When I worked on my pastoral counseling degree at the Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, PA, I learned a new way of approaching scripture. It was to ask questions of the text in order to gain more understanding. In other words, what do I need to know in order to have somewhat of a grasp on the text.
This approach works for me as I like to be a detective with a text. I want to know the context. Who are all of the characters? Where are they? Setting – town, desert, on or by a lake, etc. What may be some of the words to examine in the original language? There is a free website called the Blue Letter Bible. It’s commentaries are a bit conservative, but you can do word studies. Greek words often have more than one meaning and it is up to the translator to pick the English word.
In Hebrew, there can often be seven English words for one Hebrew word. Depending on what word is used, it can change the meaning of the whole passage.
When scholarship progresses, translators may change the English word.
In order to understand the original message, knowing the context and setting is necessary. As well as getting a grasp of the original language words. It’s not about taking a verse or two and making it fit our way of thinking. It is about first getting a grasp of the message to the people who are listening in the text, their possible dialogue and what it means to them.
Very often there were people asking questions. This didn’t mean that they didn’t believe, but that they wanted to grow in their faith. Sometimes we are afraid that to ask a question means that we may look stupid. Actually, asking the question can further our knowledge and understanding. Just as in a text people may come from different backgrounds or different teachings. This all plays into the understanding of what is being said in context.
Today in our Gospel lesson, we have Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jews coming to Jesus who was known as a kind of a rebel Jew. He felt that coming to Jesus might help him better understand what Jesus had been teaching. Nicodemos also came at night so as not to be seen by other Jews and their leaders as he was not ready for their perceptions. There was something that Jesus had been teaching that Nicodemos wanted to better understand.
Nicodemos acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher from God. This may not have been something he did in public as most of the Jewish leaders did not like that Jesus was rocking the boat for them. Because of what Jesus had been doing, Nicodemus acknowledged that only someone sent from God could do what Jesus had been doing.
What had Jesus been doing in the Gospel of John up until this point? Jesus had turned water into wine at the wedding. Jesus had cleared the temple. These are what John chose to put in his Gospel.
Jesus was someone that Nicodemos trusted, someone that could give him a better understanding of God. Of course, Jesus makes a statement that makes Nicodemos scratch his head. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Of course, Nicodemos could have just said okay without really understanding, but he continued this dialogue of faith as he wanted to understand what Jesus was talking about. He asked Jesus, how can anyone go for a second time into their mother’s womb. Nicodemos was taking this literally. Another translation is being born from above.
This says our connection is with God. Yes we are physically born, but at baptism we are born again. At that time, it is acknowledged that we have eternal life. Parents and sponsors answer at an infant/child baptism for them in affirming this connection or relationship. At confirmation, we affirm that we are continuing in this relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
I believe that as adults we are called to create a safe environment for kids to ask questions. Now sometimes we don’t have the answers and that is okay as long as we acknowledge that and try and discover the answer. The key here is that we need to trust a person in order to be able to ask a question. This is how we grow as people and as people of faith.
If we have learned as children that we should be seen and not heard, it can stunt our growth. We will be less comfortable asking questions. Jesus welcomes us to ask questions and Nicodemos must have sensed this. But if we ask the question, the answer may not be what we expect or may confuse us. Then the question is, do we have the faith that Nicodemos had to continue the dialogue?
This is what faith is about, continuing in the dialogue of life. Whether it be in our personal lives or the life of this church. Growth only comes from asking questions and looking at the possible options and choosing one. This also takes the ability to sit in uncomfortableness.
When we are able to trust that God in Jesus Christ is walking with us, we are more able to continue the dialogues that we encounter in our lives and the life of this church. It will give us the strength to sit in uncomfortableness. It is when we are able to do this that we will be able to see more clearly, God at work. So often we think that we are in it by ourselves, and we are not.
Whether we like it or not, life is always changing. Sometimes we get tired and need to step back and recenter ourselves. Jesus is still walking with us. We will never understand all of it, but we don’t have to. I would be remiss in not mentioning the Trinity. We will never fully understand it and that is okay. When we try and have control over everything we lose our center and can forget that Jesus is walking beside us even when we don’t understand.
It is not easy. I continue to go through changes in my life and waiting for the options to appear is frustrating. I have learned that eventually they appear and then to prayerfully examine each one and make a choice. Then I develop a plan and move forward. I have had a number of them over the years.
As the transition team has had their last meeting and the Ministry Site Profile is being prepared to be presented to the council at their June meeting, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for your leaders. Right now, they have a great deal of responsibility and work to do. Please ask questions of the transition team and the council and they will answer the best that they know how. Also, take those questions to God in Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy spirit for guidance.
It is important to remember that our life and the life of this church is on God’s time and not ours. God is at work. Jesus is walking beside us. Believe along with Nicodemus that Jesus has it together that we can ask him or tell him anything that we want.
It is when we are able to relax enough and trust Jesus in our dialogue that we will see God in Jesus Christ at work right now.
Let us pray: Triune God, we encounter so much in life and many times things just don’t make sense. Our human nature says we can figure it out and often forget to turn to you until we find ourselves tired and near hopelessness. Thank you for reminding us today that you walk beside us and that you give us the permission to ask you questions and tell you how we feel.
Once again today, we renew our trust in you that as we go through the transitions in our own lives as well as here in this beloved community, we don’t have to have all the answers and that you will reveal what we need to know in your time.
Thank you for always being with us. In Jesus, name. Amen