I wrote yesterday of the distinctive nature of John's Gospel. Another of these is his tendency to philosophize. Some have called John the "gnostic gospel," meaning that he tends to show tendencies toward gnosticism. (Gnosticism is a worldview in which knowledge is the supreme virtue. That which is earthly is held in less regard.)
It is in John 2 that Nicodemus comes to see Jesus. Here, Jesus speaks of being "born anew." He tells Nicodemus that unless one is born anew they cannot enter the Kingdom. Nicodemus asks how it is possible to once more be born when one has already grown old. Jesus chides him, "Are you a teacher, and yet you do not understand?"
Not wanting to kindle Jesus' frustration, I pretend that I understand. On some level I do; but on others I am not so sure.
Jesus also says to Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither i goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." On one level I understand; on another I do not.
Part of my morning devotion is to seek understanding. It is not my intention to pretend I know all things, understand all things, believe all things. My prayers include a request for insight. From John's gospel, in particular, I encounter those twists of phrases which provoke me to wonder and to probe the edges of my knowledge. Its tendency toward gnostic thought expand my way of encountering Christ.
On one level, I know the Jesus story. On so many other levels, I am a novice and in need of continually turning to scripture.
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