Jesus and Nicodemus
(This week we are looking at Evangelistic Approaches: How did Jesus, Philip and Paul treat people?)
Like a seed, Jesus was sown into the world, sprouted and grew purely in a crooked generation full of deceit, hate, and violence in all its forms. In and through Christ, God realizes a bumper harvest of souls willing to be agents of transformation through personal evangelism.
Nicodemus portrays true characteristics of a Pharisee; always seeking distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving. Comparatively, they were negligent of genuine piety, and they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
Jesus expresses to Nicodemus that regardless of such personalities God still loves the world! Not that He approves bad human conduct, but that He has benevolent feelings toward them. Truly so, God hates our wickedness, and sinfulness but he still desires for our redemption. God hates sin, yet loves the sinner. As a mother assures love and care for her child in spite of certain unacceptable behaviors, so does God continue to care for sinners and is not pleased with their demise (Ezekiel 33:11). In this we realize that the salvation of the world is a free and unmerited gift. Humankind has no claim nor is it a case of exhibiting good works as the Pharisees would. Instead, God is moved by love to express eternal compassion, and the desire for sinners to be saved and not perish.
God could have easily picked any one of the sinners in the world to be a ransom for many, instead He sacrificed His only-begotten Son for the world to accept salvation as an unmerited favour and not as a right. Such legacy should grow in today's believers and develop far reaching fruits of love and compassion in a world that is gender blind; a universe that continues to pay less attention to the sanctity of life for the girl child and tramples on the less privileged and disadvantaged in communities.
Therefore, believing in Christ must translate to willingness to give oneself for the betterment of others. Eternal life is guaranteed to those who are prepared to have their luxuries and pleasures crucified for the sake of providing care and love to those different from us and to orphans and vulnerable children especially those who continue to fall victim to such pandemics as HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and Cancer among other disasters.
| Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John3:1-16) |
Rev. Simbarashe Thompson Nota, husband to Cathrine, father to two daughters, Dalitso and Tiwonge; serving as Schools Chaplain at Presbyterian High School in Mhondoro and Lekkerwater Schools in Marondera -- Presbytery of Zimbabwe.
