Worshipping at Home 5th March 2023
Home Worshipping 

5th March 2023

Welcome to Home Worshipping 5th March 2023!

Bible Reading

This week’s bible readings

Genesis 12 vs. 1-5

John’s Gospel 3: vs. 1-8

 

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

 

Thought for the Day

This week’s news has once again presented a kaleidoscope of events contrasting dramatically in content and flavour. None the least it was encouraging to find that many politicians in this country at last found the will to agree a workable and harmonious way forward with our European and Irish neighbours.

I was particularly interested though to read about the visit of the EU President to meet King Charles face to face. Quite a number of people seemed upset or even outraged about this and have described it as unwise and unthinkable. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to hear what transpired between them but maybe we’ll never really know!

I couldn’t help then draw some sort of parallel with the visit of Nicodemus to see Jesus Christ which would have been equally controversial if not more so in those times. Nicodemus was a respected teacher of the Jewish faith and someone who would have been influential in whether or not Jesus should be allowed to continue his own teaching and preaching that often seemed to conflict with the religious laws enforced by the Pharisees. If his visit to Jesus that night, under the cover of darkness, had been known at the time then just imagine the scandal. If the details of their conversation had been known then a good deal of doubt and confusion may have erupted amongst the religious leaders and maybe the course of future events changed dramatically.

Nicodemus accepted that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God and implied that others had too. The miraculous signs that Jesus had shown to many had obviously made a deep impression.

It is not clear whether Nicodemus came that night to try and catch Jesus out with his questions or whether he truly wanted to understand Jesus’ teachings; also whether or not they would apply to him. But in either event he was left in no doubt by Jesus. 

Natural birth was a miracle of God’s creation and baptism by water was a step on the road to faith but baptism “in the Spirit’ was the key to being born again into true faith in God. 

Sometimes we are faced with an inescapable truth and there is simply no argument or counter proposal that can stand up to examination and this was it for Nicodemus. This was a pivotal moment in his life and he had to make a decision in his heart whether he could bear to admit it out loud in public or not.

We don’t know what happened to Nicodemus after this but it is recorded in John 7 vs.50 and 51 that he spoke out in Jesus’ favour when other Pharisees present were out to condemn Jesus without hearing any evidence from him. Also after ‘The Crucifixion’ Nicodemus appeared to provide the customary embalming spices in liberal quantities and assisted Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial.

Maybe he never took that wholehearted leap of faith or maybe he just worked away at it in the background. But it’s certainly food for thought that the proposition put by Jesus is there for all of us and that our baptism and confirmation as Christians is not just something to do with the Church of England but goes to the very root of the faith in our hearts! 

Amen.

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus we thank you for sending your spirit to guide us into true faith. Help us to recognize your word and your will through our prayers and supplications as we examine ourselves now through this time of Lent. A time when we seek to tread in your footsteps to the cross and beyond to resurrection when this time is ended and we stand before you. 

We look for signs of re-birth within us and pray that you will strengthen our resolve when temptation knocks at the door and seeks to steal your spirit from our hearts. Dear Lord as we learn and relearn the truths of your teachings and example of living may we rejoice in our salvation through you. Amen. 
The Blessing

Christ give us grace to grow in holiness, to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among us and remain with us always.


Amen 

 The Collect Prayer

Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings and by following in his way come to share in his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Amen

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