3:5: “water,” “Spirit” and “the kingdom.” Nicodemus well knew that “all the people” there were responding. Great numbers were being baptized in the Jordan River (Mark 1:5). In this sense, John 3:5 is bracketed by “water.” Before Jesus taught Nicodemus, John the Baptizer was using water (John 1:25-26,28-34):
John answered them, “I baptize with water…” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he [the Messiah] might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:32-34). “Now when all the people were baptized… Jesus also had been baptized” (Luke 3:21). Then, immediately after Jesus taught Nicodemus, Jesus and John returned to their work of preaching and baptizing.
John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized… And they [disciples] came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan… he is baptizing, and all are going to him” (John 3:23,26).
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (John 4:1).
If Jerusalem had newspapers in that day, headlines would display the word “kingdom” beside words for “water” (John the Baptizer, baptism, in the Jordan). In that context, the “water” to which Jesus refers can hardly be missed, unless… one has a reason for avoiding water. And that brings us to another important word in this context, “Pharisees.”
The Context For Nicodemus Personally John 3 begins, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.” The second verse shows that Nicodemus closely followed the course of events. That takes us back to John 1:24-28 and related passages, where the Pharisees questioned John’s reason for baptizing. From Matthew 3:7-9 we learn that Pharisees came to be baptized, but John called them “vipers.” He demanded real repentance, and told them to stop relying on their fleshly birth as Jews. From Luke 7:29-30 we learn that the Pharisees turned against John and against baptism.
When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
As a leading Pharisee, Nicodemus found himself at the center of the burning debate: Are John and Jesus true prophets? (Matthew 21:23-27; John 3:2) Should we receive the baptism they require? How does one enter the kingdom? Isn’t our fleshly birth as Abraham’s children good enough? Such pressing matters explain why Jesus answered “in reply” before Nicodemus asked anything. Jesus replied to the great questions already raised by the context of events. Like John (Matthew 3:7-9), Jesus rejected fleshly birth as the way into the kingdom (John 3:6). Jesus demanded the new birth “of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). The context, both of words and of events, makes this “water” crystal clear. Baptism is where the Spirit gives us birth.
This meaning is so clear that for well over 1000 years after Christ, every Christian writer that commented on John 3:5 said the same thing: the water refers to baptism. Only in recent years have writers argued for other meanings. Like Nicodemus, many of these are learned scholars and teachers (John 3:10). But, like the Pharisees, they have long ago turned against “water” as having any importance. Their position forbids them to find baptism necessary in any passage, regardless of how plainly it speaks or how clear its context. Though human teachings change with time, the truth remains the same. Even today’s greatest teachers must learn, as Nicodemus learned, to bow to the authority of Jesus. The King assures us that “no one” is exempt, not even religious leaders.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
For further study on this subject, please review the WBS course, Born of Water and Spirit.