Darkness, belief, and eternal life.

Ch3- Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews uses the cover of darkness to shelve his doubts, his social status, and shame to meet with Jesus. He is convinced that Jesus is in God's presence, and confesses that even other Pharisees secretly admit that he comes from God. But from there on Nicodemus was unable to follow where Jesus took the conversation. He was still "in the dark" and likely left the conversation more confused than when he joined it. But Jesus had "incepted" an idea into Nicodemus' brain, that God had not come to condemn but to save, and that his intention was to bring every willing person into the light. This truth, like a weed, began to sink it's roots deeper and deeper into Nicodemus' mind- and understandings about new birth, an invisible Kingdom, and light began to take hold of him until finally we see Nicodemus with the disciples heaping spices on Christ after his death. 
   Also intriguing is how the Greek keeps the term "have eternal life" in the present tense. If having eternal life is something we have presently, how does that change my life as a disciple? Eternal life could literally be translated, "life of the ages"- could this mean something different than just living forever? What is Jesus promising for this life? For the life to come? Believing in Jesus links us up to the life of the ages, a sync with the universe, and more importantly, with our Creator. Living with that sync allows us to live righteously, justly, and still humbly- knowing that we are still addicted to the darkness of unbelief. 
V29,30- there is a Jewish custom of the bridegroom's friend watching over the bride until the groom comes to carry her away. This is an awesome image of our ministries and outreach; we serve best by becoming less so that Christ becomes more in others's lives. 

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