Sunday 30 May 2010

Background

John's Gospel is believed by scholars to be the last of the fourGospels to be written. It is generally thought to have beencomposed in the late 1st century or early 2nd century AD, so afterthe author has had about 40 years to ponder who Jesus really was.Digging deep into the meaning of Christ, the Gospel-writer Johnsees Jesus as the eternal Word (chapter 1), the true glory (chapter2), the great teacher (chapter 3) and the living water (chapter 4).As he digs deep into Christ he is digging deep into the nature ofGod.

Digging deep into the mystery of God and the meaning of Christinvolves the author asking big questions about the significance ofthe Holy Spirit. To bring these questions into the open John setsup a dialogue between two great teachers. The Jewish leaderNicodemus, who comes to Jesus in this passage (when it is night),is approaching the light of Christ.

The Church often chooses this famous Bible passage on TrinitySunday (today) to celebrate the God who is 'one in three and threein one'. Creation and new life are the gifts of God the Father.They are given to us through God the Son and by the unpredictablewind and breath of God the Holy Spirit.

To Ponder

In which new relationships would you describeyourself as being 'born again'?

Do you most often think of, or pray to, God asthe Father, or as the Son or as the Holy Spirit? Why?

Why do you think (for the Gospel-writer John)"eternal life" and the "kingdom of God" are more about the presentthan the future?