A Poem a Sunday

Lent 2 – A

March 12, 2017

John 3:1-17 – NRSV

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b]

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born from above.’[e] 8 The wind[f] 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.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you[g] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[h] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[i]

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “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.

Footnotes:

John 3:2 Gk him

John 3:3 Or born anew

John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit

John 3:7 The Greek word for you here is plural

John 3:7 Or anew

John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit

John 3:11 The Greek word for you here and in verse 12 is plural

John 3:13 Other ancient authorities add who is in heaven

John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with verse 15

A Poem a Sunday

Lent 2 – A

March 12, 2017

So Loved...
(Reflections from Nicodemus)

"So Loved...

Even when there is no dove,

Even in the desert of despair.

So Loved…

Even when stillborn from above,

Even when the wind ceases to blow.

So loved…

Even when eyes are blind,

Even when we see no sign of the one lifted up.

So loved…

Even in the dark night of the soul,

Even when there is no insight, no goal.

So loved…

Now motivated from above

Open armed to the body of the crucified one.

So loved…

Death can no longer be

the last word.  Now eternity is offered to all."

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