Section 15
among the Pharisees. John told them that he bap tized in water, but that Another was coming who would baptize with the Spirit. After hearing this word of John's, the Pharisees probably discussed it among themselves, for, at that time, it was a new saying. Since the Pharisees were quite seri ous, after hearing such a word spoken by John the Baptist, they must have had a long talk about it. As Nicodemus was a Pharisee, he should have been familiar with these terms. Now Nicodemus, as one of the Pharisees, is talking with the Lord, and the Lord speaks these familiar words to him, saying that to be born anew is to be born of water and of the Spirit.
Water is the central sign of the ministry of John the Baptist, that is, to bury and terminate people of the old creation. In his ministry, John the Bap tist came to baptize with water. He told people that they had to repent and realize that they were fallen and good for nothing except burial. Every one who heard John's preaching and repented was baptized in water. This means that, as fallen men of the old creation, they were being terminated. That was John's ministry. Furthermore, John told people that his ministry was for the ministry of the Lord Jesus. As water is the central sign in the ministry of John the Baptist, Spirit is the central