Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 3:7-8

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." — John 3:7-8 (ASV)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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.

There are mysteries in nature. There are mysteries in grace.

Every now-born soul is a mystery. He cannot explain himself. He can scarcely understand himself.

Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from where it comes, and to where it goes: so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is mysterious, like the wind, and so is the creature that is "born of the Spirit." The spiritual man often cannot understand himself, he is so mysterious a being; how then can he fully comprehend how that wondrous new life is created within him? All we know is that he is a new creation, as much the work of eternal power as our first creation.

Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from where it comes and to where it goes: so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

He undergoes a mysterious change; he becomes a new man; he enters into a new life which others cannot comprehend. Though they hear the sound of it, they cannot tell from where this man's new life comes or to where it goes. He has become a spiritual person, not comprehended by natural men.

Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from where it comes, and to where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

He is a mystery. The effect of the work of the Spirit upon him is seen in him, but no one understands what the Spirit of God is, or how he works, any more than he knows from where the wind comes, and to where it goes.

Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it,

The sounding of the wind blowing through the trees—