Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Clarify (10/15/15)
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TITLE: The Enlightening Enigma | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Bonney
10/19/15 -
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Nico had surreptitiously followed this Jesus, standing on the edges of the crowds who faithfully followed Him. He watched, dumbfounded, as this so-called King of the Jews healed and taught and performed countless unexplained divine-like phenomenon. Like a scholar unraveling hidden truths in the Scripture, he methodically dissected Jesus’ words and parables, but was unable to find anything evil in the eccentric character; no flaw that could become the ammunition to ban him from touting the seemingly heretical lessons.
Caiaphas emphatically believed that Jesus was a fraud,
“Bah! He speaks in riddles, that one! You wait and see, he will only stir up the people and the results will be like the effects of a northeaster squall—intense and violent one minute and dying down to nothing the next.”
“He’s a blasphemer, and he is dangerous. He shows no respect for we who are his superiors and calls us names like 'whitewashed tombs'"! Ananias’ puffed face as red as an overripe tomato.
Nicodemus, however, still could not discount that niggling little seed of doubt growing in his soul. He had observed many discrepancies in his class between their words and their actions. For instance, concerning the adulterous woman brought before Jesus and how she, shaking on her knees, awaited the stoning sure to follow. Nico felt sorry for her, kneeling in the dust like a cornered rabbit. He had wanted to reveal the woman’s customers as the real culprits—those who encouraged and paid for her services clandestinely. Salving to his conscience, he knew rules were rules; in his heart, however, that was an overused touted platitude of his peers. He could hardly believe his ears when this Jesus spoke aloud his own inner thoughts.
“Woman, were are your accusers?”*
And watched in amazement as, one by one, the men crept away as their own sins were written in the sand. What gave Him the authority to tell her she was forgiven?
Nicodemus had been present at another scene where Jesus had actually healed a blind beggar, a simple man who had been born blind and whose parents where shunned when religious leaders proclaimed them “sinners.” This was disorienting, since the babe’s mother and father were above reproach before his birth.
There were rumors that this Jesus of Nazareth had been seen with disreputables; like tax collectors, those cheating foxes, and even talking to a despised Samaritan woman!! Nico considered himself to be a progressive thinker, but many things coming out of this radical’s mouth about “walking an extra mile” and “turning the other cheek” and “loving your enemies” were on the brink of insanity.
And His parables! They had hidden meanings that made Nicodemus’ ears itch for more, but confused him; like a bright star in the blackened night sky that twinkled momentarily and then disappeared.
Well, he had a meeting with Jesus tonight. Perhaps this outspoken man would reveal the secret messages that had already been disclosed to His followers. In Scriptures, dreams were interpreted by prophets of God, or perhaps this ordinary-looking man was a seer. The appointed hour came and Nicodemus, afraid of the political ramifications if he were to be seen consorting with the enemy, crept in the night shadows to keep his meeting.
“Rabbi, I know that you are a teacher who has come from God because no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
“No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again,” was the response.
“Now, see, that’s what I mean: how can a man return to his mother’s womb and be reborn—this is impossible!”
“My friend, you are Israel’s teacher, and yet you do not understand these things?! I am speaking of repentance and spiritual rebirth, which you are not far from. . .”**
They conversed for some time, Nicodemus, the philosophical seeker and the Messiah, who explained the revolutionary concept of salvation for everyone, not just the Jews, coming in the form of personal regeneration that required repentance and spiritual rebirth.
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*John 8:10
**John 3:2-15
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