I don't know that I have a lot to say about this episode.
In this episode, Jesus meets with Nicodemus and explains to him what it means to be born of the Spirit. He explains the working of the Spirit is like the wind. We can't see the wind, but we can feel it. We can see the effects of the wind around us.
"THAT'S what it is to be born of the Spirit!" Jesus exclaims. When we allow the Spirit to dwell in us, to work through us, we see the effects of it around us!
I can't help but remember this same lesson being taught to me as a kid. Growing up in church, kids were always called down for a children's moment with the pastor. I had to be in early elementary school, but I remember my pastor, clear as day, talking about the wind. Just like Jesus does in this scene.
I'm drawn to Nicodemus in this series - his continued pursuit to understand what he sees happening. He knows Jesus is of God. He knows Jesus is more than just a street preacher. But there's a fear that holds him back. He has voices all around him reminding him what it's supposed to mean to be a good Jew. Following this man is not in the list of things to do. And I feel for him in his struggle.
I see this, similarly, in the teens I talk with. They're working to put the pieces together in their faith. They're coming to terms with who Jesus is and how that balances out with the other voices around them - their peers, their friends, their family.
We know, from Scripture, that Nicodemus finally comes to a fuller understanding of who Jesus is. We see him in a brief scene when he speaks up to defend Jesus when the religious leaders are looking to condemn him. And we know that Nicodemus is present at Jesus' death - he helps prepare Jesus' body for burial (a major step in his faith, as Jews weren't supposed to have contact with the dead).
We see an amazing picture of what a struggle faith can be. Nicodemus had physical proof right before him and he still struggled to come to terms with it. We simply have words on a page to tell us what happened. We have to rely on an unseen Spirit, learn to decipher our emotions and feelings based on our understanding of what Scripture tells us.
Faith isn't always a simple thing to come by. Some would say I'm lucky to have such a strong faith. I've had moments in my life (maybe like anyone) where I've felt close to God in unbelievable ways. I've experienced the moving of the Spirit in worship, in nature...in so many ways. But, I've also felt completely distant from God. Abandoned by God.
Faith is hard. Especially in those distant moments.
What I think I love about this scene with Nicodemus, though, is the quick glimpse we get of Andrew and John. They're sitting nearby. Jesus is explaining that God so loved the world...and John is furiously taking notes trying to write everything down!
"Have you ever heard anything like this?" Andrew asks.
In this episode, Jesus meets with Nicodemus and explains to him what it means to be born of the Spirit. He explains the working of the Spirit is like the wind. We can't see the wind, but we can feel it. We can see the effects of the wind around us.
"THAT'S what it is to be born of the Spirit!" Jesus exclaims. When we allow the Spirit to dwell in us, to work through us, we see the effects of it around us!
I can't help but remember this same lesson being taught to me as a kid. Growing up in church, kids were always called down for a children's moment with the pastor. I had to be in early elementary school, but I remember my pastor, clear as day, talking about the wind. Just like Jesus does in this scene.
I'm drawn to Nicodemus in this series - his continued pursuit to understand what he sees happening. He knows Jesus is of God. He knows Jesus is more than just a street preacher. But there's a fear that holds him back. He has voices all around him reminding him what it's supposed to mean to be a good Jew. Following this man is not in the list of things to do. And I feel for him in his struggle.
I see this, similarly, in the teens I talk with. They're working to put the pieces together in their faith. They're coming to terms with who Jesus is and how that balances out with the other voices around them - their peers, their friends, their family.
We know, from Scripture, that Nicodemus finally comes to a fuller understanding of who Jesus is. We see him in a brief scene when he speaks up to defend Jesus when the religious leaders are looking to condemn him. And we know that Nicodemus is present at Jesus' death - he helps prepare Jesus' body for burial (a major step in his faith, as Jews weren't supposed to have contact with the dead).
We see an amazing picture of what a struggle faith can be. Nicodemus had physical proof right before him and he still struggled to come to terms with it. We simply have words on a page to tell us what happened. We have to rely on an unseen Spirit, learn to decipher our emotions and feelings based on our understanding of what Scripture tells us.
