Born of the Spirit
March 20, 2011
Scripture: John 3:1–17
Exploring the Scriptures
Two men meet in an out-of-the-way place late at night. The setting is simple. There are a few props in low, flickering lamplight. Yet, the scene is etched with fresh transformative brilliance into the faith story of every generation. The encounter is a backdrop for the most quoted scripture passages in Christian history: “For God so loved the world…” “[N]o one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”
The writer of John tells us that Nicodemus is a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and a leader of the Jews. He knows authority when he hears and sees it. He has public credentials and a role of power, but sees in Jesus something he knows he does not possess. Humble and yearning for truth, he wants to meet Jesus
.
But Nicodemus gives mixed signals. Apparently he wants to keep this meeting private, thus the night meeting. At least that is the usual connotation. But we learn that Nicodemus, as with other leaders of the Jews, studied at night because it was believed the Koran was best studied at night to glean its meanings. So perhaps Nicodemus gave up some of his precious study time to come to talk with Jesus. We know he represents other Pharisees because he says, (“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God…” [emphasis added]), but he and his colleagues are cautious. Do they prefer darkness to light? We are left with the questions.
Jesus is not intimidated by the Pharisee’s power and position. He seems surprised—shocked that this teacher of the law does not understand what is basic to a relationship with the Divine. He is disappointed, perhaps even angry, that those in positions of leadership have not been grasped by essential truths about the longed-for reign of God upon the earth.
We learn from what Jesus says that no one can see the kingdom unless they are born of the Spirit, unless they “are born anothen.”This Greek term has a double meaning often lost in the English, French, or Spanish translations. It means “again” or “anew.” As well as “from above”. The double meaning must be kept in mind in verses 3 and 7 to discern Jesus’ meaning and the nature of Nicodemus’ misunderstanding. To be born anothen speaks of a time of birth (again) and the place from which the new birth emerges. This new birth gives new access to God.
Pneuma (spirit/wind) can be felt and heard, but it cannot be controlled or predicted. It is a mystery beyond human knowledge. Jesus seems to be saying, “These are the basics. How could anyone be a religious leader without understanding that? Open yourself to this uncontrollable but trustworthy Presence of God.”
The Gospel writer yearns for readers to have their own encounter with God through this recorded event. To do this, like Nicodemus, we must go to an unsettling place. We must let go of what we know and what makes sense to be reborn through the example of the alternative life of Jesus, a life of service. We approach the text knowing that we also do not yet know what it is about. As with the writer, we also have assumptions and certitudes that must be set aside!
This birth in the Spirit is not about physical rebirth (Nicodemus’ quandary), nor is it only about an individual’s private moment of conversion (a common interpretation). Being born of the Spirit “envisions a new mode of life for which there are no precedents, life born of water and the Spirit, life regenerated through an encounter with God”. To be fully human we are invited to ground our life in God’s Spirit.
We make this encounter in many different ways. Sometimes it may come as an “aha moment”. Or it may come in a moment of crisis. But however it comes, it is a new realization that God is with us….beside us and supporting us in the moments when we need that support the most. We encounter a new strength…a new resolve that comes from anywhere but from within ourselves. That resolve strengthens and even embraces us. It is God’s Holy Spirit. In that moment, we have been born anew.
So, like Nicodemus, we yearn to find that special spirit and we approach God to ask for it. But it is apparently not that easy. To actually receive God’s special spirit, we learn, as Nicodemus did, that we must have a vision of the reign of God. It doesn’t involve just us. It must include others. One does not enter or even approach the reign of God alone. It involves community. And it involves this new vision. That vision, like that of Jesus, involves approaching God’s reign in the company of others. It involves service to others…caring about others and attempting to help meet their deepest needs. And we are unable to do that on our own. We need to be born anew. We will not live fully unless we open our lives to receive new life through God’s Spirit, which is beyond our control or understanding….like the wind.
We misunderstand the message of Jesus if we think our salvation in this life or in an afterlife is entirely through an emphasis on changing ourselves. That was the message of John the Baptist. The special transformation we seek comes as we immerse ourselves in community…..relationships with others. Transformation comes through encounter with God and others. That was the message of Jesus.
This story offers us a gift. It leads us into a deeper understanding of mission. It asks us to reform ourselves from our self-centeredness. It asks us to look at our personal salvation with new eyes and realize that our salvation is a corporate encounter. It doesn’t have as much to do with the afterlife as it does with this life. God’s reign, as Nicodemus learned, is not accomplished alone.
But we also know that encountering God’s Spirit is not easy. Nicodemus also learned that. It’s not something we can learn directly from another. Transformation comes through encounter. The less we are absorbed with ourselves, the more likely we will encounter that for which we are searching.
What the writer of John is offering is a new way of seeing reality. The experience of “being born again” is to see in a new way. And it is not a once in a life time event. We continuously need to change our perception. It marks a new way of life where we see that there is a reality that enlivens all of reality, and it is the novel influence of God in every nanosecond. There is no dualism of spirit and physical, religion and secular, but there is a unity where we experience within our secular reality the will of God.
Being born again is to see this inner reality to life - to see our world as holy. The earth is full of the beauty of God, and our job - our project - is see this inner reality and to work with it. And when we see this is the truth about life, we are energized to care for all around us. It is to see the world as full of meaning. It is to learn from others and honor their insights about this inner truth - that life is inspirited. We turn around and now treat the world, and those in it, as having something to teach us. Encountering this spiritual truth has the power to transform our thinking about the nature of life, to moves into solidarity with others, to join with others as our brothers and sisters, and thus to create a new reality - a new way thinking about life - we are in this together and we need one another to heal our broken unity.
From Section 164 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we hear, “When your willingness to live in sacred community as God’s new creation exceeds your natural fear of spiritual and relational transformation, you will become who you are called to be. The rise of Zion the beautiful, the peaceful reign of God, awaits your wholehearted response to the call to make and steadfastly hold to God’s covenant of peace in Jesus Christ.—Doctrine and Covenants 164:9b
…when you are truly baptized into Christ you become part of a new creation. By taking on the life and mind of God, you increasingly view yourselves and others from a changed perspective. Former ways of defining people by economic status, social class, sex, gender, or ethnicity no longer are primary. Through the gospel of Christ a new community of tolerance, reconciliation, unity in diversity and love is being born as a visible sign of the coming reign of God.”
Our encounter with God’s Spirit can be a gift to our family, our community and even our congregation. It invites us to mission…personal mission as well as corporate mission. The story of Nicodemus invites us to the search. It invites us to turn from personal absorption to service to others. The search itself may lead to the personal transformation or we may encounter it when we least expect it. . But we do know that as we immerse ourselves in mission, it can lead us to the answers we seek.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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