Chap 6

The Nicodemian adventure began rather surreptitiously under the guise of darkness. The boxes at the Temple would not have approved. But the burning questions would not go away. They rose like phantoms that frequently haunted. No peace would come until they had been put to rest. Their search finally came to the appointed hour. The Temple life had given solutions of how to live before the Creator. But the Prophet proposed another. The appointed place of Yahweh was on a parallel with the appointed Word of Yahweh. That tension existed no more clearer than in the heart of this seeker. Here was a leading teacher of God’s people searching for answers in a secret hour. It was hard denying that the Words of the Prophet had a profound effect. Was this Man of God? Could His Words be true?

The midnight stage provided one of the clearest occasions for the Gospel. The Temple had given instructions on how to live before the Creator. But the Prophet proposed something different. The appointed place of Yahweh seemed to be at odds with the appointed Word of Yahweh. That tension existed in the heart of this seeker. Here was a leading teacher of God’s people searching for answers in a secret hour. It was hard denying that the words of the Prophet had a profound effect. Was this Man of God? Could His Words be true?

The Gospel offers the beyond Life– beyond ourselves and beyond anything this world can offer. It is for the planetary impaired, out of this world. It speaks and says, “stop the dead living.” It says, “See” and offers eyes. It says, “Believe”, and offers faith. It says, “Dance”, and gives the music. It says, “You are a sin bearer” and offers a Life bearer. It says, “Shout”, and offers a new tongue. It says, “Forgive”, and offers a new heart. It says, “Love”, and offers a Friend.

Those who are far have been brought near. The lost have been found. The gap has been closed. The Gospel comes in the dark and brings a spectacular galaxy of Light. The days of black hole living that pulls the universe in on itself are over. Here is the big bang Life that opens the Cosmic Wonder. Grace unfolds in dimensions previously unknown. The great debt of sin has met its match. It comes to the sunset of death and offers a Sonrise. Death is a candle and it has been blown out by the breath of Life.

Happy Hayiim, the ever filling-Life from beyond that fills the down and outs, that makes the old new, that brings man to himself by communion with a real God, is kept in a box of here and now and the lid is shut. Is that how it is? The box is kept at the Temple and the lid is lifted briefly each week. Is that what You mean? All the while, this gripping reality of circumstances continues to choke the life out of us. But now we have hope for a better life to come. Is that the Gospel? Is that to be the hope proclaimed in the Name? That is bittersweet. That is not enough. There is a world willing to walk past that door and think nothing of it. The minions will settle for less and call it more if this is all the pittance offered. This is what all history has since waited?

No Nicodemus. You must be born from above. You do not have some postcard God sending “wish you were here’s” and “can’t wait to see you again”. The past is gone forever. There are no more tomorrows in the Banquet of Forever. There is only the Eternal Now with God who fills all moments with Himself. This is when existence ends and Life begins. This is when we are freed from the box that attempted to define what life should be about. Now Thy Kingdom comes in a glory that outshines all others. The Cosmos is lit by His Presence, the Real Presence, and the King sits upon His throne. Time and space that have built the little boxes of here and now evaporate in the greater expanse of the eternity.