As I have started a summer sermon series on the shimmering points of Scripture, I thought I would devote some blog time to that series and what has come up during our discussion in worship.
First I observed that in John 3:1-17 that Nicodemus is like those outside the church, who have a faith and are curious but, comes in the night because he is afraid of what others might think of him.
Second I observed that Nicodemus is like those inside the church. He is a Pharisee and a guardian of tradition. This new way Jesus is talking about is appealing but he has no clue of how it can work and may not even want it to.
Third I observed that the Son of Man (Jesus) came into the world not to condemn it but redeem it. What does the redemption of the world look Like? There are many of those inside the church think the world is just fine thank you very much. We are comfortable. Those outside the church see things we cannot see and wonder why we don't do anything about it?
Now things that were raised also is that there is something about the night. We think more, we process more. Perhaps Nicodemus went to Jesus while the thought was still fresh. Secondly as someone pointed out, that it should be okay to ask questions, and we should not be afraid to. But we also should be comfortable going to people with the answers. The responsibility then becomes for the people with answers (the church) not to come off judgmental, but respectful. Also we should be prepared for whatever answer we get, which we may not like.
Redeeming the world is scary because it forces us to acknowledge what we don't like about ourselves or our society, but then also to do something about it. What are we doing to redeem the world as the body of Christ? If nothing else are we asking the questions like Nicodemus?
Share more thoughts as well.
Steve
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