Over the six weeks of Lent, we examine teachings of Jesus and events
in his life that led to his crucifixion. This morning, we turn to a portion of
Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.
Nicodumus was a Pharisee
and a leader of the Sanhedrin – the council of Elders who had judicial,
legislative and political oversight over the Jewish people during the first
century. Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and his teachings, but was
conflicted about allowing his peers to know about his curiosity. So, he snuck
out in the middle of the, when the Jerusalem streets were dark and empty, to
talk to Jesus and ask him questions.
The reading we have this
morning is part of Nicodemus and Jesus’ initial discussion. Listen know
to their words as we read John, chapter three, verses forteen through
twenty-one:
John
3:14-21
Just as Moses lifted up the
snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him.
Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light
has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil
hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will
be exposed.
But whoever lives by the
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have
done has been done in the sight of God.
Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God. Amen
Let us pray…
Message No Matter What
Nicodemus and Jesus
had a complicated relationship. Nicodemus was curious about Christ, but also
was ashamed of his curiosity. He snuck around in the middle of the night, in
the dark, to meet with Jesus. And, when he was with Jesus, Nicodemus asked him
questions and Jesus gave such profound answers that we are still studying their
words.
The first words we
read this morning are about the Hebrew people in the wilderness. They spent 40
years in the wilderness on a trip that could have taken three weeks if they
followed a direct route. But, the Hebrew people had to work out many cultural
and theological dilemmas – they needed to wander so that they would be ready to
enter the Holy Land. They spent a long time bickering and arguing and
questioning God. When they kept their eyes on the ground, and on their mundane
and trivial problems, they didn’t move forward….when they focused on themselves
and their self-centered problems, they were stuck in the wilderness. But, when
Moses lifted up the symbol of the snake on the pole, the symbol of God and
God’s ways, they were saved.
Jesus was the
embodiment of God and God’s ways. When people focus on Jesus instead of their
mundane and trivial problems, we will be saved.
The most famous
verse in Christianity is embedded in this conversation. We see it held up at
sporting events and spray painted on the side of highways…John 3:16: “For God
so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The words that Jesus said next
are: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through him.” These verses are crucial for how we understand God
to work in the world. Jesus came to live among us to save the world. God loves
the people of the world so much that God was willing to come to earth, teach
us, and die so that we may live knowing God’s teachings and will for us, and
for us also to receive eternal life beyond the lives we live on this earth.
In the following
verses, Jesus says: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but
people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
Remember, Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus in the middle of the night, under the
cover of darkness. These words were a jab at Nicodemus….Jesus was saying that
he, the messiah, the truth, the source of enlightenment, was in the world.
Jesus had the foreknowledge of what was going to happen to him – he was going
to be lifted up like the snake on pole that Moses used to lead the Hebrew
people through the wilderness. And, when Jesus was lifted up on the cross, he
would die. Jesus, the messiah, was going to be rejected by countless people who
weren’t able to embrace his message or the truth of who he was. In a few weeks,
on Holy Week, we will journey to the cross with Jesus – we will hear the words
condemning him – we will remember how some of the people in the crowds that
embraced him on Palm Sunday turned against him on Good Friday.
Although we will remember
Jesus’ rejection and crucifixion, it is our work to embrace the light, to
embrace the truth of Jesus’ teachings and to work to live following those
teachings.
Sometimes, we think we can
act like Nicodemus – we can be covertly members of the Christian faith – we can
choose to “believe” in God, but not change our behaviors or our lives to
embrace that faith – we can carry on in participating in actions or practices
that hurt other people. But, Jesus
calls us to be in the light – to be open and truthful about our faith.
We have to remember that
Nicodemus did not stay hidden about his conviction that Jesus was God’s
representative on earth. When Jesus was under trial, Nicodemus stood up for
him. When the Sanhedrin members were discussing what to do about the
problem of “Jesus” – since he was offering a different interpretation of how to
faithfully follow God, and interpretation that differed from their teachings –
Nicodemus defended Jesus and reminded the other members of the Sanhedrin that
the Jewish law compelled them to offer Jesus an opportunity to meet with them
and answer their questions before he was convicted — they were supposed to
offer Jesus a trial.
And, later, after that
trial and after the Romans convicted and executed Jesus for sedition, Nicodemus
brought burial spices and he and Joseph of Arithmathea used them to prepare
Jesus’ body for burial. Nicodemus didn’t stay hidden – he stepped forward
despite the pressure he felt to remain secret about his feelings regarding
Jesus.
God loved the world so much that God came to live among us
as Jesus, the messiah who lived a human life, with the joys and pains that all
humans experience. And, he gave of himself fully, Jesus gave of himself
to the point that he was willing to suffer and die on our behalf. Jesus came to
us not to condemn us or judge us or make us feel bad, but instead came so that
we will know God loves us and wants us to love each other and to treat all
other people with kindness, love and respect.
In response to the
love of Jesus and God, we must be open and public about our choice to be
Christians and followers of Jesus.
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