Lent Day 7: Not all of us ...

 John 3 is famous for verse 16: God so loved that world that he gave his only Son, so that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is part of Jesus' conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus is respected and respectful.  As part of the ruling religious leaders - the Pharisees - he knows scripture. He sincerely wants the truth. Later, he will be one of two men who bury Jesus after his crucifixion.

This is how his visit with Jesus begins in John 3:1:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’

I'm struck by his opening comment: "We know you ... have come from God." The Pharisees recognize the Messiah.

Yet they will do all in their power to resist his miracles, defame his claims, and trap him into heresy. They will oppose people who want to follow him. They will resist the life of God to keep their limited power and status. They are the walking dead who prefer the status quo to eternal life.

But not all of them are like that. Some, like Nicodemus are intent on finding the truth, regardless of what it costs. If you follow Jesus and do what he says, be forewarned:

  • Faith may cost you your reputation among scoffers.
  • Truth may take away your platform among skeptics.
  • Loving kindness may throw you out of a friendship group.
  • Generosity may limit your influence among the greedy.
  • You might become famous (or infamous) for your conversations and actions.
Yot all follow the crowd. Some are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of his name. 

How about you?

Popular posts from this blog

Lent Day 23: A life in hiding

Image
" You have been raised up with Christ. So think about things that are in heaven. That is where Christ is. He is sitting at God’s right hand.  Think about things that are in heaven. Don’t think about things that are only on earth.  You died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3 Where are you hiding? And what are you hiding from? What would happen if you believed God had raised you from the dead and you were focused on heaven? What is you hid behind God' power instead of depending on your own?
Read more

Lent Day 39: Sentenced for your crimes and mine

Image
When the Pharisees and other national leaders take Jesus to the Roman governor, they are looking for the worst punishment they can inflict, a cruel and painful death . Here are the details, from  John 18:28-19:16: Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ they objected.  This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. > This is hardly a trial that seeks justice. Rather, it is a conspiracy to execute someone who threatens the power base and status quo. The reli...
Read more

Lent Day 31, 2024: Pruning that profits us

Image
It's painful to lose things. Sometimes we have to wave goodbye to a friendship, a job, or a home. Sometimes it seems like God is angry with us or that it's our fault. But Jesus offers a different perspective. Jesus talks about the value of the hard times, when things are pruned away.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2) ." Sometimes what you leave behind is something that has outgrown its season or taken energy away from your true purpose: a fruitful life. Other times we don't know why  we are being reshaped.  It can hurt.  The writer to the Hebrews notes: " No  discipline  seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11)." Challenge: Think of som...
Read more