The Invisible Moving the Visible

I am a big fan of the fantasy genre. Fairytales, sci-fi, superheroes, the lot.

I know I am not alone (high five to all my Disney-obssessed, watched-Lord-of-the-Rings-a-million-times, Harry Potter nerds out there). The genre is mega popular globally - humans absolutely love creating and enjoying fantasy stories. Relatable people with powers beyond our natural abilities that will defeat evil, save humankind and the world? Yes please. It’s easy to see Jesus and the gospel in so many aspects of these stories. How our souls cry out for him, even without our knowledge.

It might seem an odd segway to the passage but hear me out. Here, Nicodemus is asking, in my opinion, a completely valid question of Jesus.

John 3:4-8 ESV:  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The same verses in The Message interpretation elaborate on the mysteries Jesus is talking about in a more visual way.

John 3:4-8 MSG: 4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” 5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit. 7-8 So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

Jesus is teaching Nicodemus about being internally and spiritually regenerated by submitting to the power of God. You’ll notice he does not actually answer the question. He does not explain the process that occurs when the power of God changes us, the inbetween of submitting and being born again, how ‘the invisible moves the visible’. It’s a mystery. Literally, ‘out of this world’.

The Bible is full of encounters that defy the laws of nature and science and leave people in wonder and completely flabbergasted as to how they happened. Just look at Jesus’ miracles. Imagine actually being there and seeing even one of these happen - paralysis and diseases instantly disappear. Water transformed into wine. Water becomes solid enough to walk on. Weather is controlled. Death is reversed. Bonkers.

The concept of inexplicable power in ordinary people inspires countless modern fantasy stories and characters. The Jedi in Star Wars move physical objects and control people’s speech with a hand gesture. Wanda, a Marvel Avenger, can create visions in people’s minds that change their experience of reality. Frozone in The Incredibles generates ice from water vapour in the air so he can skate speedily towards danger and resist the bad guys. Hermione’s advice about the correct pronunciation of a particular levitation charm causes a club to fly into the air and drop onto a troll’s head. Gandalf projects light from his staff and evil falters and retreats. Dr Who actually externally regenerates! It can make modern Western Christians believe a lie - that the invisible moving the visible is completely unrelateable to our lives. It’s just escapism.

Not according to Jesus. John 14:12 ESV: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Even more bonkers.

I know I constantly forget this aspect of what it means to be born again, to have the Spirit ‘take shape within’. That the power of God, which can change visible, physical things, comes to dwell inside me. I forget that this is more outrageous and exciting than any superhero film plot, because it is true. Our lives, which can often seem subject to dull reality, are actually embodying a concept that most people think only exists in a completely unrealistic fantasy film.

For believers, we’re being filled, renewed, regenerated, with a power that can’t be seen, but that can change things we can see. A power that is perfect, unbeatably strong, completely pure, good and true. We can’t see it, or control it - we are a vessel for it (think Harry’s wand, Gandalf’s staff, the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver) so we are inherently part of it. We get to experience it for ourselves and others. For God’s glory and kingdom. 

Today, savour the supernatural power you welcomed into your life when you submitted to Jesus. It obliterated the barrier built by every sinful thought or action you’ve ever done or will do. It reinvented you as a beloved child of the best parent who ever existed. It transformed your heart of stone into one pumping with life. It won your battle with evil and death, forever. It’s renewing your decisions, your attitudes, your outlook, your priorities, your actions. It can heal bodies and minds, bestow financial provision, reconcile the most distant relationship. When Jesus died and rose again it started mending our world and it never stopped. As my F.R.I.E.N.D. Phoebe Buffay says, applauding, “Now there’s your movie.”

In the moment of our deepest surrender we gained access to power beyond anyone’s imagination. Let it counter your fears. Let it channel those fears, any disappointments, and your deepest desires into prayers. Let it blow the roof off those prayers. Let it get you excited, not just for eternity, but the rest of this life. We’re not just coasting or surviving until Jesus comes again. We’ve got the power.