A poem written while considering the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, narrated in the 3rd Chapter of the gospel of John
Oh Nicodemus, the mystery of he
Who knowing all the letters, could not, the kingdom, see
While seeking for the Rabbi, in secrecy he came
And though he sought for dialogue, heard truth to him made plain
Oh Nicodemus, thou ruler of the Jews
Often in the pulpit, and seldom in the pews
Though you seek discussion, the Lord does not refrain
To bid you not to marvel, you must be born again
Coming to the Saviour, the hour now struck late
Hungry not for fellowship, but rather for debate
In kind reply to taunting words, He gives the verity
“Unless a man be born again, he cannot heaven see”
That which is born of flesh, can only its kind produce
Thus all your Jewish rituals cannot bear righteous fruit
Your greatest need: a change of heart, for there the problem lies
This the reason for failure, in all your many tries
“The Saviour’s words have struck, but can it truly be
Of all the sinners in Zion, the one most lost is me?
With all of my achievements and all that I have done”,
“Marvel not,” the rabbi says, “know you are the one.”
Oh Nicodemus, if only you would know
That before all your titles, the Saviours love was so
All that is your honour, could not His love increase
Nor grant you any liberty, nor give you lasting peace
The wind blows where it wishes, of that you hear the sound
Yet neither do you question, nor count that too profound
So also this the case, with all born anew
The Spirit has a work to do and that must be in you.
What you need is not theory, nor vict’ry in debate
For you and the publican must enter a common gate
Not all that you can amass will a worthy tribute give
Your only way of entry is to look, oh look and live
Oh Nicodemus, do you still not understand?
How is it that you, being a great, religious man,
A teacher of the scriptures, to whom the rites are known
Have not come to learn to make the change of heart your own?
See uplifted on the pole, the Son of man, Divine
Hangs to bear the punishment, for folly which was thine
And so that you not perish, you may and must believe
That the Son of God uplifted, was lifted up for thee
You know where you are in bondage, be it appetite or pride
But Jesus offers liberty, to the prison cell inside
You must, for life, accept... His remedy and way
Behold the Lamb of God, thus your sins will He take away
Oh Nicodemus, you know how Moses did
Who, when he lifted the serpent, those who beheld did live
He is made sin, the Son of God on the pole
This the only remedy made for the freedom of your soul
The invitation of the Father, is that you might still live
For God has so adored you, that He His Son did give
His Spirit still calls out to you, that you may find relief
He stretches out His hand to you… behold and believe
Oh Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews
Always in the pulpit, and seldom in the pews,
You shall not be condemned, if you take My words as true
That the one to whom these words are spoken, is none other than you
The man Nicodemus, who later would become
A willing servant of the Rabbi, when His work was done
“You must be born again,” the Saviours word was seed
The fruit was a harvest of joy, when Nicodemus believed.
Who knowing all the letters, could not, the kingdom, see
While seeking for the Rabbi, in secrecy he came
And though he sought for dialogue, heard truth to him made plain
Oh Nicodemus, thou ruler of the Jews
Often in the pulpit, and seldom in the pews
Though you seek discussion, the Lord does not refrain
To bid you not to marvel, you must be born again
Coming to the Saviour, the hour now struck late
Hungry not for fellowship, but rather for debate
In kind reply to taunting words, He gives the verity
“Unless a man be born again, he cannot heaven see”
That which is born of flesh, can only its kind produce
Thus all your Jewish rituals cannot bear righteous fruit
Your greatest need: a change of heart, for there the problem lies
This the reason for failure, in all your many tries
“The Saviour’s words have struck, but can it truly be
Of all the sinners in Zion, the one most lost is me?
With all of my achievements and all that I have done”,
“Marvel not,” the rabbi says, “know you are the one.”
Oh Nicodemus, if only you would know
That before all your titles, the Saviours love was so
All that is your honour, could not His love increase
Nor grant you any liberty, nor give you lasting peace
The wind blows where it wishes, of that you hear the sound
Yet neither do you question, nor count that too profound
So also this the case, with all born anew
The Spirit has a work to do and that must be in you.
What you need is not theory, nor vict’ry in debate
For you and the publican must enter a common gate
Not all that you can amass will a worthy tribute give
Your only way of entry is to look, oh look and live
Oh Nicodemus, do you still not understand?
How is it that you, being a great, religious man,
A teacher of the scriptures, to whom the rites are known
Have not come to learn to make the change of heart your own?
See uplifted on the pole, the Son of man, Divine
Hangs to bear the punishment, for folly which was thine
And so that you not perish, you may and must believe
That the Son of God uplifted, was lifted up for thee
You know where you are in bondage, be it appetite or pride
But Jesus offers liberty, to the prison cell inside
You must, for life, accept... His remedy and way
Behold the Lamb of God, thus your sins will He take away
Oh Nicodemus, you know how Moses did
Who, when he lifted the serpent, those who beheld did live
He is made sin, the Son of God on the pole
This the only remedy made for the freedom of your soul
The invitation of the Father, is that you might still live
For God has so adored you, that He His Son did give
His Spirit still calls out to you, that you may find relief
He stretches out His hand to you… behold and believe
Oh Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews
Always in the pulpit, and seldom in the pews,
You shall not be condemned, if you take My words as true
That the one to whom these words are spoken, is none other than you
The man Nicodemus, who later would become
A willing servant of the Rabbi, when His work was done
“You must be born again,” the Saviours word was seed
The fruit was a harvest of joy, when Nicodemus believed.
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