WRITINGS

Crazy Love

Wouldn't it be really cool to be able to say that you were the very first person ever to hear, "For God so loved the world..?" I have a good idea that Nicodemus never imagined his conversation with Jesus would get so much coverage. As many times as Sunday School classes, vacation bible schools and church youth camps have forced us to memorize John 3:16, it's quite possible we've never really grasped the idea of those particular red words, at least the way they were intended.

I'm not always lovable. As a matter of fact, I'm sure that I'm sometimes a very unlovable kind of person. I get testy sometimes. Sometimes I get a crowd's attention and I don't know when to shut up. I wake up most mornings with ugly hair, creases in my face, and a bitter taste in my mouth. Before anyone has a chance to know or see me as I really am I wash, brush and shave away all the damage I just woke up to. I pretty much do everything I can to make myself more lovable, or at least more likable, or at the very least as inoffensive as possible before anyone has a chance to see the acoustic version of Kenny Bishop.

Knowing that, what was God thinking? For what practical reason would He make so many ridiculous promises to me? What does He gain in loving me? Who is He trying to impress? What is His point? Why would He bother? Am I really worth the attention, the concern of the One who created and manages literally everything everywhere?!

We get to overhear a really interesting conversation in John chapter three for that very reason. It's hard to imagine Jesus didn't know who he was talking to. Nic was a pretty high-profile person in his day and in his town. He was the kind of guy who was always in the papers or on the news. Lots of people, including Jesus, knew who he was. Lots of people wanted to be like him - or at least have his stuff. He was smart. He'd gone to the best schools, had the best teachers and had the right blood flowing through his veins. Nic's last name was one of his biggest assets. He'd been born right. His family's influence in all the right places had a lot to do with his position and who he was today. And Jesus knew it.

Let me ask you something. If you could earn your place in Heaven how many hours, how much energy, how hard would you have to work to get a small, one bedroom unit, let's say, on a back street above the laundry? Considering that all of the real estate in Heaven is prime, how much would it cost for a piece of land with a mansion and all of the amenities of Eternity included? Think you have enough in your checking account? Do you think Nicodemus did?

With so much to work with, with willing servants ready to jump at the snap of his fingers, with power, prestige, property and possessions, what do you do when you still don't have enough? What do you do when the thing you realize you DON'T have is the thing you NEED most, but even with unlimited resources you come up short at the check out? You become a beggar.

This'll sound crazy, but God likes beggars. Beggars realize they have nothing of equal value to offer for whatever it is they're begging for. Pride won't let some people beg. But sometimes hunger, or pain, or real need trumps pride. And when it dawns on you that your wallet, position, strength, name or anything else you've counted on to propel you to the top at best or keep you afloat at least is still insufficient - you beg.

God likes beggars. Thing is, it's not at all necessary. Before Nic could even introduce himself or impress Jesus with who he was Jesus got straight to the point.

Jesus: Nic, I'm glad we ran into each other. I've enjoyed following your success. I know you feel good about yourself. You have a lot to be proud of. Lot's of people admire your work ethic. You treat others honorably. Your dedication to the Law is admirable. You come from a good family, Nic. I'm sure you feel pretty strongly you did it right the first time. But Nic, you'll need to be born again.

You can imagine Nic's response.

Nic: What do you mean? I'm already born, and I'm a full grown man. I don't remember much about the day myself, but I'm pretty sure it was an ordeal, at least for Mom, and once you've been born aren't you pretty much born?

Jesus: Well, sorta. This is one of those things that's difficult to explain. Nic, not everything in this world is visible. You've lived a privileged life. When you've wanted something you got it. But some things can't be seen and those things can't be bought. Take the wind for instance. You can't buy the wind, Nic.

Nic still didn't understand.

Jesus: God's love is much like the wind. You can see where it has been. You can see what it does. But you can't see the wind. And you can't see God's love. Or at least you couldn't until now. Nic, God loves you and the rest of the world enough to make His love visible. He has sent the only son that He has as a guide and an offering so that no one, including you, would have to go on searching only to hope that just maybe you'd finally get it right. It sounds crazy I know, but it's really just a matter of simply believing.

Who know's if Nicodemus ever really got the point, right away at least. My favorite part of John 3:16 is John 3:17. God's son wasn't sent to kick the people of the world while they were down. He came to pick them up, to heal them, to love them, to restore them.

Some people don't get to spend their life living for God or serving others. Some people barely get to live at all. Love fixed that by condensing it down to simply believing. The exchange seems terribly unfair. He gets us and our messy moods. We get Him and His love without end. And somehow He feels that's an even exchange. That's crazy love!