Are you in awe of God and the power of God’s voice? Psalm 29 certainly elicits awe. Turning from that to the familiar story of Nicodemus, I want you to listen for the three persons of the Trinity woven within this scene.
Storm Chasers. Storm chasers are the people who are drawn to a tornado to film it, chase it and even run from it. They are in awe of the climatic force, so much so they risk their lives to get close to it. It takes a certain person to want to get close to that much unpredictable natural power. Their work helps all of us better understand the force of storms and to see first hand what that kind of power can do. More recently it seems like we are creating lava watchers in Hawaii. People drawn to the volatility and magnitude of lava exploding from the depths of the earth. I was surprised to hear that tourism remained constant on the island, because that is not my idea of a vacation in paradise. Yet tornados and volcanoes exemplify the elemental veracity of God’s creation. These moments when creation is in seismic flux, we are reminded of the awesome God who created our life-giving world. Yet we do not have to chase storms or approach volcanoes to be in awe of God, and God’s creativity. We are blessed to see spectacular sunsets right here on Monterey Bay, or look out the window and see the century old redwoods pointing to the Master Gardener who planted them.
Our Psalm speaks of breaking cedars, and the flashing flames of fire, certainly a testimony to God’s raw power. It bears witness to the awe-inspiring nature and power of God. On this Trinity Sunday that is a perfect place to start. The purpose of this service is to generate awe of our God and to glimpse the unity of God in three persons, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, aka Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Awe can be defined as the feeling we get in the presence of something larger than ourselves that challenges our usual way of seeing the world.
A great work of art,
a breathtaking vista,
the birth of a child,
the first flowers of spring—these can all evoke awe…
Awe can have several psychological benefits: increased life satisfaction,
a sense of time slowing down or standing still,
and a greater desire to help others. (4 Awe-Inspiring Activities)
Yet the original and ultimate source of awe is the divine, our living God Father, Son and Holy Spirit who created all the awe-inspiring elements of life.
Yet I think we have forgotten about awe. The great Jewish thinker Abraham Heschel thought the recovery of a sense of awe was vital for our civilization. He wrote, “Forget your sense of awe, let your conceit diminish your ability to revere, and the universe becomes a market-place for you…. (Awe) is a way of understanding, insight into a meaning greater than ourselves” (Who Is Man? P. 88,89). Our society seems to be torn between these two perspectives being drawn to the market-place for our value and worth, and the surrender to a power greater than ourselves when we are defeated by disease or addiction. But we have a tough time simply living in awe of God. Money, status, position: all things found in the market-place have usurped the religious spiritual space that once preoccupied our culture. But it does not have to remain that way. We can live these words from scripture when God declares: “For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15). May our humble hearts be revived in awe of the Holy One.
In the psalm the voice of God creates, makes and shakes. Reminiscent of the creation story in Genesis God said, “Let there be Light” and there was light. God said let there be stars, land, creatures, even people, and all were spoken into being. By God’s power and voice, the Spirit hoovered over the deep and the universe was created. So then when we hear Jesus talking to Nicodemus we can see this idea of “being born again” in new light, with the eyes of awe.
First God created and then Jesus came to recreate, to help us to have a relationship with God. A relationship in the fullness of God. Nicodemus called it born again. But Jesus said born from above, born of the Spirit. Because when we are born of the divine, creating force of God, we are no longer trapped in the world where the market-place rules. We are born from above and re-created through our relationship with Jesus, but that is only possible through the power of the living Spirit. Likened to the wind, the Holy Spirit pushes, moves and topples but we are hard pressed to see it, we only sense the effects.
For Nicodemus, Jesus came from God because of the signs. Jesus does come from God, is an extension of God and demonstrates God’s power. So, the first two persons of the Trinity are acknowledged. But then we get to the part about being born from above and the Spirit is vital and necessary. Jesus says, “What is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Here is the rub of Trinity Sunday. If you take out one of the three persons, we are not in full relationship with the divine. Many people today say,
“I believe in God” but deny Christ.
Or say Jesus is a great teacher but have no use for the Holy Spirit.
Or they are Spiritual but not religious which leaves out God and Jesus.
To fully grasp the power of the trinity we need to see how anemic our faith is without one of the persons.
Another way of saying this is calling it the “Tri-unity” of God. God can only truly be understood through all three persons. Now I must admit that there are very few Biblical passages with the threefold formula of the trinity. Matthew declares Jesus baptizing people in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (28:19) and the benediction in 2 Corinthians: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. That is it, for direct biblical references. Yet Nicodemus shows how intricately the three are woven together. Our lives do as well.
How could you face the world, in those moments when everything feels dark not clinging to the love of Jesus.
Looking up at the heavens you would be hard pressed to not see an awesome Creator behind that tapestry.
Sensing the presence of the Spirit of God in prayer connects us in divine relationship with the Holy.
If you are still not sure, I invite you to take a walk of Awe. A walk within the majesty of God’s creation. A time when you suspend all your preconceived notions and seek see God’s glory in every cell, every creature, every ray of light or gentle breeze. Go as a child of God exploring your heavenly Fathers handy work and surrender to the amazing response awaiting you. Why do I leave you with this idea? Because at the end of this scene where Nicodemus is seeking to find God through a connection with Jesus, only to be told the Spirit will intervene to recreate, let us not forget how this story ends. In the fullness of the tri-unity of God, in the deep relationship forged with our Savior Jesus and empower by God’s Spirit we are gifted with the most vulnerable declaration in scripture: “For God so loved the world that God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” That promise is awe inspiring. If that does not create awe in you, I pray God will find a new way to revive your heart and love your soul. Amen.
