born of the spirit
A blessed Trinity Sunday to all. During the Pentecost season, we focus on the third person of the Trinity, the one less recognized in the unity of God in three Persons — the Holy Spirit. We look at the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit and see how important the spirit is in moving us today. God the Father, we understand as the Creator; God the Son we know as the Redeemer; and now God the Spirit, the presence of God today that makes things happen.
Let us draw lessons about the work of the Holy Spirit from the man named Nicodemus.
He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish Council. He came to Jesus at night and asked, “Rabii we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs you are doing unless God is with you.
Then Jesus answers him “Truly, truly I say unto you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man re-enter the womb of his mother and be born again? Jesus: “What is flesh is flesh, what is spirit is spirit.
Being born again is being born of the spirit. Seeing with new eyes of faith, living in eternal reality now, believing in the Son of Man, who will be lifted up so that everyone who believes may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (3:16)
Nicodemus is a decent, godly man impressed by Jesus miracles. But something about his mind set, prevents the spirit’s power? Where does it come from? Elevation. Take Maria Christian falls. At the base of the falls is a powerhouse. Above the falls is Lake Lanao hundreds of feet above. Elevation enables the waterfall to create the power. If there was no elevation, if Lake Lanao and the powerhouse were in the same level, there would be no power. We must allow the elevation of God to create the power in us.
What was Nicodemus difficulty with the power of the spirit?
1. Nicodemus was too elevated, comfortable with his own power.
The Sanhedrin was the Highest Council of Israel. It would be equivalent to the Supreme Court cum Congress today presided over by the President. It was made up of teachers, lawyers (Pharisees) the landed families, the Chief Priests and the Sadducees who interpreted Jewish Law, investigated and judged minor offenders. Like the Philippine Senate investigating the case of Hayden Kho, in aid of legislation.
The Sanhedrin was not really the power source. It was tolerated by Rome, to appease the Jews. It gave them the illusion of self government, gave them enough comfort, so they would not have to resort to rebellion or seek to overthrow the government.
Nicodemus belonged to this chamber. He was a proud Jew, not eager to let Jesus take his power, remove him from his job and position of power, comfort zone. Note that his position of power, hinders the power of the Holy Spirit in him. Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Power of God.
2. Nicodemus is a timid, indecisive, fearful witness of Jesus
When the Sanhedrin discussed the controversy over Jesus in Jn 7:50, many condemned Jesus as blasphemer. He can forgive sins? What? Is He God? Is this son of the carpenter, the Messiah? But if he was the Messiah, there were two dangers: 1) the Romans would require the Sanhedrin to quash the pretender to Jewish power; 2) If the people believed in Jesus, then the power of the Sanhedrin would be undermined. The Romans would be relying on a powerless Sanhedrin. And so the Sanhedrin decided to discredit Jesus. They belittled Jesus: “Will the Messiah come from Galilee?
To his credit, decent and timid Nicodemus protested. The Council was dealing with Jesus too rashly. He wanted to give Jesus a chance. He said, “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing? (7:50)
Nicodemus was a learned, decent, godly man, but the Spirit was not with him. He understood the world through his own logic. He could not accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Law says, the Messiah would be a conquering king. God cannot change that or maybe God could. But he feared the Orthodox conformists in the Sanhedrin. He did not want to be accused as one coming from Galilee.
There’s a story of a man who was being trained as an evangelist. He would bring a tract entitled “Would you give your life to God?” knock on doors and hand out the tracts hoping for a discussion and for commitments. One day he knocked on this particular door. He heard some movements inside so he knocked again and again, even though no one came. Finally a man appeared, took the track and slammed the door in his face. The evangelist returned to that house a week later. This time the man opened the door immediately and asked the evangelist in. Inviting him inside, the man was brought to a room where a sturdy rope was dangling from the rafter. The man said, friend, when you knocked on the door last week, my head was in that noose. I was ready to jump. But since you were so persistent, I decided to go down and see who it was. And you gave me that track. Thank God, God spoke to me through that track. I knelt down and gave my life to the Lord.
3. Nicodemus is a man who picks up the pieces
Because Nicodemus, defended Jesus Christ (7:50) so meekly (i.e., without spirit) in the Sanhedrin, he allowed the mob to rule. And the inevitable happened. Jesus was crucified. All a good man needs to do to let evil flourish is not to do anything.
After he died, Nicodemus was one of two men the other Joseph of Arimathea, who brought down the body of Jesus Christ from the cross for burial. He took down the body of the greatest man who ever lived. It was all sentimental superfluity. In 3 days, that body would be lifted. He picks up the pieces of things that are broken.
Reflection questions: Nicodemus is still alive today in spiritless churches. I know a church: No pastor. No tithes. Choir does not practice. No mission. No Sunday School. Too much elevation of the members. Not born of the spirit. Spirit cannot work.
1. Are we like Nicodemus, zealous in protecting our comfort zones?
2. Are we like Nicodemus, proud of his position of power, confident of his orthodoxy? God will not surprise him with new things?
3. Are we like Nicodemus, decent, god fearing, fair but timid witness of Jesus, not yet born of the spirit?
4. Are we like Nicodemus who procrastinates, acts too late, sentimentally, superfluously?
(Sermon delivered June 7, 2009, Silliman church)
