Bible Reading: John 3:1-17
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we celebrate Synod Sunday by exchanging pulpits as clergy of the Cape of Good Hope District. We welcome a dear friend of mine Rev. Sanele Ncobeni from Wynberg Circuit, who is our guest preacher this Sunday,
while I will be in Bongani Circuit. Rev Ncobeni is married to Mrs. Babalwa Ncobeni, they are blessed with two beautiful
DAUGHTERS.
He will lead us using John 3:1-17 in which: Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Jewish leader, arrives at night,
a time of unbelief, ignorance, and temptation in the Fourth Gospel. He comes ostensibly to learn more about
this young MFUNDISI, but perhaps does not want his colleagues to know of his interest. He has, if not faith, at
least faithful curiosity. Jesus engages Nicodemus in what seems like a non-sequitur: Nicodemus praises Jesus as one who comes from God and Jesus, in return, asserts that no one can see the kingdom without being born anew, or from above. Nicodemus clearly takes Jesus to mean the first of these three possibilities, and his confusion invites a discourse from Jesus about the difference between Spirit and flesh.
Nicodemus, still confused, asks how this can be, to which Jesus again responds, this time orienting him — and
presumably us, as Nicodemus fades from the gaze of the narrator and the language of “you” shifts from the singular to
the plural — to his death on the cross. This death does not signify defeat but rather is the moment of God’s glorious
triumph and, like the serpent Moses raised on the pole to heal the Israelites (Numbers 21:9), it will save all those who
look to Jesus and believe that he is the one sent from God. Believers, represented by light, recognize in Jesus God’s
decisive action for the world and move toward him. Unbelievers, symbolized by darkness, flee God’s revelation as
they would prefer to remain in darkness. Jesus, then, has no need to condemn, as the involuntary reaction of those encountered by Jesus reveal their disposition to God’s redemption.
Verse 16 holds a special place in the hearts of countless Christians for good reason, as it lays bare God’s love for the
whole world. Interestingly, because world (kosmos in Greek) normally signifies that entity that is hostile to God’s will, one might capture the force and scope of God’s unfathomable love by translating the verse, “For God so loved the Godhating world…!” Indeed, God’s love is not only unfathomable but also somewhat offensive. Notice that God does not ask the world if it wishes to be the recipient of God’s love. God just goes ahead and loves, and not only loves but gives the world God’s only beloved Son over to death. The one who dies for you clearly has a significant claim on you, and John makes that clear. God’s love surprising, all encompassing, unasked for and undeserved is also given unconditionally. God loves us, that is, whether we like it or not. In the face of that kind of love, we will likely either yield to God’s love or run away screaming, for no one can remain neutral to such extravagance. Either way, God’s judgment is revealed: God loves this world, even the God-hating world that crucified the Lord of glory. We would therefore friends do well to pray that by the gift of the untamed Spirit we might perceive in Jesus’ cross God’s redemptive act and in this way be drawn into fellowship with all who dare believe in Jesus and, indeed, the whole world that God loves so much.
Blessed weekend and week ahead.
Solomzi