Becoming Something Really New

For June 3, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version

What difference does being a person of faith make to that person, to the person’s behavior, priorities, and endeavors? The scripture for today points to faith being transformational, that through faith we become something different – born from above. Take a look, what do you think?

This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures. It works well if shared between two or more people as a conversation but there is much to be gained by just considering the questions for yourself. Commentaries for the lectionary scripture can be found on Textweek through this link http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn3a.htm

John 3: 1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it." 3Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom."

• What can we infer about Nicodemus from this scripture? Who might he be and what brought him to Jesus? John’s gospel mentions Nicodemus again in 7:46-52 and 19:39. What do these scriptures add to our picture of him?

• What does John want us to learn from Nicodemus? Is he locked into some rigid set of theological “truths” or is he open to explore and question?

• How does Jesus feel about Nicodemus being drawn to him because of “signs”? Were Jesus’ miracles important to you at any point in your faith life?

• How he deal with Nicodemus’ questions? Do you feel that they were answered in a way in which Nicodemus could understand? When have faith questions come up in your life and how have you dealt with them? Should we expect faith questions to stop coming up at some point or not?

• There are at least three ways to translate Jesus’ teaching about seeing the Kingdom of God. The first is “born again, a second is “born anew” and the third is “born from above”. How does each speak to you about faith (if at all) and to what extent does each speak to your own experience?

• All of these translations infer that we will leave something behind if we are reborn. What might some of those things be based on your understanding of the gospels? What might be some of the things we find in the world of the reborn?

Jesus continues:
John 3: 4"How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?" 5-6Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit. 7"So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'—out of this world, so to speak.

• Is Nicodemus asking a foolish question? Should we feel any constraints in asking questions and seeking answers about our understanding of faith issues?

• How is the rebirth described? What has to be done to be reborn? What forms the person who ‘submits to this original creation’? How does this description fit with your faith journey? What got you started, have you changed with time, what caused these changes? Do you feel that your spirituality has impacted the kind of person that you are now? Can you see these events in terms of being reborn or not?

• Jesus speaks of being born ‘out of this world’. Does this have any meaning for you? How is living a life of faith different than living a life as part of the popular culture of today?

• What are some things that are different when we are reborn? How are lives changed when this happens? See:

Galatians 5 :22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.


I Corinthians 12:4-6 4-11God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!


Romans 12:2 Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

• How do these scriptures speak to you about living a life of faith? To what degree are they either a reality for you in your life or things you have seen in other faithful believers? Do they speak to something that come immediately in a faith journey or something that comes with “being formed by something we cannot see or touch” (the Spirit)?

Jesus continues his teaching to Nicodemus:


John 3:8"So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." 9Nicodemus asked, "What do you mean by this? How does this happen?"

• The Greek word for wind, spirit and breath is the same which can contribute to confusion in interpretation and understanding. What point is made about the wind? What do you think that Jesus is teaching about being led by the Spirit?

• Has your faith life ever taken you in unexpected directions? Have you ever gotten involved in something, changed perceptions of people, changed priorities for the use of your time, or contributed financially because of a faith conviction? Are you more open to leading a life inspired by your prayer life, bible study, or other people of faith in your life?

• After all of this Nicodemus still has questions, do you? Is he afraid to ask them? Where should we go with our questions? What spiritual tools are available to us? What resources do you have for searching faith questions? How important is a faith community in our search and in our growth as we are “formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit”.

Closing Prayer

Holy One, grace us with your presence. You who create, fashion faith from our questions. You who redeem, bring life through our wonderings. You who breathe life’s breath, inspire our spirits to follow yours. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) or Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 138 or 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35



Jesus to Us - Be Born From Above

For March 20, 2011

All Scriptures from The Message

Nicodemus appears several times in John’s Gospel as a man of faith and a significant leader who was drawn to Jesus. In the today’s scripture John has Nicodemus questioning who Jesus was and getting what might have seemed an unrelated answer:

John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it." 3Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom."

• What can we infer about Nicodemus from this scripture? Who was he be and what brought him to Jesus? What might have caused him to come to Jesus late at night? How might he have taken Jesus’ response?

John’s gospel mentions Nicodemus again in 7:46-52:
50-51Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus earlier and was both a ruler and a Pharisee, spoke up. "Does our Law decide about a man's guilt without first listening to him and finding out what he is doing?" 52-53But they cut him off. "Are you also campaigning for the Galilean? Examine the evidence. See if any prophet ever comes from Galilee."
and 19:39.
39-42Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus' body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

• What do these scriptures add to our picture of him? Do you think that he came to regret not standing up with more vigor to the other Jewish leaders? What do his actions at the tomb tell us about whether he saw the Kingdom of God or not?

Let’s look at the story of Nicodemus’ first visit in John 3:1-3 above:

• What does John want us to learn from Nicodemus in this story in his Gospel? How do you think that Jesus felt about Nicodemus being drawn to him because of “signs”? Are the stories of Jesus’ miracles important to you? What is the point of performing miracles, why were they one of the significant features of his ministry?
• Jesus says that his role is to point to “God’s Kingdom” and that we need to have a spiritual rebirth if we are to see it. How has Jesus, through his actions and teachings, revealed God and what God hopes for us to you? Can you think of the two or three most important to you?
• There are at least three ways to translate Jesus’ teaching about seeking the Kingdom of God. The first is that we are to be “born again, a second is “born anew” and the third is “born from above”. How does each speak to you about faith (if at all) and to what extent does each speak to your own experience? Do you have a different way of describing this process of spiritual change?
• All of these translations infer that we will leave something behind if we are reborn. What might some of those things be based on your understanding of the gospels? Have you left anything behind (been changed) by your faith journey?

John continues the story in his Gospel:

John 3:4"How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?" 5-6Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit. 7-8"So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God."

• Is Nicodemus asking a foolish question? Should we feel any constraints in asking questions and seeking answers about our understanding of faith issues? When faith questions have come up in your life and how have you dealt with them? Did you have someone to turn to and ask questions? What other resources did you utilize?
• Jesus gives us the prerequisites for a relationship with God; who has to take action in order to establish and maintain that relationship. Do you relate in any way to the idea of being formed (reformed actually) by the Spirit? Has this been part of your faith journey, have you ever a felt Spiritual presence
• What are some things that are different when we are born from above and formed by the Spirit How are lives changed when this happens? See:

Galatians 5:22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people…

I Corinthians 12:4 Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful…

What would you add to these thoughts?

One part of your preparation for Lent could be taking a spiritual inventory – how is the process of being changed by the Spirit going (it never ends) – what is encouraging and discouraging the change process? Then celebrate the changes for the good and seek God’s guidance in dealing with the constraints.

Closing Prayer

Holy One, grace us with your presence. You who creates, fashion faith from our questions. You who redeems, bring life through our wonderings. You, who breathe life’s breath into us, inspire us to new life in your Spirit. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42