Podcast: Play in new window Download. Subscribe: RSS. John Actually, I was a mess. And the thought that God actually loves me — me! By that point I was in high school, and it so happens I had trained to be a lifeguard. In actuality, it was like I who was drowning in my own stuff. I needed to be rescued; I needed to be saved from my self-disdain.
God so loves our own world. Read More. Romans John Fearing uncertainty, we often focus on what knowledge we have as something to grasp. Nicodemus, a religious leader, comes to Jesus sounding confident.
We know what is possible and impossible. No one can do the signs you are doing apart from God, so we know that you are a teacher from God. Jesus is neither direct nor clear. Perhaps the language confuses Nicodemus. Nicodemus was born in the established, assumed way, from a Jewish mother. Part of his trouble may be from being an insider. Nicodemus comes confident in his knowledge, thinks he knows who Jesus is, what is possible, what makes sense, therefore what must be true.
Such certainty traps. Holding so tight to tradition and reason restricts hearing God. The Spirit moves like wind, blowing where it will. We cannot predict nor contain.
God is always more. As religious people we can be too certain about our religious knowledge and not hear the news, good and often disturbing news of Jesus. As descendants of Abraham, we are blessed so that all people may be blessed. Everyone is invited to be children of God. To those already inside, this may be disturbing that others will join. To those on the margins, this is especially good news of welcome and belonging.
