March 30, 2025 "Look Up And Live"

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The story of Jesus and Nicodemus. In order to understand this, we have to know a little bit about Nicodemus. John gives us some clues. He's a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Smart. Well respected. His whole life was dedicated to understanding and living up to Torah - becoming as holy and righteous as can be in order to honor God. He comes to Jesus under cover of darkness. Perhaps he didn't want to be seen by his fellow Pharisees. Maybe his faith had become stale - like it wasn't giving him life. But he notices that Jesus lives differently - he wants what Jesus has. A vibrant life. A vibrant faith. Jesus tells him he must be born again. And like a good fundamentalist, Nico reads him literally. Doesn't understand the metaphor. So Jesus talks about the Spirit - the wind. He still doesn't get it. So Jesus pulls an obscure story out of Numbers about biting snakes, dying people, and salvation by way of a bronze snake up on a stick. Weird, I know. If you look up at the snake after being bitten - you live. Look up and live. Why don't we look up and live? Well, sometimes we don't look up and live because we're afraid - sometimes we're filled with shame because of the image of God we've been given. But sometimes we don't because we think we can take care of our own problems all on our own. Jesus tells Nico this story so he'll understand that a relationship with the Divine is founded on love and grace. That's how transformation takes place. That might have been difficult for Nico to hear. Maybe he felt like his whole belief system had been a sham. But this wasn't condemnation - this was an invitation to start again - to be born again. Maybe "born again" is an openness to this Spirit - maybe it's an openness to change and growth. Maybe it's to see the world with wonder and curiosity. Maybe "born again" is a willingness to trust God with your life - your future - like a newborn trusts mommy and daddy. Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: John 3:1-21 https://www.bible.com/events/49413343

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