Tim’s Daily Bread Devotional 6.2.21

By June 2, 2021Daily Bread

Thank you for sharing this early moment of your day with me, with God, and with the thoughts and words of this reading that I hope you will carry with you throughout the coming day and night.

Today’s Scripture:

John 3:1-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Nicodemus Visits Jesus

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born from above.’[e] The wind[f] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you[g] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[h] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[i]

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Tim’s Devotional Reflection for Today

Nicodemus was a religious leader who visited Jesus during the night. Perhaps he didn’t want to be seen consulting with an itinerate preacher from the little Podunk town of Nazareth. (Back in the first chapter of John, when Nathaniel learns that Jesus is from Nazareth, he says, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” [John 1:46]) In any case, Nicodemus was searching for something.

Jesus said to him, ““Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Apparently, Nicodemus was a literalist, as many people were in response to Jesus’ teachings, and as many people are today. He asked Jesus, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?” He is stumped by his literal interpretation of Jesus’ words. That’s one of the problems with literalism. It can lead us to dismiss as impossible the deeper meanings of life and the heights our spirits can experience.

But, I wonder, is it only that Nicodemus was a literalist that had him stumped and questioning the very possibility of being born anew? Perhaps we wonder about the possibility of new life. Perhaps, like Nicodemus, we might want to ask, “How is it possible? How is it possible for me to be born anew, or—as it might also be translated—born from above? How is it possible to start over and have new life? How is it possible for us to live this thing called eternal life when we see death all around us?

Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’”

To be born of the Spirit is to be able to see the kingdom of God—to see God at work on our world whenever and wherever God’s will is done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

There is a sense in which being born of the Spirit is to be set free. The image Jesus uses is the image of the wind: “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Martin Luther called Verses 16 and 17 “the gospel in miniature”:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The invitation is to be born from above–to be born of the Spirit–to be as free as the wind–to walk in the light. That is eternal life. That is a quality of life you can live now. That is God’s gracious gift through Christ, given out of love. Will you accept it? The gift is offered to you without price.

There is a lot of theology woven into hymns. To enhance today’s reading, I recommend listening to “What Wondrous Love is This”. I hope you will take a few moments to let the words of this message and the emotion that always connects us to music connect with your soul.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What won drous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while mìllions join the theme, I will sing!

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on!

I am so grateful for you, for our church, and for the Love that will see us all through this very difficult time. Please stay safe and well and we’ll be together again in spirit tomorrow morning!

Grace and Peace,


Dr. Tim Bruster
Senior Pastor