334 SE Tecumseh Road P.O. Box 5 Tecumseh, Kansas 66542 (785) 379-5005 Fax - (785) 379-5061
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Blowing in the wind
John 3:1-17I don't want to mislead you - this is not about the Bob Dylan song. Now don't stop reading on account of that disappointing news, OK?
In the scripture passage, once again Jesus is face to face with one of us mortals who has a hard time understanding Jesus' teaching. Good old Nicodemus, even though he's a leader and presumably an intelligent and learned man, just doesn't get it when Jesus tells him that he (we) must be "born from above". (Please notice that Jesus does not use the terminology "born again".) It's Nicodemus who hears this and interprets this literally, and he actually asks Jesus how it's possible for us to re-enter the womb and be born a second time! He really does, he asks that question! (At least I'm not the only one who is prone to ask less than insightful questions!) Don't you ever wonder how Jesus could keep a straight face, or how he could always be so kind and diplomatic in his responses to dumb questions? Anyway, Jesus is patient and kind, and goes on to speak of being born of water and Spirit. Not a re-birth of the flesh, but a birth from above of the Spirit of God.
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8, NRSV) We speak of school spirit, national spirit, and other manifestations of spirit, but we don't speak a great deal about being filled with the breath of God and thus being filled with the one great Spirit. It's not something one can accomplish with loud cheers and waving pompons (although that might not be an altogether bad thing to do!)
The wind blows strongly and freely in our beloved Kansas, both on the plains as well as in the cities and suburbs. Imagine that the free breath of God is present in that wind, and we are free to receive that gift without having earned it. We are free to be born from above. Most of us are well acquainted with John 3:16. We many not remember what Jesus says next: Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17) That's what's blowing in the wind.
- Pastor Piet -
June 11, 2006
