Skip to main content

141. Nicodemus


Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:1-21
Key Verse:  "whoever believes in Him, is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
John 3:18

I love this episode because it shows that Jesus is having an effect on those who are willing to think. There is a lot at stake here for Nicodemus. He is in leadership. He is religious. He has obviously been present during much of the interrogation that Jesus has received at the hands of his colleagues. Nicodemus is observing his peers and Jesus’ response and, while he may have remained silent in the group, Jesus is getting through.

When I use my imagination, I find myself wakeful on a warm, spring night. Perhaps there are the usual spring sounds of peepers and night birds. Maybe even an occasional hoot owl calls from a distant tree. Soft snoring can be heard from the disciples, but Jesus sits thoughtfully by the fire, perhaps praying, perhaps reflecting, waiting for Nicodemus to arrive. Poor Nicodemus is too timid to break from the pack and make a bold claim of faith. Yet, like Peter before him, who used a little faith to step out of the boat, now Nicodemus is taking a baby step of faith of his own. Jesus would honor that little step done in secret. Now, here he is.

What is it about Jesus that was getting through? Even with this powerful man standing before Him, rather than grovel in appreciation, Jesus does not mince words, but remains truthful to His purpose to advance the Kingdom. Jesus even dares to challenge Nicodemus' intellect a little. "You are an Israelite teacher and do not understand these things?" (John 3:10) Yet, Jesus had already explained earlier what the stumbling block would be to understanding. "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3:6) So much of what even we understand, is through the help of the Holy Spirit. We really need to remember to pray for the Lord to prepare the heart of the one with whom we wish to share the good news of Christ.

This is why Nicodemus does not understand what Jesus means by being, "born again." Yet, to his credit, he does not flare up in anger at being insulted, or go away, but struggles to understand. All that he can think of is a second, physical birth, a do over of one’s life, a chance to avoid the mistakes made the first time around.

In a way, that is what Jesus' example of Moses' snake in the wilderness provides. The people had sinned greatly by, once again, grumbling against God. They were attacked by poisonous snakes and were dying. God provided a symbol of His grace, for the people to look at, as an act of faith, and be given another chance to commit themselves to Him.  Numbers 21:4-9)

Nicodemus understands this, but now Jesus, gently broadens his horizon by comparing Himself with the snake, only, it isn't just the people in the wilderness who are being poisoned by the venomous snake, but the world is being poisoned by sin. Just as the brass snake on the pole did not condemn, but provided a means of grace for physical life, for those who would believe, now Jesus also has not come to condemn, but to graciously provide a means for a second life, a Spiritual rebirth, for any who will look to Jesus and find the answer to their hope in Him.

Jesus is still there, waiting for all to look. No one will be forced to turn their heads away, not by God anyway. All are welcome to place their trust in Him. Was Jesus successful in winning Nicodemus over as a disciple that night? We will meet him again. What is important for now is to recognize that seeds were planted. Sometimes, that's all we need to do.

Hymn: "God So Loved the World"   also  God So Loved the World

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Surprise!

Luke 24:14-35 Listen link is a video: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.dubois.547/posts/10157923265761195 For today’s message we are going to backtrack on the Scriptures a bit. Last week I talked about what happened in the evening of Easter day. Today’s story happened in the midday or afternoon of that day. But I wanted to save it for our Communion Sunday because Jesus breaks the bread for them at the end of this story and that is what we will be doing today at the end of the message when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. We’re talking about two of Jesus’ disciples who left Jerusalem to walk to Emmaus, perhaps the home of one or both of them. But Jesus walked with them and once they realized Jesus was alive, these two disciples hurried back to the rest of the disciples to alert them to the wonderful news. They arrived Just before Jesus showed up in the upper room. But before I go back and get into the story of the journey to Emmaus, I think it’s fun to notice that the ...
Post a Comment
Read more