I have just returned home after spending some time in California, visiting my son Cory. We had quite an adventure. It was good to spend time with him but as always, it’s good to get back home as well.
This morning I am once again marveling at the genius of Christ. Have you ever noticed how his words always seem new each time we read them?
Of course, the words of Christ are spirit-driven, but can’t we also argue that from a certain point of view, we are new each day too? Each day we can use new ears to hear the old, old story of Jesus and his love!
This morning, I was rereading the story of Nicodemus for about the millionth time; and, an old Seals and Croft song began to play in my head.
Yes, I know! This is weird, even for me. I’ll get to this in a moment.
But at the root of it all, when we begin to peel back the layers, I am stunned at the invitation that Jesus is offering to Nicodemus in this Bible story. Christ is offering nothing less than an altered state of consciousness.
In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus allowed the door of enlightenment to crack open; and, it caused the old Pharisee to question everything he’d ever been taught or believed in?
What if…what if by extension, somehow, someway we are also being invited into Nicodemus’ invitation? Confused? Well, hang on and let me see if I can unpack this a wee bit.
We’ll need a very quick backstory to begin: Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish ruling council back in the day.
Like many earthly institutions in modern times, the Sanhedrin ruled with an iron fist. You might call them a steamroller!
All aspects of Judaic Law had been parsed and dissected so there was no interpretation other than what they said it was; and, it was their way or the highway! Compassion, mercy, love and forgiveness was not really in their realm of behavior.
Theirs was an angry, abrasive, tense, joyless existence. God was viewed as a maniacal tyrant who was ever ready to pull the trigger, open up a can or even call down a full-blown Armageddon should anyone get out of line.
In their understanding, God was vindictive, capricious and willy-nilly. The Sanhedrin took their authority seriously and behaved as if someone had died and made them boss!
For example, check out the woman who was caught in adultery (John 8). The rule keepers were poised to murder this woman by stoning her to death for this unlawful act. But, then Jesus stepped in.
Jesus called them out regarding their hypocrisy. In a peculiar, funny sort of way, the Sanhedrin had completely overlooked the fact that it takes two to tango!
In other words, it took a male counterpart to participate in this act before the letter of the Law was completely violated. OK, so where is the dude?
We do not hear one word about the man! All eyes are focused upon this so-called fallen woman! But, what about the man?
Jesus saw this hypocrisy and called their hand, “Let any one of you who is without sin cast the first stone (John 8:7b NIV).”
Nicodemus was not blind! He saw all of the hypocrisy around him! He’d had his Popeye moment, “I’ve had all I can stands and I can’t stands no more!” But he was at a loss as to what to do about it.
Jesus had the answer! I call it The Summons! Jesus said, “You must be born again (John 3:3b NIV).”
Have you ever simmered on this invitation? Consider the breadth of what Jesus is offering.
Jesus is inviting Nicodemus to participate in a miracle. He is inviting him into a brand-new future!
But…there was one caveat! Jesus was giving Nicodemus permission to release his past; and, for the miracle to become complete, Nicodemus would have to accept the invitation.
This would not be easy! It would require Nicodemus to consider that everything he had been taught about God, everything he had banked his life on…was false.
Simmer on that for a moment! Jesus issues The Summons. Our response needs to consider that much of what we have bet the farm on, invested our beliefs in…is probably wrong.
God loves the world! Fact! All human life is sacred! Fact! Every prejudice and stereotype that we have formulated is inaccurate! Fact!
But, from a certain point of view, isn’t being born again an invitation to experience new life, life that is no longer colored by the past? This is a true spiritual awakening.
Now, back to Seals and Crofts. Several decades ago, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts wrote the lyrics to a prophetic ballad that cracks open the door a wee bit; and, it allows a beam of light to shine through.
The song they wrote and recorded was Ruby Jean and Billie Lee:
Oh Ruby Jean, it doesn’t seem like a long, long time,
Since we were born again.
Into the dazzling light, uniting black and white.
You are the rich brown earth, and I’m the flowers that grow.
Oh Billie Lee, we shall be free in the years to come,
to help build the Promised Land.
We’ll go where the day springs run, forever and live as one.
He is the object of our longing, and we’re His creation.
We’ll have children…of the Kingdom.
They won’t be torn by war, nor will they
Kill or hate, or hesitate, to love. Justice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ47Jf-BnkE
The distance between love and hate; dark and light; fear and peace, can be overcome if we are willing to release our investment in the past.
Yes…I know…it can be costly. It cost Nicodemus everything he had.
So, is truth worth the cost? For far too many I am afraid, truth is too costly to accept!
But, as Jesus said to the paralytic, “Do you want to get well (John 5:6b NIV)?”
If we use the past to color the present we will not see the freedom that Christ holds for us in his hands.
“Judgment and condemnation are behind you, and unless you bring them with you, you will see that you are free of them (A Course in Miracles, T.13.6).”