A CLASH OF WORLDVIEWS
Daniel 7:13-14 First Nations Version
As I lay awake during the night, I was given many sacred visions. In one vision I looked and saw what appeared to be a True Human Being. He was riding on the clouds of the world above and was brought into the council house of the Ancient of Days. He stood before the Ancient of Days and was gifted with great authority over all the earth, with honor that outshines the sun, and with power that reaches beyond all the directions. All clans, tribes, nations, and languages will honor and serve this Chosen One above all others. His chiefly rule will last beyond the end of all days. For it will be a good road that can never fade away or come to a bad end.
John 3:1-16 First Nations Version
Born from Above
1-2 A man named Conquers the People (Nicodemus) came to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) in secret at night. He was one of the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and a headman of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) who sat in the Great Council.
Out of the shadows, he whispered, “Wisdomkeeper, we know the Great Spirit sent you to teach us. No one can perform powerful signs like these unless the Maker of Life walks with him.”
3 “I speak from my heart,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered, “Only one who has been born from above can see Creator’s good road.”
4 Conquers the People (Nicodemus) was surprised by this strange answer, so he asked, “Can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb to be born a second time?”
5 “Listen closely,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered. “One must be born of both water and spirit to walk Creator’s good road. 6 The human body only gives birth to natural life, but it takes the Spirit of Creator to give birth to spiritual life.l 7 Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 Everyone born in this way is like the wind that blows wherever it wants. You can hear its sound, but no one knows where it comes from or where it goes.”
9 “How can these things be?” Conquers the People (Nicodemus) asked.
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked gently but firmly into his eyes and continued.
10 “How can it be that a wisdomkeeper and spiritual leader of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) does not understand these things? 11-12 Listen closely, for you fail to hear what we are talking about. We are speaking about things we know to be true, but if you do not believe me when I talk about things on earth, how will you believe me when I talk about the things from the spirit-world above? 13 For there is only one who has gone up and come down from the world above—the True Human Being.
14-15 “Do you not remember when Drawn from the Water (Moses) lifted up a pole with a snake on it in the desert wilderness?m This is what will happen to the True Human Being, so people will put their trust in him and have the life of the world to come that never fades away, full of beauty and harmony.”
Long ago, when the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) were wandering in the desert, they did not listen to the Great Spirit. Poisonous snakes came and bit them, and many were dying. Drawn from the Water (Moses) prayed for them, so Creator told him to put a snake on a pole and lift it up so the people could see it. When they looked at it, they were healed and did not die.
Conquers the People (Nicodemus) remained silent, listening to the words of Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
16 “The Great Spirit loves this world of human beings so deeply he gave us his Son—the only Son who fully represents him. All who trust in him and his way will not come to a bad end, but will have the life of the world to come that never fades away, full of beauty and harmony. 17 Creator did not send his Son to decide against the people of this world, but to set them free from the worthless ways of the world.
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