February 19, 2008
Passage:John 3:1-17
”Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. “
I always feel sorry for Nicodemus. He gets a bad rap from many theologians because of the time he came to see Jesus (night) and his position in society (a Pharisee). In many cases, he is set up to represent all those that oppose Jesus, a villian that can be set up and done away with. Nevermind that he might have had a good reason to come at night instead of the daytime, that had nothing to do with upholding his position.
But for me, Nicodemus is a seeker. He wants to know more. He sees this man that has done signs and wonders and wants to know what is behind all this. Not in a skeptical sense, but as a student finds a teacher. When Jesus admonishes him, could it be that he is saying, pushing Nicodemus to dig deeper, not to simply focus on what he has learned, but to be led by the Spirit?
Nicodemus questions, Jesus challenges. In our time, when relgious followers seem more interested in answers than in questions, this is act between the two men is rather welcoming.
Faith is not about having all the answers. Faith includes questions. Faith is not about God giving us easy answers, but pushing us to figure this out, to be led by the Spirit. Faith is about having the freedom to ask questions and also the freedom of God to challenge us and get us out of our comfort zones into new land.
God isn’t afraid of questions. We might be surprised by God’s answers.
God, we thank you that you love questions. We thank you for Nicodemus, who was hungry for the truth. Give us a questioning spirit, willing to ask questions and ready for your challenges to us. Amen.
Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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