The Story

 John 3:1-17

These few verses at the end eclipse the story. They are the most often thing focused on we don't realize the richness of the story they are attached to. So lets explore this today.

In the night, see the setting in John is important. Night, noon, before dawn how we can see in the dark it all relate s to the story. A Pharisee, a leader comes to Jesus because he's curious about this person.

We know you are not far from the presence of God. Because of this Jesus responds in the way John often does with talk from above, Spirit talk. What is it to be born from above? Is it stepping into the deep peace and stream of Gods love? Is it living a life in which others can see that love personified, incarnated in your very being? This is Nicodemus' question yet he gets more practical with it in terms of physicality. Jesus' response is more Spirit talk.

How far away has the wind come to you? Where does it blow in and through you? Do you understand this? If not how can you understand what is from above? And you then Jesus says those words. So why do we think we can distill this story just down to these words when a learned scholar from the religious elite walks away confused? 

Maybe its because we know deep down God loves the world. God loves us so much, God sacrifices for us. We need to ground ourselves, baptize ourselves in this. Not so we can pick it up to condemn others because this is not the reason for the statement. It is so we know we are loved.

When we work out of this love our whole world changes. It is brought upside down. Because we know whose and who we are. We are claimed and not left. It means we sacrifice because we know Jesus did.

In this story, there is love, the love of God for another. No condemnation, just questions to lead this questioner into the way of love. If we learn anything from this story, may it be this.