Tuesday, June 1, 2021

A conversational reading of John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17 (Narrative Script Adapted from NRSV version)

Narrator: It was late in the night, clouds wrapping itself around the moon. Now there was a Pharisee: A government official, a religious teacher, a learned scholar of Hebrew texts, and a leader of Jews. His name was Nicodemus. When everyone was asleep, Nicodemus comes by at night and says to Jesus, the one who has just cleansed the temple by taking a whip and turning water into wine at a wedding at Cana.

Nicodemus: ‘Rabbi J, I am sorry to have come by night and hope I am not disturbing you at this hour. 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.’ 

Narrator: Jesus answers Nicodemus,

Jesus: ‘Very truly, I tell you Nick, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’

Narrator: Nicodemus says to Jesus,

Nicodemus: ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old Rabbi J? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’

Narrator: Jesus answers,

Jesus: ‘Very truly, I tell you Nick, 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, “Nick, you must be born from above.”  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.’

Narrator: Nicodemus says to him,

Nicodemus: ‘How can these things be Rabbi J?’

Narrator: Jesus answers him by saying,

Jesus: ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things Nick? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.  If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.    And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Nick, I tell you and to all those listening to our conversation, ‘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.

 

@rajpatta, 29th May 2021

 


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