Genesis 12:1-4a

Many passages refer to this conversation between God and Abram (Abram gets renamed to Abraham later). If you would like a full overview of this character, I found Bruce Feiler's “Abraham” a very enjoyable read. Abraham is central to all three major monotheisms, and each takes him in different directions. Bruce has identified something on the order 220 variations of the Abraham story.

This promise, of making a great nation is repeated throughout Exodus, Isaiah, Jeremiah and into Romans and Acts. It contains the promise of blessings, and the promise to curse those who are against them. Others will only receive the blessings through this family and the nation it creates. This is the “Old Covenant”. It is softened somewhat by the New Testament, but there is argument about exactly how that works and just what the “New Covenant” is.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

This speech from Paul connects the Abrahamic promise to Jesus. It reiterates the importance of faith above works. He says there is value in works, and you should receive wages for them, but it's not what God wants. When he says, in verse 5, “him who justifies the ungodly”, he's talking about Jesus, saying put your faith there and you will be righteous. My interpretation kinda ends there since I've never heard a good definition of “righteous”. It seems to be whatever the person defining it wants it to be.

Or you get these completely circular definitions, saying it is what God counts you as if you are what God wants you to be, from Matthew Henry's famous 6 volume set;

Matthew

You are given the option this week of the famous John 3:16 passage or Matthew's transfiguration passage. Go back a couple weeks to get my take on Matthew.

John 3:1-17

Historically and theologically, this is one of the more important passages for Christianity. Whole books have been written about John 3:16. In the 1970's a guy in a rainbow wig made it is his mission to get on sports television all over the place, holding a sign with nothing more than that scripture reference.

That key to the kingdom, that you get to heaven via Jesus, is given as part of a story here, like most of the key verses are. It's commonly assumed that stories were used because it helped people to remember them, and gave them something attractive on which to hang these verses. Whether or not they are true is more important to some than others. In this one, we meet Nicodemus. Pharisees are referred to throughout the New Testament, but none of them are verified as real people. Pharisees were a real group of powerful people in the Jewish culture, although their power had already diminished by the time of the Jesus stories. Robert Price speculates that these stories are left over from earlier commentary, incorporated into the gospels. The Pharisees and Sadducees are then used as straw men to make arguments that Jesus knocks down.

The questions Nicodemus is asking seem much like the discussion we had back at the end of Epiphany season about Psalm 2 and what “begotten” means. The book of John was written well past all of the writings of Paul. It is unquestionably an attempt to consolidate the work of the 1st century into a consistent theology and liturgy. Here Jesus shames the Pharisee for not getting his teachings. Not a very effective approach to teaching. As an aside, it's been pointed out that Elijah also “ascended”, in contrast to 3:13.

Jesus then explains the new goal, instead of just making a great nation, or being considered righteous according to God, it's eternal life. As some say, “Jesus conquered death.” It's a tempting deal. You'll get to see your dead family and friends again and do the things you loved doing with them, forever. There are so many problems with it that I won't even get started, but if you ignore those, it's an incredible offer. It would be nice if 3:17 got a little attention too. That part where God (as Jesus) has stopped condemning the world.