What does Jesus mean by comparing the wind to a person born from the spirit?
John 3:8
ESV - 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
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Asked September 16 2013
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Evelyn Ayodele
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Michael Smith
I'll try an answer for this question. People born of the Spirit follow the lead of God's will. It does not always make sense but when we as Christians follow what the Spirit is telling us to do, it sometimes seems like a random thought, or an un-substantiated risk. But, God always blesses when we do His will. So this seeming random and risky decision process might seem unpredictable to the observer.
Vivian Lindsey
II believe that we are given the Holy Spirit as our helper when we accept Jesus in our heart just as He gave the Holy Spirit to the 12 in the upper room for when he left them. The Holy Spirit is within us, and tells us God's will to guide us and direct us in the right direction and away from the wrong path. You cannot see Him, but He is there and we hear him when talks to us either through words or troubling thoughts if you are about to leave the straight path.
Evans Olang
John 3:8, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." This verse addresses the evidence of the new birth. True salvation (the only salvation) must make an effect on someone and there will be evidence, big or small. No one hit by truck for example can remain the same, something will definitely change due to the nature of contact/impact. When we get saved we know something has happened, there is a change but we may not understand how, we see the evidence. In vs. 8 Jesus uses another example to make His point, He says,“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”, John 3:8. First of all, Christ and Paul declares that the gospel is the power of God (Dunamis). Dunamis (power) is the Greek term from which our word dynamite is derived. The gospel carries with it the omnipotence of God, whose power alone is sufficient to save men from sin and give them eternal life. There is the cause and effect, God causes it, we hear the sound (Faith comes by hearing…), we see or sense the effects. Second, the teaching of the new birth is unsettling because it refers to something that is done to us, not something we do. Justification is what God does for us. John 1:13 emphasizes this, it refers to the children of God as those “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Therefore when Jesus says to Nicodemus “…So is everyone who is born of the Spirit “, in summary He is saying, salvation is about God, by God, for God. Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”; Jude 1:1, “…To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ”. God causes the new birth; we don’t. Peter stresses the same message, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again”, 1Peter 1:3. I stress this point, we do not cause the new birth, God causes the new birth. Any spiritual good thing that we do is a result of the new birth, not a cause. Ephesians 2:4–5, “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”; 1John 5:11–12, “This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” “Therefore, when Jesus says, It is the Spirit who gives life” John 6:63, and, You must be born of the Spirit” (John 3:5, 8), and, “Believing you may have life”, John 20:31, He means: In the new birth, the Holy Spirit supernaturally gives us new spiritual life by connecting us with Jesus Christ through faith. For Jesus is life”, John Pipper. It is morally impossible for the dead, dark, hard, resistant heart to celebrate the Lordship of Jesus over his life without being born again. That is why we in the new birth need creation of life in union with Christ. The work of the Spirit in regeneration is to impart new life to us by uniting us to Christ. The way John Calvin says it: “The Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually unites us to himself” Those who believe that people can be saved and not be changed get it wrong because Jesus tells otherwise. There will be change and that change will be evidence that the Spirit is at work. He called Lazarus from the grave, how He did it we cannot explain but we read the effects because he came back to life. Lazarus could not hear any other voice and respond, but when Christ called him, that voice cut through the icy cold grave right to the lifeless decomposing body and caused Lazarus to hear His voice. The evidence, Lazarus responded and came back to life.
George Delmindo
John 3 records the conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus one night to discuss matters regarding the news Jesus was announcing - the gospel of the kingdom of God. Jesus went into all Judea proclaiming the Gospel of the coming kingdom of God - and that announcement was very undesirable to the Pharisees because, they, as rulers of the Jews enjoyed much of their lifestyle under higher Roman officials. The announcement of Jesus also became very alarming to the Pharisees because they thought that Jesus is going to set up a government that will overthrow the Roman Empire, then ruling Judea as a vassal state. In their conversation, Nicodemus said, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." [John 3:2-3] Jesus, knowing the import of Nicodemus' words, made an abrupt opening statement which left Nicodemus confused. Puzzled, he asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." [John 3:4-5] Nicodemus was not confused about what is meant by being born. What Nicodemus could not understand was a second birth. He thought Jesus was talking about a second human birth. He was unable to conceive of any but a second physical birth. His mind could not grasp spiritual things. Now Jesus had made clear that the kingdom of God is something that can be seen, but not until or unless one is "born again." Also, in verse 5, the kingdom of God is something a man may enter into, but not until after he is born again - another and entirely different birth. Jesus then came quickly to the point - that the kingdom of God is not of this present human life in this present world. It is not of this time or age! Here is the crux point that explains it all. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "What is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." [verse 6]. Man is now flesh - human. He is material substance. "Dust thou art" said God to Adam, "and unto dust shalt thou return." [Gen 3:19] But, said Jesus plainly, when one is born of the Spirit, he will BE spirit! Read it again in verse 6. The kingdom of God will be composed of SPIRIT BEINGS - not of humans! When born again, he will BE spirit - a spirit being, no longer human. He will be composed of spirit - of spirit composition, with life inherent - self-containing life. Jesus explains this further to Nicodemus: "The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." [verse 8] You cannot see wind. Wind is compared to spirit. It is invisible. That's why mortal flesh, as we are now, cannot see the kingdom of God. Those who inherit it, will be spirit - normally invisible to eyes still human. The Apostle Paul made clear that the kingdom of God is something a human may INHERIT, but not in this age - not while he is composed of material flesh. He may, now, become only an HEIR, not yet an inheritor! "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" [1 Cor 15:50]. Leading up to this verse, Paul had made it clear. "The first man is of the earth, earthy [human]: the second man is the Lord from heaven [-a Divine God Being]" - 1 Cor 15:47 That's what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus. He was of the earth, earthy - human. He was flesh - not spirit. He was born of the flesh. When one is born of the Spirit, he will BE spirit. Paul is here explaining the same truth. We cannot BE born as spirits in this present age. That is YET future!
