Divine Inspired Conversation Series

Nicolas Campbell

John 3:1-15

“Divine Inspired Conversation”

Dramatic monologue

1Now 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.[a]”

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[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] 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.”[d]

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]

I stood there in the market. I walked from stall to stall buying every bit of myrrh and aloes that I could find. I didn’t care what it cost I needed as much as I could get. Stall after stall I bought all they had. After what seemed like an eternity it was time. I finally had enough. I walked through the market leading my donkey. I reached the Joseph and nodded to him letting him know that things were ready. He also nodded back to me and I knew he had the linens.

The sun had begun to sink low in the distance. Joseph approached the man called Pilate and demanded that the body be entrusted to us for burial. After it was given to us and we started toward the garden. The hill was not difficult, but the heaviness in my heart made the trek so much harder.

As we were walking up the hill Joseph looked at me and said, “Tell me of when you met this Son of Man.”

I began to smile thinking of Him fondly, “I saw him quite often going through the towns and villages, and I just knew there was something different about him. The council and I confronted him demanding that he show us by whose authority that he acted. He was defiant. There were businessmen trying to gather their supplies from the road because he had just thrown them out of the temple. He looked at us all and said, ‘You see this temple? It will be brought to rubble and I will rebuild it in three days.’

“I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was baffled that this man was doing all these amazing things, but was still talking about destroying the temple. I mean the Temple! That was everything for us. So I decided I needed to find out more about this man. I needed to see who he really was. There was something different about him and I went to find out what that was. I didn’t want anyone to see me so I went to him at night. I found him easily and said to him ‘Teacher. We can see that you are from God because of these wonders that you have been doing, and only God’s power can be behind these things. You talk about the Kingdom of God being at hand. What are you talking about?’ He just looked at me. I felt this empty feeling in my spirit as it seemed he looked through me.

“Then he spoke ever so softly, ‘Look. You cannot just recognize my miracles and come to me recognizing that I am a good man. I’m telling you the truth. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’

I began to laugh. Joseph it seemed ridiculous to me! Who is this guy who is going to tell me, a scholar, a member of the Sanhedrin what I need. I looked down at myself then I looked back at Him, ‘Surely you are joking. My mother isn’t going to want to give birth to me again. I’m old and so much bigger now. There’s no way that’s happening. You must know some crazy people if they are doing that. And look at who I am. I am an Israelite and have everything that I could ever need. I am who I am.’ I shook my head because I had no idea what he was talking about, but he started talking again.