We’ll see the end of the Nicodemus story on Monday. You can either use today to catch up on some readings you’ve missed, or contemplate the two other New Testament passages where this idea of being “born again” turns up. What do Peter and Paul mean by the phrase?

1 Peter 1:13 – 2:3 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. ²³ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
^3:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Titus 3:3-8 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Use today (and the weekend) to catch up on any readings you might have missed.

For those who are up to date, we’re about to look at Jesus’ cleansing of the temple in John’s Gospel (2:13-22). The reason Jesus cleansed the temple is a matter of debate, which we’ll talk about on Monday. In preparation for that, read the other three Gospels’ accounts, and have a think about why Jesus cleansed the temple, according to the other three Gospel authors.

Mark 11:12-21

Matt 21:12-17

Luke 19:45-57

(What part of Jesus’ reason for cleansing the temple is missing from Matthew and Luke account, but present in Mark? Does that make a difference?)

Regular readers will remember catch-up Friday from February. It’s a day with no new content, giving you a chance to catch up on days you might have missed. And for those who are up-to-date, a related passage of Scripture to read.

I’m bringing it back for two reasons: (1) because the website stats suggest that most people aren’t seeing every post; and, more pressingly (2) because my workload this semester has significantly increased.*

So today, as we prepare to contemplate on Monday one of the greatest statements of the Bible (spoiler alert: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us), if you’re up-to-date, read the following passage from Exodus, which gives us some of the background.

Exodus 33:7-23 (The tent of meeting, and the glory of God.)

Exodus 40 (The glory of God in the tabernacle)

* For those who care, the increased workload is from some good things happening at Morling College: larger-than-expected numbers of people wanting to study preaching this semester (there goes my marking load…), making improvements to how our online subjects are taught, and preparing to make a new subject, Principles of Hermeneutics, available online next year. Interested in theological study next year? Visit www.morlingcollege.com.