All those who have never doubted or questioned God or their faith, please stand up. Let me repeat for those who didn’t hear me: All those who have never doubted or questioned God or their faith, please stand up. This is the point where I need to find somewhere to sit because even those of us who are teachers of faith don’t always understand. Jesus stuff can be confusing. What do you think? What are some of the things we are supposed to believe with which you continue to struggle?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher, someone who had spent considerable time studying scripture, praying, and engaging in conversations about faith and yet he struggled with what he was seeing and hearing about Jesus. He wanted to believe. He recognised the actions of Jesus as something grace-filled and sacred. Yet he was challenged by Jesus’ words – especially around the kingdom of God and resurrection. Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
Truthfully, there are aspects about faith that cannot be rationalised. In fact, it can be counter-productive to rationalise and impose human certainty on belief. Nicodemus was so certain that birth could only be understood as the human process of entering into the world. 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?" He failed to see the beauty and mystery of birth as a metaphor for being made new through the Holy Spirit.
Certainty can limit possibilities, it can limit our ability to see grace, wonder, and mystery in the world and in other people. When we think with certainty, we might end up putting people into boxes expecting certain behaviours and attitudes, making assumptions about potential, and ultimately limiting what we know about these individuals. When we judge people based on human standards, we become blinded by earthly things. We only see what we want to see. We are less able to see as God sees and are more likely to miss the beauty and mystery of what is possible through the Holy Spirit. Jesus came into this world to provide opportunities for deeper insights, and profound transformations of what humanity thought we knew.
Engaging with questions, and doubt creates space for us to embrace the mystery. When we are OK being vulnerable, and open to the conversation as Nicodemus was so long ago, we are providing opportunities to learn and grow. We are trusting in the truth embedded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus: 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.
‘For God so loved the world…’ There are no limits and exceptions here, despite whatever human caveats the world may want to impose. ‘For God so loved the world…’ This means you, me, and everyone else we may encounter. ‘For God so loved the world!’
Of course, if we are going to quote John 3:16 we should also add 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."
This is especially important when the certainty tries to distract us from sacred mystery. John 3:17 is our reminder that God’s love is not a condemning one, but a saving one. If Jesus didn’t come to condemn, then neither should we. We should embrace the truth that all people are free to be who they are doubts, questions, differences, and all. Salvation is for everyone because God’s love is for everyone. May we continually embrace our own doubts and questions even as we perpetually seek to love as Jesus loves. This we pray as we sing: 352 Amazing Grace