PrayerBookAppJohn 3:1-17 · 3 min read
ദൈവം ലോകത്തെ അത്രമാത്രം സ്നേഹിച്ചു
പകൽ വെളിച്ചത്തിൽ ചോദിക്കാൻ മടിച്ച ചോദ്യങ്ങളുമായി നിക്കോദേമോസ് രാത്രിയിൽ യേശുവിനെ സമീപിച്ചു.
Nicodemus at Night: Questions Are Welcome, and God So Loved the World
Photo: DFC 2482 A quiet dimly lit street at night with a small warmly lit… by PattayaPatrol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nicodemus was a respected teacher, yet he came to Jesus after dark, perhaps afraid of what people might say. Many of us have been there: sincere questions about faith that we do not dare to ask in the daytime.
Read the Gospel
John 3:1-17 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
It is okay to come with questions
A student who never asks a question rarely learns. Jesus does not scold Nicodemus for coming at night. He meets him where he is. If you have doubts about prayer, the Church or suffering, bring them to God honestly.
Born again, a new start
"You must be born from above" sounds mysterious, but we know the feeling of a fresh start: a new school year, a clean slate after forgiveness, a patient who has recovered. Grace allows us to begin again, however old we are.
God so loved the world
John 3:16 is the heart of the conversation. God did not send his Son to condemn, but to save. When we feel judged by others or by ourselves, this sentence reminds us of God's real attitude toward us: love that goes all the way.
Try this today
- Write down one honest question about faith and bring it to a priest, a mentor or in prayer.
- Memorise John 3:16 and repeat it when you feel discouraged.
- Offer someone a fresh start today by forgiving an old mistake.
A short prayer
Father, thank you for loving the world so much. Give me courage to bring my questions to you, and the grace to begin again. Amen.
മലയാളത്തിൽ: ദൈവം ലോകത്തെ അത്രമാത്രം സ്നേഹിച്ചു
പകൽ വെളിച്ചത്തിൽ ചോദിക്കാൻ മടിച്ച ചോദ്യങ്ങളുമായി നിക്കോദേമോസ് രാത്രിയിൽ യേശുവിനെ സമീപിച്ചു. ഹൃദയം തുറന്ന ചോദ്യങ്ങളെ യേശു സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നു.
"ദൈവം ലോകത്തെ അത്രമാത്രം സ്നേഹിച്ചു" എന്ന വചനം നമ്മെ വിധിക്കുന്നതല്ല, രക്ഷിക്കുന്ന സ്നേഹത്തെയാണ് കാണിക്കുന്നത്. ഏതു പ്രായത്തിലും പുതിയതായി തുടങ്ങാൻ കൃപ നമ്മെ സഹായിക്കുന്നു.