Sermon "Born of the Spirit"
Rev. Lonnie Richardson
Sunday, February 28, 1999
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Born of the Spirit
Nicodemus was one of the learned Pharisees and respected member of the Sanhedrin. He knew much about the scriptures. He is attracted to the gifted Galilean who is healing the sick and who already has numerous followers. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach. This is Jesus' own version of "Nic at Night."
Nicodemus begins his conversation with Jesus affirmatively. "We know that you come from God because of your signs." Jesus ignores the comment or compliment. He sees the heart of the man who is before him. And he makes a totally unexpected response. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born from above." Jesus is saying, I have been preaching and demonstrating the quality of the kingdom of God but you cannot see it unless you have a new center to your life, a new kind of birth. Yet, as Nicodemus immediately points out, how can an old man do this? Not just reenter his mother's womb, but break from all the habits and convictions and proofs of a lifetime? How?
Jesus then refers Nicodemus to baptism by water, the baptism John preached, which was preceded by repentance, a new directed heart. By water and the spirit, he says. And now the level of possibility rises-- from seeing the kingdom to entering the kingdom. From the things of the flesh, to the things of the spirit. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of what he has experienced: the feel of the wind on his face and in his hair. You know it is the wind, he says, but you cannot see where it comes from. So it is with the spirit. And when Nicodemus is still puzzled, Jesus moves to another level yet--that of personal commitment. Jesus is beginning to use the first person plural, to identify what has happened to his disciples with the desire he sees in Nicodemus. It is a challenge to Nicodemus to make an open declaration, join the company of the faithful, the followers of Jesus. "We speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony."
Receiving the testimony is a decision that requires the same courage and faith that is counted as righteousness, according to St. Paul. The faith that allows one to see and recognize the results of the spirit--the coming of the son of God who descended from heaven only to be lifted up again on the cross.
And the story concludes with the verse that Luther called "the Gospel in miniature," the famous passage from John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life."
The gospel writer doesn't tell us how Nicodemus responded. We know, however, that he did not immediately become one of the open followers of Jesus. But Nicodemus' heart never stopped caring, because it was Nicodemus who, after the crucifixion, came to Jesus' tomb-once more at night-- carrying 75 pounds of aloes and perfumes to anoint the body of the young Jesus that he had admired so much at night.
In our day there is so much unnecessary argument between those who call themselves "born again" and those who believe that Jesus spoke about and died for more than personal salvation. That the salvation of the whole world is at stake. But this wonderful passage rises above such arguments. It speaks about the kingdom of God as the son envisioned it and preached it. During the first successful days of Jesus' earthly ministry, the cross seemed far away. Yet when Nicodemus starts by flattering Jesus, he disregards the praise in order to speak of a much higher standard, the standard of the kingdom, where it is faith that matters. And it is this faith that eventually leads to the cross. Whether we call it "being born again," or being born from above, or being converted, or even being confirmed in the Congregational church, what Jesus is asking of us is to be born of the spirit. Pay attention to it. Not religion but relationship.
In that new realm of faith that Jesus is the son of God; we encounter the one who came for one reason: to show us the love of God and promise of eternal life.
There is a story told about how St. Augustine was accosted on the street one time, shortly after his conversion, by a former mistress. He turned and walked in the opposite direction. Surprised, the woman cried out "Augustine, Augustine, it is I." But Augustine proceeding on his way cried back to her, "Yes, but it is not I."
What he meant was that there was a new Augustine, and the old Augustine was gone. He had become a new person in Christ. Which is the magnificent news of the gospel. You can be born of the spirit. Faith can affect change!
Let us pray:
We thank you Lord for what you have done and in your divine plan in sending the Christ so we can embrace your life and connect with you. God may we find you as the very center of our being and celebration of life. Amen.
