(un)Learn

Nicodemus. Rabbi. Learned. Giving answers. Respected. Teacher. This man knows "it," and to him, you can turn.

Nicodemus, though, knows he is missing something essential, something he can't grasp (yet). And he goes looking.

Mary. 'Ex-demon dwelling place.' Ignorant. A woman on the margins. Asking questions. Learning.

Mary knows there’s a lot she doesn't know yet, but she knows that Jesus met her and that her life is changed forever.

I really love how these two persons are juxtaposed in this section of The Chosen. A teacher searching for answers and a woman from the margins who has found THE Answer in the person of Jesus. Both with sincere hearts, both on their way.

Today is about learning and unlearning.

In Nicodemus and Mary, we see two people who, both at different stages of their life journey, are (un)learning a lot of things. All their conceptions of who they themselves are, their image of God, Shabbat, manners, and their preconceived notions, perhaps, are going over the top.

It is right to ask yourself to what extent knowledge helps you or to what extent it sometimes gets in the way of being receptive to what Jesus wants to show you; to learn to live as a 'new' person in a 'new' world.

Learning and unlearning. Learning is sometimes difficult, but unlearning is often much more difficult.

In today's text, Paul talks about putting on and putting off. Two words that actually cover the same ground.

To follow Jesus is to unlearn.

To follow Jesus is to learn.

Take the following questions to consider:

• Who do you identify with, Nicodemus or Mary? Why?
• What do you do when you discover that things you firmly believe in and go for are different than you thought? When God's picture is different than you envisioned? Do you have a concrete example from your own life?
• What do you need to unlearn? What does Jesus want to teach you instead? Where might you take the first step today?

Prayer:

"Lord, I know I have a lot to learn. Thank You for patiently and graciously taking me by the hand again and again in this process. Would You, by Your Spirit, show me what things I need to unlearn and replace with things that fit my new life as Your son/daughter? I want so much to become more like You. Amen."