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Seeking the Truth

May 26, 2024 - Rev. Dr. Jan Remer-Osborn

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

While we are commemorating those who gave their lives for our country, its important to remember the founding beliefs of this country expressed by both the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.  This is the truth our soldiers have fought and died for, and will continue to fight and sacrifice their lives for.

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Truth and lies.  Real and fake news, changing stories, shifting policies, unsafe schools, eat this, don’t eat that, guilty or not guilty- the world we live in is seemingly controlled by 24 hour news cycles.  This drives many of us to increasing cynicism, and habits of disbelief, distrust.   Yet at the same time I am sad to say, there is also increasing tolerance and acceptance of the voices and stories that tell us what we want to hear.

Jesus was a spectacular storyteller.  We remember Jesus’ stories.  Today’s gospel reading, even though it is a conversation between a learned Jewish Pharisee and Jesus, has become memorable.  It is a story for eternity, a story about and for everyone.  In Nicodemus, we see a person much like us, who is confronted with a truth that is contrary to what he believes and known all his life.   Nicodemus finds that the things that Jesus has done, disrupts the status quo. What he witnesses raises deep questions for him.   His encounter with Jesus changes not only what he believes but his way of life as well.

Jesus uses the analogy of birth to explain what must happen if we are to know God better, to know the truth.  He is telling us that this new birth comes from God above through the Spirit.   Today’s scripture is often used as support and reasoning for the construct we call the Trinity.  A relational way we mere humans can attempt to understand that which surpasses all understanding.  It is from the ministry of Jesus, the grace of God, and through the power of the Holy Spirit that we come to this belief.

Central to this story is one of the most crucial verses of the New Testament.  John 3:16.  Join with me in saying this.   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”  “God loves. God gave.  We believe. We live.”  Simple and elegant, is it not?

We are never alone.   Jesus says in Matthew 28:20,  “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

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