John 3:1-8
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 unless God is with that person.” 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…You must be born from above. The wind blows where it chooses, and you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes...
I skipped over another story to get to this reading for today so we can spend our time on the reading I just read. The one I skipped is the one about Jesus throwing out the money changers to cleanse the temple. This is a story that is found in all four gospels. The only thing that is unique to John about this bit is its chronological placement. In John, this story comes in chapter two – just after the wedding at Cana – right up at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. In the Synoptics it occurs in the last week of Jesus’ life and is the final act that pushes the authorities to call for his death. Some believe there was only one “cleansing,” others posit two separate occasions -- one to go with John's dating and one to fit in with the Synoptics. There is only speculation about this point - and not much to be gained by arguing.
I want to spend the time we have here today on the reading with which we opened. This story is another that is found only in John’s gospel. We are introduced to a Pharisee named Nicodemus who, like this whole story, we only hear about in this gospel. We will meet him again a couple of times – particularly after Jesus’ death when he helps to prepare his body for proper burial.
Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a respected member of the Sanhedrin—a teacher and leader of Israel. (As an aside, he is also considered a saint in the Christian world.) He is a man who has paid attention to Jesus and feels called to know more about him but he’s not ready to just jump into full belief just yet. He is a man who recognizes the significance of particular “signs” he has seen or heard of and in spite of his traditional conservative Jewish training he is curious and wants to know more about this wandering rabbi.
“Signs” are another important concept that we will find in John’s gospel that sets John apart from the other gospels. The first half of John's Gospel is often called the “Book of Signs,” since it tells the stories of seven particular “signs,” or miracles, that Jesus performs. Miracles were pointers for the traditional faithful that Jesus was the long-promised Messiah. Certain miracles are further called 'signs' because they not only demonstrate Jesus' power, as any miracle does, but they are also particular signs pointing to who Jesus is – the Son of God. We read of one of these signs last week at the wedding in Cana.
Miracles generally benefit one person or a small handful at most. Signs touch a broader swath of humanity by explaining Jesus.
So Nicodemus comes to Jesus directly to find out more about him but, wary of his own status, he comes at night, under darkness to ask his questions. Jesus explains that there is flesh and there is spirit and if one is born only of the flesh they cannot know the mind of the Spirit. One must be born of the Spirit in order to truly understand what they see right in front of themselves.
And … what they are seeing is the sign that Jesus is not merely an especially blessed human person – he is, instead, the very Son of God, and the reason so many cannot see that is that they are closed off to the voice of Spirit. So many still live in the darkness, just as Nicodemus, at this point, is still in the dark. He almost sees, he almost hears, he is so close, and soon he will be reborn in that Spirit and then he will know what Jesus has come to show him -- and all the rest of us. Then the light that is Jesus will shine brightly and God’s people will truly see by that light all that Jesus – the Son of God -- has come to give us.
John’s gospel identifies seven particular signs that point us to the reality of Jesus as the Son of God. As I mentioned, we already have seen one of these signs last week when the six stone jars of water at a country wedding were turned into wine at nothing more than a thought. As we go along with our study here we’ll see if we recognize the other six as they come along.
Once again, we will be reminded that we must listen carefully and pay attention as we read our way through this gospel. There are important things to be seen and learned here, and we don’t want to miss them.
I want to spend the time we have here today on the reading with which we opened. This story is another that is found only in John’s gospel. We are introduced to a Pharisee named Nicodemus who, like this whole story, we only hear about in this gospel. We will meet him again a couple of times – particularly after Jesus’ death when he helps to prepare his body for proper burial.
Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a respected member of the Sanhedrin—a teacher and leader of Israel. (As an aside, he is also considered a saint in the Christian world.) He is a man who has paid attention to Jesus and feels called to know more about him but he’s not ready to just jump into full belief just yet. He is a man who recognizes the significance of particular “signs” he has seen or heard of and in spite of his traditional conservative Jewish training he is curious and wants to know more about this wandering rabbi.
“Signs” are another important concept that we will find in John’s gospel that sets John apart from the other gospels. The first half of John's Gospel is often called the “Book of Signs,” since it tells the stories of seven particular “signs,” or miracles, that Jesus performs. Miracles were pointers for the traditional faithful that Jesus was the long-promised Messiah. Certain miracles are further called 'signs' because they not only demonstrate Jesus' power, as any miracle does, but they are also particular signs pointing to who Jesus is – the Son of God. We read of one of these signs last week at the wedding in Cana.
Miracles generally benefit one person or a small handful at most. Signs touch a broader swath of humanity by explaining Jesus.
So Nicodemus comes to Jesus directly to find out more about him but, wary of his own status, he comes at night, under darkness to ask his questions. Jesus explains that there is flesh and there is spirit and if one is born only of the flesh they cannot know the mind of the Spirit. One must be born of the Spirit in order to truly understand what they see right in front of themselves.
And … what they are seeing is the sign that Jesus is not merely an especially blessed human person – he is, instead, the very Son of God, and the reason so many cannot see that is that they are closed off to the voice of Spirit. So many still live in the darkness, just as Nicodemus, at this point, is still in the dark. He almost sees, he almost hears, he is so close, and soon he will be reborn in that Spirit and then he will know what Jesus has come to show him -- and all the rest of us. Then the light that is Jesus will shine brightly and God’s people will truly see by that light all that Jesus – the Son of God -- has come to give us.
John’s gospel identifies seven particular signs that point us to the reality of Jesus as the Son of God. As I mentioned, we already have seen one of these signs last week when the six stone jars of water at a country wedding were turned into wine at nothing more than a thought. As we go along with our study here we’ll see if we recognize the other six as they come along.
Once again, we will be reminded that we must listen carefully and pay attention as we read our way through this gospel. There are important things to be seen and learned here, and we don’t want to miss them.
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