Sahoulyah Shumenyah
I've come to the understanding that we as believers, aren't restricted by those elements that are physical, fleshly, nor anything else that may be associated with the realm of our physical presence. To be as the wind, one would have to be living through the Spirit, giving life to all we encounter, going to and fro, without inhibitions, nor restrictions.
Brian Stewart
Let's take a look at exactly what is being said here. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 Leading up to this Jesus is conversing with a man named Nicodemus about how to see and enter the kingdom of God. Even going as far as to say " You MUST be Born Again". Being born of the water really needs no explanation as Baptism is the only explanation. This brings us to the verse in question. Jesus gives two qualities or characteristics of the wind. 1. You can hear it. 2. You can NOT see where it comes from or where it goes to. ( it is invisible) So what is he saying? When a person is born of the Spirit you will not see it come into them, but there will be a sound thereof. (you can feel the wind and being born of the Spirit does feel good but since Jesus mentions nothing of a feeling it is not sufficient enough evidence of being born again. )
Mona Quinto
I believe that being born of the Spirit is experiential. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we were born again in spirit, all things passed away and be became a new creation. This happened when we experience being born in the Spirit that is not visible but the change is being felt by your surrounding and even by ourselves. The changes come from within, you dont see that actual birth in you but you feel the overflowing joy and peace that you dont even know where and how it came, just like the wind when it blows. Born again is an experience.
Paul Bayne
Really, I feel the answer is obvious if you take into account the sovereignty of God. Romans 9 says He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. The Holy Spirit is compared to the wind by Jesus. You have no idea where it's coming from, where it's going and what it's going to do. As goes with the Holy Spirit. You have no idea where He is coming from, where He's going or who He will settle on to save. Only God knows who will be saved. Only God knows where the wind will blow. The mystery of God's sovereignty and who He will show mercy to is the answer.
Larry Truelove
In Greek, as well as Hebrew, the words for spirit, wind, and breath is the same word: pneuma. A spirit, just like wind is invisible, you cannot see its coming and going. You can only see its effects. Water, in the form of rain, is an element of the sky, or the heavens. It comes from "above" like the literal wind and the literal spirit. The Greek word for "again" is the same as "above." Word plays, in the form of puns, create an effect to the hearer in Greek. But the puns are instructional, not humorous as in English. But the confusion of the possible meanings might have puzzled Nicodemus. I don't think he literally thought Jesus meant reentry into a womb, but Nicodemus wanted clarification. Double meanings occur often in the bible, but they do not translate well. But denominational traditions about their meanings die hard. It is important to consider contextual implications of those double meanings.
Jeff Smith
This question is explained when the first church was formed in the book of Acts. Let's look at in the Bible: [Act 2:4, 6, 12, 14-18, 37-38 KJV] 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.... 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.... 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?... 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:... 37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Simply just as a baby is born, doctors are concerned that the baby cries and MAKES A NOISE to know that they are alive and OK. The same thing when you receive the Holy Spirit; you will speak in another tongue. The jews had such a hard time accepting that Gentiles were being saved because they too heard this filling of the Spirit. Continue reading Acts... [Act 10:44-48 KJV] 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Agnes Afuzie
I believe that a Christian life is beyond understanding to the World. Jesus comparing a born again Christian to the wind is telling us that our life, the way We live, the solutions to our challanges should beyond human and devils comprehension. When we speak in tongues we speak mysteries, no man understands us but only God. Devils don't understand us. ------------ To be born of the Spirit? To be like wind? A born again Christian lives above limitations. We are to live like our master Jesus. He walked upon the sea. They couldn't arrest him before his time. No power is permitted to stop us from fulfilling our destiny and purpose in life. All things are to work for our good. Roman 8. We love God. Jesus has empowered us to be God 's children. We have His DNA. We live like him, talk like him. When all hope are lost, it's seems shame want to come, sudden help, sudden glory comes. That's mysterious, beyond human understanding. When they say there is a casting down we say there is lifting up. -------------------- The wind is felt by man, we notice the evidence when we see the swaying of the trees. At times it pushes down building, trees and any obstacles on its way that couldn't resist it. That's evidence of its presence. A believer should have and manifest with evidence the indwelling power of God in his life and through his life. We are empowered to cast away demons, heal the sick raise the dead, withstand the enemy at the gate, live a life of abundance not in poverty or sickness or beggarly. Not to accept defeat of any type. Not be struggling with sin, prayerlesness, rising and falling. Fight a good fight faith, resist the devil and he will flee from us. Hallelujah! ----------- Born of Spirit! No power is permitted to stand in opposition against our progress. We make decrees and declaration and heaven backs up. We loose and bind and it is so.We live a life of evidence by mirracles, signs and wonders in Jesus name. Amen
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