The writer of the gospel according to St. John who most scholars believe to be Jesus’ beloved disciple and the brother of James, introduces us to an intriguing meeting and conversation between a leader of the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin and Jesus. This man’s name is Nicodemus, and the event is all the more intriguing because he chose to come to see Jesus at nighttime. This event like so many others in the gospel of John is not corroborated by any of the other gospels so we have to take it at face value. What is important to consider is who this man was and why he came to see Jesus.
As I said earlier he was a member of the Jewish ruling council otherwise known as the Sanhedrin and this was a group of people who were in no way enamored about Jesus. In fact, the Jewish leaders saw him as a threat to their power and control over the people. Given their general suspicion and even outright dislike of Jesus and what they thought his motives were, it has to be seen as quite astounding that any of them would want to engage Jesus in an honest respectful conversation. On most of the other occasions that they have interacted with Jesus their displeasure and hostility towards him was quite plain to see.
Nicodemus is, however, not like the others. He obviously has keen interest in what Jesus is teaching and wants to know more.
The first point to be made here is that Nicodemus comes in secret because he is apparently afraid of being seen in Jesus’ company in broad daylight. He is conflicted by his position as a member of the Sanhedrin on the one hand, and his desire to learn more from Jesus on the other hand, which obviously conflicts with what the Sanhedrin thinks about Jesus. Nicodemus is someone who at first glance seems to want to have his cake and eat it. He still wants the prestige and privilege of being a member of the Jewish ruling council and at the same time give serious attention to the radical, and in the mind of the Jewish leaders, sometimes inflammatory teaching of Jesus. Clearly the two could not be harmonized. Many of us as Christians behave just like Nicodemus. We want to project ourselves as Christians, but we also want to reflect worldly values and principles. We don’t want to upset any apple carts or rustle feathers in our homes, families or wider circle of friends or associates. There is a challenge that those who want to be true servants of Christ must face. For some it is an easy decision to let go of the past and embrace fully their new life in Christ as Paul once said in Philippians chapter three (3). But for others, it is still important to hold on to what the world offers. By this many have compromised themselves by turning a blind eye to the wrong and sinful behavior of others around them because it is expedient to do so. Nicodemus, like many of us today, had to be taught that oil and water will not mix well together.
Secondly, one can only enter into a relationship with God through a new birth. The account never tells us why Nicodemus came to see Jesus. We did not hear this specifically from him. We can only assume from Jesus’ response that the Savior had seen in this man a deep desire to be closer to God, but he did not know how to do so. As is his custom, Jesus went straight to the point to tell him that no one could enter God’s kingdom or in essence have a relationship with God unless they were born again. The concept must have been as shocking to Nicodemus as it would be for any of us hearing this for the first time. Nicodemus’ question about entering his mother’s womb a second time sounds at first quite ridiculous for an experienced religious leader to think much less say out loud but it does suggest the confusion and disbelief he has in what Jesus has just told him. Nicodemus surely did not believe that Jesus was talking about a physical rebirth, but for him the transformation that must take place even spiritually seemed far-fetched and outside of the human capacity and he was right. It was never going to be possible based on human ability. As is typical of many words in the Greek language of that time, the word for ‘born’ meant both the physical birth to which Nicodemus mistakenly applied it as well as being born from above or spiritually as Jesus meant. The real point here is that no one can enter into a relationship with God or as Jesus says, no one can enter the kingdom of God, unless they are born from above and this is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. This means that we cannot earn it by our actions no matter how good we think we have been or how religiously passionate we are. This is what Paul means when he says, “…it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:9)
Thirdly, this new birth which Jesus teaches Nicodemus about is a reality for humans solely because God loves us so much that he made it possible by sending His son to die for all people. The well-known verse in St. John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” encapsulates the message of the entire chapter. The lesson that Nicodemus must learn is summed up in this one verse with verse seventeen (17) adding support. It makes it clear to Nicodemus that God intends humanity to have life that is eternal, not one that is transient and temporary. This life could only be possible through the death of His son but even so humans had to be prepared to be totally new beings in order to live this new life. This is ultimately what being born again means. It all begins and ends with God’s love for all humanity. New life can only come through humans being born into a new relationship with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
All of us are faced with the question of whether or not we desire this new life. Some of us may have said that we desire it but have not yet accepted it. Accepting it is not about being a part of a church or religious organization. Accepting it means that you have become a new being spiritually. You have been born again. We may never know for sure what Nicodemus’ intention was when he sat with Jesus that night. Maybe he was a closet supporter who wanted to come out of the closet but didn’t know how or wasn’t prepared to risk losing power and status. There are many people today just like Nicodemus. Maybe he was just on the sidelines searching for answers in order to make up his mind. There are also many people just like that today including a great number in church. Maybe at the time he was a great sceptic who wanted to prove Jesus wrong. Again, there are many today who are like that as well. What we do know is that each of us have to decide for ourselves what our relationship with God through Jesus should and will be. Each of us has to decide whether the saving grace of our Lord Jesus is what we need desperately. Each of us also has to decide whether our relationship with Jesus is worth living out proudly and sincerely. Many it seems by their actions are either choosing to be closet Christians or Christians only on Sundays and many choose to sit on the fence hoping to have the best of both worlds. None of these give the true life which is beckoning to all of us.
I keep saying that the Church seems so weak today because too many Christians have become apathetic. Too many of us have also compromised ourselves and become so enmeshed into the world’s standards and expectations that we have lost the focus on the real goal of life. We must be born again.
The person who is born again is the one who puts God’s will before human expectations. The person who is born again is the one who is passionate about living for Jesus in such a way that making Christ known is a daily mission. Jesus is the center of that person’s whole being. People can see it in you wherever you are. They don’t even have to ask you. They can tell just by looking at you and seeing you in action that you are a child of God.
Let us go from here today contemplating our own relationship with God. Ask yourself whether or not you have been displaying the zeal and energy of a new birth. Has your Christian walk become tired and listless? Have you been merely going along thinking that by being religious you are a Christian but not yet making understanding the need for a personal commitment? The great thing about what Jesus offers to us all is that you are never too old to be born again. God is ready and waiting for all who are willing to come to Him now and find new life in His love and grace.
May we all reflect on these things as we go from here into the week ahead and the rest of our lives. A new birth is beckoning for all who will come and seek a new life in God through Jesus the Savior today. Amen.