Nicodemus Comes to Jesus by Night.

20th April 2020

Today's Gospel:
John 3 1-6

There was one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a leading Jew, who came to Jesus by night and said,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who comes from God, for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him"
Jesus answered: "I tell you solemnly, unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said, "How can a grown man be born? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
Jesus replied: " I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born from above. The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. This is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit."

My thoughts:
I wonder firstly why Nicodemus wanted to visit Jesus in the first place. His words and actions had attracted him,maybe. He goes by night, telling me he is a bit frightened to show his interest in this popular leader. How long did he think about this meeting before he snuck out to find this man in the middle of the night.
I am with Nicodemus here. Sometimes I find it hard to admit in broad daylight my huge interest in Jesus, how much I love Him.  What will people think of me? Nicodemus says  some very complimentary things to Jesus. He recognizes that He comes from God.
But Jesus tells him that he needs to be born from above,  Born of the Spirit, before he can see the kingdom of God.
Again I need the same thing. This new birth. And every day. It is being born of the Spirit that will give me the courage to meet Jesus in the daylight. To live with Him and for Him in the joys and sorrows and little difficulties of my daily life. Being a Christian means staying close to the fire.
Come Holy Spirit live in me this day. Thank you Holy Spirit for coming to live in my heart.

Night

Well, I  haven't posted for a while as I've been busy. A holiday in sunny climes and visits from family when we came back, has kept me away from my words. However, I did take a couple of hours out yesterday to go to a Poetry for Wellbeing workshop, which was like watering the dry desert - I really enjoyed it.
So, Just to say that the visits to my blog have reached the amazing number of 17,000 - can you believe that - I hardly can myself.

Night

 Again I am there,

After the work of the day is over,

The body, tired, waits for the rest of the

Living death of sleep.

The sun put out like a candle,

The moon too shy to make an appearance

Hides  behind dark clouds

I lay in the soft comfort of friendly sheets

Trying to avoid those busy 

Dance halls, those bars - bustling,

Where I get crushed , bruised broken...

With the energy of that blessed shadow time

I move closer to the river,

With the moon reflected,

My laughter loud , 

As I leave behind, those chains,

For others to skip around ,

If they will,

For others to fall over,

If they must.

But for me, the peace, the silence, the moon,

Only my own voice to interrupt the calm