Lent

March 8, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? –John 3:1-10

We like Nicodemus get so caught up in figuring out how one can be born as an adult, we may miss the comment Jesus made to Nicodemus preceding the comment about birth. No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. Nicodemus had already recognized the presence of God in Jesus. He did not know what to make of it, what it was that set Jesus apart. Nicodemus has likely spent his entire life following the laws of God and serving God in the best way he could. Was Jesus calling him to start all over again?

I can think of some idioms that we used to describe such situations. Can a leopard change its strips? Can an old dog be taught new tricks? Can a devout follower of God accept a new way of thinking about God? Many of us have spent years studying the Bible, being taught the way we are to live based on the Bible, even being steeped in the importance of individual salvation perhaps over our calling to work toward the Kingdom of God. We work hard at doing all things right and Jesus did not say that was wrong. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.’ God makes some leopards with spots instead of strips and old dogs can be taught new tricks. We can learn to love those whom we judge unlovable or unsalvageable because Jesus assumed the responsibility of judgement freeing us to love*. Jesus calls us to partnership in his work.

Prayer: God of the Future, help us to transition wherever and whenever necessary to new roles and responsibility as you have plans for us to assume. Amen.

*See Matthew 13:36-43

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.