pastorbillrandles wrote:
“I believe that Jesus was talking in a language Nicodemus as a Rabbi, Sanhedrinist and expert in scripture would know well, Jesus was alluding to a specific scripture, Ezekiel 36.”
Of course, there is no indication of this at all in the context of John 3. However, since the recorded exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus leads immediately into the subject of baptism and John the Baptizer (John 3:22), why in world would you overlook the most obvious and nearby referent to Jesus’ words, that is to John’s baptism?
There is evidence in the context of John 3 of what Pastor Brandles is saying here. Look at 3:10 where Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of ISRAEL and you do not know these things?” This means that being “born of water and spirt” was taught in the Old Testament, and Nicodemus should have known about regeneration by water and spirit. There are actually many verses in the Old Testament which speak of regeneration by water and spirit besides Ezekiel 36. Joel 2, Isaiah 32 and 44 are just to name a few.
"Water and Spirit" comes right out of Ezekiel. Jesus spoke in terms of scripture, Nicodemus was familiar with Ezekiel 36. A new birth would correspond more to a "new heart" than to baptism.
the testimony of John the Baptist (John3:22-) is distinct from the conversation with Nicodemus. John the Baptist, , serves in his testimony to give a Christocentric recap of the earlier themes of the chapter. Jesus wouldn't have pointed Nicodemus to John the Baptist, John the Baptist was sent to point people to Jesus