Good morning friends,
For Lent we'll be spending some time with John's Gospel. Today we pick up with the story of Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Susan preached on this passage last Sunday. Jesus talks about being born again, which reminds us that the transformation God invites us to be part of is truly radical, like a new beginning.
God bless,
Sam
John 3:1-12
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.2He 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.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus 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?”
5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’8The 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.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
born again
Good morning friends,
Nicodemus was a pharisee and a religious leader. He also wanted to know more about who Jesus was and what he was about, so he goes to see him at night. He opens the conversation by acknowledging that Jesus must have come from God because the powerful signs he does couldn't happen otherwise. Jesus replies with this paragraph about how no one can see God without being born from above (also translated "born again.")
This idea of being born again has been powerful both for good and for ill. On the positive side, Jesus' teaching emphasizes the new life and radical transformation that happens when we make God the center of our life. On the negative side, some Christians have tried to limit what it means to be "born again" and insist that one is not a real Christian without a very specific kind of rebirth experience. I believe that coming to Christ feels different for different people and not everyone has a shining light moment of rebirth. At the same time, our faith isn't the powerful force Jesus is talking about if it doesn't really change us. Sometimes being born again is sudden; other times it is subtle, but there is always change as we grow closer to Jesus in our new life.
God bless,
Sam
Nicodemus was a pharisee and a religious leader. He also wanted to know more about who Jesus was and what he was about, so he goes to see him at night. He opens the conversation by acknowledging that Jesus must have come from God because the powerful signs he does couldn't happen otherwise. Jesus replies with this paragraph about how no one can see God without being born from above (also translated "born again.")
This idea of being born again has been powerful both for good and for ill. On the positive side, Jesus' teaching emphasizes the new life and radical transformation that happens when we make God the center of our life. On the negative side, some Christians have tried to limit what it means to be "born again" and insist that one is not a real Christian without a very specific kind of rebirth experience. I believe that coming to Christ feels different for different people and not everyone has a shining light moment of rebirth. At the same time, our faith isn't the powerful force Jesus is talking about if it doesn't really change us. Sometimes being born again is sudden; other times it is subtle, but there is always change as we grow closer to Jesus in our new life.
God bless,
Sam
John 3:3-8
3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus 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?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The 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.”
Sunday, March 20, 2011
born again
Good morning friends,
Today's first reading was last Sunday's Old Testament reading. God calls Abram to leave home into an uncertain future. Abram trusts God and follows. Praise God!
Our second reading features a Jewish leader visiting Jesus at night to see what he's about. Jesus tells him to really know God he has to be born again. Born again has unfortunately been a divisive phrase in American Christianity. Often people who particularly identify as "born again" have a very rigid understanding of what "counts" as a born again experience. The truth is that coming to new life in Christ is sometimes more a growth than a dramatic, instantaneous experience. The point isn't how dramatic your conversion is; instead, the point is that when we come to know and love Jesus a new life begins. We may not even know when it begins, but we find ourselves loving others without expecting it, seeking out scripture to guide us, and living gratefully in the light of God's love. Christ comes to us not to condemn us but to save us.
God bless,
Sam
Genesis 12:1-4a
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.
*Sunday
John 3:1-17
1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He 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.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus 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?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The 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.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Today's first reading was last Sunday's Old Testament reading. God calls Abram to leave home into an uncertain future. Abram trusts God and follows. Praise God!
Our second reading features a Jewish leader visiting Jesus at night to see what he's about. Jesus tells him to really know God he has to be born again. Born again has unfortunately been a divisive phrase in American Christianity. Often people who particularly identify as "born again" have a very rigid understanding of what "counts" as a born again experience. The truth is that coming to new life in Christ is sometimes more a growth than a dramatic, instantaneous experience. The point isn't how dramatic your conversion is; instead, the point is that when we come to know and love Jesus a new life begins. We may not even know when it begins, but we find ourselves loving others without expecting it, seeking out scripture to guide us, and living gratefully in the light of God's love. Christ comes to us not to condemn us but to save us.
God bless,
Sam
Genesis 12:1-4a
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.
*Sunday
John 3:1-17
1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He 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.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus 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?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The 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.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
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