Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 05 March 2023, by Rev. Judy Chan. The scripture readings that day were Genesis 12:1-4a, John 3:1-17.

Today’s Gospel reading needs no introduction. It’s very well-known, including perhaps the most quoted verse in the New Testament – John 3:16. Yet, on International Women’s Sunday, I was drawn to another famous theme from the 3^rd chapter of John – being ‘born again’. Some translations of the Greek say ‘born anew’ or as we heard this morning ‘born from above’. They’re all valid translations. But somehow ‘born again’ has been the most popular especially among evangelical Christians. To the point that the phrase is used in other contexts rather different from the biblical meaning.

For example, a scientific article revealed the discovery of some very hearty spores which were called “Born Again Bacteria”. Then there’s a business that takes your old furs and makes them into teddy bears. The company’s name? You guessed it: “Born Again Bears”. And recently there’s a song called “Born Again” sung by Rihanna for the second Black Panther movie. Actually, it’s a beautiful song, but maybe what some would describe as ‘spiritual but not religious.’ It’s about staying strong in the face of heartbreaking loss. 

Born Again, Born Anew, Born from Above. I’m not going to debate which phrase is best. Because you know what’s the most amazing thing about this whole passage?  The image of childbirth itself. Yes, the experience of being born in our earthly life as the way Jesus explains our birth into eternal life. And when I say ‘eternal’ life, I don’t mean just life after death. I mean the abundant life God intends for everyone now and forever. So, for that to happen, we need to embrace childbirth and everything that comes with it. Because if we don’t appreciate the truths of our first birth, how can we understand the truths of our second birth?

Now, you may think I’m making too much of this childbirth metaphor. After all, there are lots of other images in the 3^rd chapter of John. Yes, but I can’t help thinking if Jesus had been talking to a woman, the conversation might have been different. But that’s not the story we have – Jesus is talking to a man, a learned man high up in religious circles, a man who takes the risk to seek out this remarkable rabbi to find out more. 

Preachers often make fun of Nicodemus for being so dense. “How can a grown man go back into the womb and be born a second time?” he asks. I don’t believe Nicodemus is that dumb. Jewish culture of course understood symbolic language, and Nicodemus was likely a father himself. This was just John’s way of re-telling the story to make sure you get the point. To make sure you understand that entering the Kingdom of God is just as hard and risky and miraculous as a baby being birthed from the mother’s womb. 

So, let’s take a moment to consider our earthly birth – what does it mean to be born? Who’s involved? Well, of course, there’s a baby. But we don’t just get born by ourselves, do we? For every baby who enters this world, there was a father behind the scenes and a mother on center stage. A mother hard at work, laboring through pain and tears to bring us safely to the other side. Because even with the medical advances we have today, no birth is without risk to the mother and child.  Even in the 21^st century, there’s just still so much we don’t know about childbirth. There’s still so much beyond our control and comprehension. In the end, we finally have to let go and let nature take its course. No wonder then parents everywhere call the birth of a child a miracle. 

Well, if being born the first time is so remarkable, imagine how much more so the second time. Just like natural childbirth, when we’re born anew, we aren’t the ones who make it happen. It’s the work of the Spirit. The Spirit of God laboring through blood, sweat and tears to bring us safely to the other side. For just like births from below, there are no risk-free births from above – risks for God and risks for those who undertake the perilous journey from darkness to light, from the Kingdoms of the world to the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, let me emphasize, when Jesus speaks of ‘heavenly things’, He fully intends to change our present as well as our future.

I recently had a conversation that made that crystal clear to me. I was talking with a young person, who knew I was a minister. 

He said, “Could I ask you something?”  OK.

(Him) “How do we know if we’re going to heaven?” 

(Me): “Why do you ask?” 

(Him) “Because my Christian friend told me heaven is like a VIP club.”

(Me) “Really?” 

(Him) “Yeah, not everyone’s going to get in.”

(Me) “Did he say how you get in?”

(Him) “Yeah, it’s up to someone who decides those things.”

(Me) “And who is that?”

(Him) “I’m not sure.”

Visions of St Peter at the Pearly Gates crossed my mind, but I let that go.

(Me) “Well, whoever it is, how do they decide who gets in this VIP club?

(Him) “My friend said it’s not enough to say you believe in Jesus. It depends on what you did during your life too.”

(Me) “I agree.”

(Him): “So what’s the point of religion?”

What’s the point of religion? That’s the $100,000 dollar question, isn’t it? You may have your own answer. But here’s what I think:

For me, all religions are ultimately about how to deal with suffering. Our own suffering and the suffering and evil all around us. You know what I mean. Look at the tragic state of this world! Is it fair that some people get everything they want, and some people get so little? Is it right that some people commit horrendous crimes and never get punished? That other people live innocent lives, suffer and die young? Is that all they get? Where’s the justice in that? Does God even care? 

The Gospel lesson this morning tells us God most certainly does care! That this life we were born into is not all there is. We were all meant to have love, peace and joy. And to pass it on. That’s our birthright, our destiny as a child of God. But to get there, we need a bigger miracle than our first birth. We need to be born again through the Cross of Christ. We need a heavenly wind to lift us up, to get us through this life and the next in one piece. That wind, that breath is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that births us into a whole new world called the Kingdom of God. In short, this is our second chance at life. Will you use it or lose it?

I’d like to close with some inspiration that comes from W4W, Australia. They’re fitting words for any time of the year, but especially during this season of Lent and on International Women’s Sunday. 

Let’s pray:

We may be born again,
born into the life of the Holy Spirit of God.
From the womb of God’s love
we will emerge into the unknown
and wait in faith for what may come.
Christ’s arms will hold us like a loving mother.
As the winds of the future blow where they may,
we are called to take one step at a time
towards the will of God for us in each moment.
We may be born into life everlasting
and a grace which is eternal in the Triune God.
Come, Holy Spirit, and be with us today.
Guide us through our laboring…
and bring goodness to birth through us and within us.
Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen.
(Source W4W 2011)  https://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/?p=3458