1 Kings 19:11-13
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
I believe that people need Jesus. I believe that Jesus still transforms lives. And what Jesus does is something supernatural. On our part we may call this change a decision, repentance, conversion, regeneration or new birth. It may or may not be dramatic. It may be an event. It may be a process. It may be both. It may be subtle, like being surprised by joy. I suspect the resulting degree of change may have something to do with the condition we are in when Jesus encounters us. And I believe the kingdom of God breaks into our lived experience throughout our earthly journey. Even in the dark night of the soul.
In the early 80’s I drove over to UMass-Amherst to hear a friend from graduate school preach on the steps of the student union. His name was Cliff Knechtle. I thought I was in the safe anonymity of the crowd. Cliff had been preaching a while and said, “I’m going to take a water break. I want my friend, Karl Gustafson, to come up and talk to you for a few minutes.” I was like, “You’ve got to be kidding me. How did Cliff even see me?” I had not talked to Cliff since graduate school.
As I was walking up the steps to the student union Cliff smiled and handed me the microphone. I was like, “Dear Jesus, What should I say?” I looked at the friendly and unfriendly individuals in the audience. I told them a story that still seems to me a bit strange for that audience: When I was a child my Dad used to pray with me at bedtime. Only one night it was different. My Dad looked at me and asked if I wanted Jesus to throw my sins away and make me new. At that moment something gripped my heart. I told my Dad, “Yes, I want to ask Jesus to do that.” I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my life and make me new. I was just a kid. But I felt like God was “in the house”. I felt the conviction. Then I felt at peace. I challenged the UMass audience to say “yes” to Jesus and the possibility of something supernatural that only Jesus could do. It was my turn to smile at Cliff and hand him the microphone.
I think the point of the Nicodemus story is that salvation is God’s work alone. A witness can help position us. A posture of believing can help position us. But salvation comes from the Lord. The wonderful thing is that the kingdom has come, is coming and will fully come. It’s mysterious. It’s supernatural. But God’s kingdom is breaking in upon us. The process can be a struggle, as it was for Nicodemus. But transformation is remarkable and always causes us to say, “Thanks be to God!” This is the journey of faith. Imagine the possibilities.
Over the years I’ve responded to the invitation from Jesus countless times. I still get touched by the song “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling”. I always hope to respond, “Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done!”
How is the Kingdom of God breaking into your life?