John 3:1-10

“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?’” vs. 4

There is nothing like being a literalist to hinder a person from grasping the Truth! Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, was eager to talk to Jesus. He’d been watching his ministry from a distance, but was reluctant to show his interest publicly. He comes under cover of darkness with his questions, and then when Jesus answers him in an enigmatic way, totally misses the point.

That’s the way it is with literalists. They have a dualistic, black and white approach to faith and the scriptures and they don’t like to wrestle with mystery. It’s either their way or the highway: either the world was created in six days or the bible is a lie, either Jesus walked on water or the gospels can’t be trusted. Because there are many who feel as they do, it’s easy to find communities of like-minded people. And that’s fine. Generally they love Jesus and devote themselves to serving the needy. 

But they miss out on the excitement of faith, the joy that comes from wrestling with mysteries, and figuring out the nuances of Truth. And sometimes their worlds get so small that they miss out on the inclusiveness of the Peaceable Kingdom. Fortunately Nicodemus didn’t disappear when he failed to understand what Jesus was saying. He hung around, and John tells us he was there at the end, loving the dead Jesus even when the disciples fled.

Thought for the Day: In what ways am I a literalist?