John 3:1-4 What does “born again” mean? The Greek word for again is anothen It's primary meaning is “above” John likes to use directional/spacial language as a metaphor for talking about God's presence The other meaning anothen can have is again or anew So Jesus's point is this: Nicodemus, you need a new beginning and a new source John 3:5-8 In verse 5, Jesus alludes to Ezekiel 36 He wants Nicodemus to recognize that he doesn't just need a little additive in his life, he needs an entirely new, animating, life source. John 3:9-15 Jesus concludes his conversation with an OT reference from Numbers 21 In this story, the Israelites rebel, like they have so many times before. But this time, God's punishment is severe. He sends a bunch of venomous snakes into the camp which bite and poison the Israelites. When they finally own up to their sin, God doesn’t just make them instantaneously better. He tells Moses to fashion a bronze, metal serpent and wrap it around a pole. When the Israelites look at the serpent, they are healed. So this snake, the thing which was killing them, is strangely transformed into the object which saves them. Jesus sees himself being lifted up in the same way. His crowning victory is accomplished on a Roman crucifixion rack. And our sin, the thing which is killing us, becomes the means of our salvation.