Faith isn't always a simple thing to come by. Some would say I'm lucky to have such a strong faith. I've had moments in my life (maybe like anyone) where I've felt close to God in unbelievable ways. I've experienced the moving of the Spirit in worship, in nature...in so many ways. But, I've also felt completely distant from God. Abandoned by God.
Faith is hard. Especially in those distant moments.
What I think I love about this scene with Nicodemus, though, is the quick glimpse we get of Andrew and John. They're sitting nearby. Jesus is explaining that God so loved the world...and John is furiously taking notes trying to write everything down!
"Have you ever heard anything like this?" Andrew asks.
It's early in Jesus' ministry. They're not sure of what to make of what Jesus is saying. They're amazed by him - but they're still looking for this conquering Messiah.
Jesus came to build a spiritual kingdom, he tells Nicodemus. He came to bring spiritual healing, to deal with sin once and for all.
And we have the wonderful hindsight to know He did!!
I spent an hour and a half yesterday listening to the teaching of Paige Brown at West End Community Church in Nashville (video link below). She walked through the final week of Jesus' life - the upside down mission that Jesus completed starting with riding into town on a donkey.
Jesus knew from the beginning what his time on Earth was going to be about. We see this often mentioned in The Chosen episodes. He came to break down barriers - we see this in the final episode when he talks with the woman at the well. He came to bring a kingdom, yes - but not an earthly kingdom. He came to shatter expectations, to shine a light on who the Father was and how, as his children, we should be living and loving others.
Jesus came to build a spiritual kingdom, he tells Nicodemus. He came to bring spiritual healing, to deal with sin once and for all.
And we have the wonderful hindsight to know He did!!
I spent an hour and a half yesterday listening to the teaching of Paige Brown at West End Community Church in Nashville (video link below). She walked through the final week of Jesus' life - the upside down mission that Jesus completed starting with riding into town on a donkey.
Jesus knew from the beginning what his time on Earth was going to be about. We see this often mentioned in The Chosen episodes. He came to break down barriers - we see this in the final episode when he talks with the woman at the well. He came to bring a kingdom, yes - but not an earthly kingdom. He came to shatter expectations, to shine a light on who the Father was and how, as his children, we should be living and loving others.
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This episode ends with Jesus passing by Matthew's tax booth. He stops walking, turns to Matthew and tells him to follow him.
Simon, in all of his Simon-ness, steps up and tries to stop Jesus. "What are you doing? He's a tax collector. I don't get it."
Jesus replies, "You didn't get it when I chose you, either."
"But this is different," Simon insists.
Jesus just looks at him and says, "Get used to different."
Matthew eagerly drops what he's doing and obeys. As they're walking away, Jesus points to a notebook in Matthew's hand. "What is that?" he asks.
Matthew explains that he just walked out with it. He could take it back if he wanted him to.
Jesus chuckles a little, "No, keep it," he says. "You may have need for it."
I love these little allusions we get to the written text and how it came to be. We get these little tastes of foreshadow as things progress. This show is very clever!
My only wish - I wish they had continued this episode to include Matthew's dinner party.
"I'm not usually allowed at dinner parties," Matthew says.
"That's not going to be a problem tonight," Jesus says. "You're the host."
Simon, in all of his Simon-ness, steps up and tries to stop Jesus. "What are you doing? He's a tax collector. I don't get it."
Jesus replies, "You didn't get it when I chose you, either."
"But this is different," Simon insists.
Jesus just looks at him and says, "Get used to different."
Matthew eagerly drops what he's doing and obeys. As they're walking away, Jesus points to a notebook in Matthew's hand. "What is that?" he asks.
Matthew explains that he just walked out with it. He could take it back if he wanted him to.
Jesus chuckles a little, "No, keep it," he says. "You may have need for it."
I love these little allusions we get to the written text and how it came to be. We get these little tastes of foreshadow as things progress. This show is very clever!
My only wish - I wish they had continued this episode to include Matthew's dinner party.
"I'm not usually allowed at dinner parties," Matthew says.
"That's not going to be a problem tonight," Jesus says. "You're the host."