Sound Evidence
Scripture
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8).
Reflection
One day I attended a jazz concert that featured a band made up of a pianist, a bassist, and a drummer. To introduce a composition, the drummer shared a story about playing ping-pong. When the ball flew over the net, and neither player actually saw where it landed, his opponent said that it missed the table, but the drummer said he heard the sound evidence of the ball hitting it. He then thought this would make a great song title. The trio then performed an original song he wrote titled “Sound Evidence.”
Nicodemus assumed his birth as a Jew guaranteed him entrance into God’s kingdom, but Jesus told him that he had to be born again for that assurance. Then Jesus told Nicodemus that no one could enter the kingdom of God unless they were born of water and the Spirit, and he used sound evidence! “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (v. 8).
We often choose to believe what is unseen. We trust someone is behind us if we hear footsteps coming from that direction. Love cannot be illustrated as a tangible object in the same way a pen or a chair can, yet we still know that love exists.
The wind cannot be seen, but we experience its effect; when it blows we hear it, when leaves on a tree sway, we know it is there, or when it hits our face on a cold winter’s day, we feel its blasts. The same is true for the Spirit. While we cannot see the Holy Spirit, we see the effects of his work; people react and are changed—in this life and for eternity.
As I reflect on these verses, I recall the lyrics to the song “Here As in Heaven.” The last lines in the first verse read, “The evidence is all around that the Spirit of the Lord is here.” The Spirit moves and a man is convicted to attend a church; the Spirit moves and, hearing God’s Word, the man comes to faith in Jesus—his life is forever changed, his place in God’s kingdom is assured. The Spirit moves where he wills and people are reborn.
Be looking for the Holy Spirit’s work—you know where he comes from, but you may be surprised at where he goes and what he does, the eternal difference he makes as he transforms lives.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for the evidence of your presence all around us as you constantly move and work. You are always surrounding me, even when I may not realize it. Help me to be more sensitive to what you are doing and show me more and more reasons for thanksgiving and praise.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown