Why didn’t Jesus mention baptism to Nicodemus?

Question:

Why didn't Jesus mention baptism to Nicodemus in the gospel of John when he asked?

Answer:

Great question. I love Nicodemus's story, and I believe it can help us understand the need for water baptism.

Firstly, I would like to say we don’t see the whole story of Nicodemus played out. All we see here is this conversation. I presume much more happened after this conversation, as we see Nicodemus later in John 7:50 and 19:39, but we never really see any definitive declaration of Nicodemus’ faith here.

Also, to get the complete picture of a topic, we cannot always look at one story and get the whole picture. I think if someone read this text without a background in the Scriptures, they would be very confused. So we have to always harmonize the Scriptures, and after investigating what Jesus says here, it’s clear to me that Jesus is advocating baptism.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” and “they must be born of water and the Spirit.” What do these mean?

Just after this conversation with Nicodemus, we find, "After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized" (John 3:22). It even got to the point that "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John" (John 4:1). The baptism was in water. Paul explains this “new birth” analogy very well in Romans 6:4, which says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” This verse highlights that baptism allows us to be born again as we die and are raised in Christ.

As far as being born of the Spirit, in John 3 again, John explained why Jesus would become greater. "What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:32-36). The word used for "does not obey" is interesting because it combines the idea of disbelief and disobedience into one word. However, notice the need to receive Jesus' testimony because Jesus speaks the words of God, and those words give the Spirit. Therefore, we have the idea similar to the one presented in I Peter 1:22-25 that Christians are born of the word of God. Or, as James stated, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). James then follows this with the urging to obey the word and not merely listen to it (James 1:22-25).

These same two elements are found in combination in Titus too, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). Here I believe “regeneration” is just another word for being born again and “washing” is a reference to baptism in water. “Renewal” refers to the transformation of the person (Romans 12:2), which is what being born again is all about.

Andy Belknap