Word to the Wise
Monday, April 20, 2020 - 2nd Week of Easter - Mon
[Acts 4:23-31 and John 3:1-8]"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit." [John]
For the next several days, the gospel scripture for daily Eucharist is taken from the first 21 verses of the third chapter of the Gospel According to John. It is the encounter between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus. I recommend to the Beloved Congregation that you read the WHOLE section now so that it will all make sense as we go through it. The encounter is really an introduction to many of the dramatic and linguistic "tools" that the evangelist will use throughout the gospel in creating his portrait of Jesus. These tools include contrasts (light/darkness, above/below), misunderstanding (Nicodemus' misunderstands "born again") leading to "discourse," symbolism ("water" is a symbol of Jesus' own life - cf. John 4:13 and 7::37-39 and Moses "lifting up" the serpent), and "Amen" statements of major truths.
In the passage for today, when Nicodemus arrives by "night," Jesus speaks of being "born from above" and "born of water and Spirit." It is faith in Jesus that brings about this "re-birth." Although there are some traditional interpretations that consider this passage a reference to the sacramental practice of Baptism, the reference here is more to coming to faith in Jesus and not literally to the water of Baptism.
Since Jesus uses the symbol of water to describe his life in us through faith, we might consider the many ways in which water plays a major role in God's plan of salvation on both the physical and spiritual levels. Although Nicodemus fades into the background, we stand alongside him. Jesus will introduce us to some very important truths in the next few days! AMEN