Prayer for the Subjects in the Kingdom of God
Monday, March 31
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
In the darkness he came, seeking to avoid notice. There was a divine magnet pulling him to a man who was an enigma to the religious leaders. Yet, they all seemed to acknowledge he was at least “from God.” The older man avoided using signal terms for the one he was questioning. Instead, the generic understated nouns seemed less threatening to him and others, so he chose “rabbi… teacher from God.”
But then there emerged a crack in the dike. The old man mentioned “signs,” you know, miracles indicating something greater than your average rabbi or teacher was here. It was almost as if the old man did not really want to believe that the signs were signs — from God! “Who was this guy?!”
But the “teacher” kept inserting strange specific language which seemed both tangential and like a prodding spear piercing into the old man’s soul. The rabbi mentioned birth from above. This questioner was an esteemed Jew. He already had the blessed birth Gentiles were intrigued by.
“Unless…. you cannot enter the kingdom of God…” Those are strong words! This teacher was pointing out that the old man’s privileged parentage did not count with God. He was saying the Pharisee was “out” not “in” the kingdom. That’s disconcerting. Assumption assailed… and crumbling.
The rabbi completely switched gears, the Pharisee thought. What? Moses’ staff? Snakes? Son of man lifted up? God giving His Son? The old man seemed lost. But he would leave, chewing on the kernel thought: look to the Son of God and healing… and maybe new life and the Kingdom would come.
The dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 is one that could, should, and probably does play out (in the darkness of an isolated soul) often in our world. People don’t want to be “outed” for taking Jesus seriously, but the closet inquiries happen.
The verse John 3:5 is in the Catechism under the 2nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come.” For the old man Nicodemus, the Kingdom of God finally came. No longer in darkness, he would come to Pontius Pilate in broad daylight to bury his King Jesus.
The Lord knows we need to begin the Kingdom coming quest with prayer. Identify your friends. Pray for –and expect–the nighttime inquiry to come, probably to you. Be ready to share the Hope you have. When you share, you won’t be doing it alone.
PRAYER: Lord God Almighty, may I often — and really only – pray that Your Kingdom come. May it come to me when I am in the darkness of sin, doubt, or apathy. May it come to my relationships when they are not founded and filtered by Your Royal Righteousness. May it come to those in darkness and the shadow of death. May Thy Kingdom come. Amen.