GodReflection: Come and See—God Saved the Best for Now
Born in an antiseptic hospital the urbanism of my nation shields me from contact with ever present birth. First century Palestine didn’t have a phonebook with a list of local hospitals were births take place out of sight. Throughout history births were rather common events that happened wherever might be the expectant mother.
With large families and abundant livestock, I suspect the people of Jesus day were quite accustomed to new births at home and in stables. So, when Jesus first 
introduced Nicodemus to a superior birth process, this learned member of the Jewish ruling council familiar with human and animal birth, struggled to understand how an adult might be born again into what Jesus described as a water-spirit birth.
In essence, Jesus asked Nicodemus to come and see a birth process that equipped the new born with the Spirit of God on board.
My guess is when Nicodemus thought of the Holy Spirit of God the Law and Prophets came to mind where people rarely survived close encounters with the Holy. In his reality 
God’s Spirit-presence was in a box and safely hidden behind a thick curtain in the Temple.
To have Holy Spirit access so near that it was willing to pitched its tent inside of Nicodemus was unthinkable. Who could survive God’s presence within? Surely, that would be deadly close.
I’ve found all analogies fail in any effort to describe the Holy. So as weak as it may be, here is how I would attempt a description in 21st Century language of the challenge given to this Jewish visitor who came to Jesus at night:
What if there were a birth that came with Holy radar on board? What if Holy God actually came at birth to live inside of you? His inside mission will be to grow and to protect you from evil’s control and destruction. It comes with an eternal guarantee.
John’s Gospel is an open invitation to come and see this new kind of birth.
He invites us to see the first clue given by John the Baptist when at Jesus baptism. The baptizer testifies, I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God (John 1:32-34).
I listen as Jesus tells Nicodemus no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:5-6).
John invites me to witness a conversation Jesus has with his disciples where I learn, the Spirit gives life (John 6:63). The vision of Spirit-birth continues to build throughout John’s Gospel. It will become my reality.
In chapter seven I come and see Jesus make a statement that requires John’s explanation. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
John then explains, by this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. A time was about to come when the act of Holy Spirit birth would allow the Spirit of God to flow inside and sustain all of God’s daughters and sons.
Wow, talk about the best saved for my now.
Perhaps the most revealing clue is when we come with John behind closed doors on the first resurrection Sunday. Through walls and locked entrances Jesus appears. Overjoyed to see him John tells us he comes with a gift. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit . . .” (John 20:22).
John has set the stage.
His invitation to come and see that God saved the best for our now revealed a new kind of birth that will be the reality the church lived out through the remainder of the New Testament.
God’s Holy Spirit birth continues in centuries since and stands available even now. Come and See.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Come and See a New Kind of Birth
God Reflection 