Good morning – I’m Sarah Pollitt a Pastor in the Uniting Church, Chaplain at St Philips and Somerville Community Services – both agencies of the Northern Synod. It is lovely to be sharing with you this morning on Nicodemus – one of the liturgy readings for this 2nd Sunday in Lent.
Spirit of the Living God Fall afresh on me!
May my words be your thoughts.
Nicodemus, under the cover of darkness comes to find Jesus – the questions in his heart will not be silenced. It is dangerous for him – he is a one of the Council – a Sanhedrin, one of the Pharisees. Generally acknowledged as an expert in the law – yet here he is desperately needing to speak with the very man that is at the centre of their many and agonising conversations – what to do with him??
Rabbi – Nicodemus addresses him with respect – “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2).
Jesus responds to Nicodemus with a statement that challenges the Pharisee’s understanding of spiritual matters: “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3).
Nicodemus is confused – how can this possibly be??
“You must be born of water and the spirit,”, Jesus moves into explaining the spiritual nature of being born again – he compares it to the wind, we can hear it but know not where it comes from or where it goes. This analogy emphasizes the mysterious and sovereign work of the Spirit in bringing about new life in a believer (John 3:8).
Jesus goes on to say to him – You are a teacher of the law, yet you struggle with spiritual concepts!
Indeed, he does – But Nicodemus has these burning questions – he has to know – has to speak with this extraordinary man who is causing such a stir. His desire for truth overrides any other consideration, including the danger. The rigidity of pharaisaical thinking would normally prevent them breaking out of the mould to even consider a new way of hearing Jesus’s message. Because to do so makes way for the unthinkable – have they perhaps got a few things wrong??
It does not tell us where it happened, who else was there, how it happened but Nicodemus acknowledges him as Rabbi – teacher – a teacher of new things?. Nicodemus has seen and heard, and he recognises the voice of God.
It is so like us!
Are we guilty of thinking like the Pharisees – self righteous in our relationship with God – in my role of School chaplain – I am always afraid of falling into the trap of the gospel according to Sarah Pollitt – as we sift through the thoughts, beliefs, ideas of young people at school, slightly older people at church, middle people in the street, mums, dads, getting my head around others I’m trying to love and understand – how to tread gently, with integrity, without motive, in truth and justice! Like Nicodemus, we need to recognise the voice of God, draw really close to Jesus because we also need to know the truth in order to be his hands and feet and heart in this crazy world of ours.
Nicodemus recognises Jesus is from God? – why Nicodemus, why not any of the others – were they wondering but too scared to step out and be bold. They’ve all heard the same messages as Nicodemus, in the temple and in the streets!
It reminds me very much of the Parable of the Sower – the seed that fell on the path is taken away, other seeds burnt by the sun, smothered by good living, worries of the world. Here we witness seed that has fallen on good soil, and it has taken root. Nicodemus, despite the difficulties, despite the fear, is trying to water this little plant that has a hold on his heart. He comes straight to the source of the water!
The message is difficult to understand but it serves to explain the Christian message.
Recognise the voice of God, receive the message gladly, water it, nurture it, and allow the Holy Spirit full access in our lives!
Nicodemus is hungry for the truth, but he struggles to understand – what does this mean to be born again as an adult? Jesus’ message is pretty clear – in order to enter the Kingdom, you must be born of water and the spirit. It is a hard concept – what actually does it mean?
As I was searching for resources, a reference from Ezekiel caught my eye: Ezekiel 36:24-26
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
This Old Testament promise foreshadows inner cleansing (symbolized as water) and the transformative power of God’s Spirit.
The reading does not tell us how the conversation ended but later in John there is reference to Nicodemus defending Jesus’ right to a fair hearing and then again at his burial as he helps Joseph of Arimathea with spices for Jesus body, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes. There is an apocryphal Gospel according to Nicodemus or Acts of Pilate which appears in the 4th/5th Century that did not make the cut, but maybe suggests a real and ongoing faith was born? If you interested have a look
But we see in Gospel of John, Nicodmeus moving from a tentative enquiry in darkness, to vocal defence for Jesus’s right to justice, then to practical public assistance at a time of crisis! Surely this does a growing faith and obedience to the indwelling of the Spirit.
What does it mean for us – to be filled with the spirit.
At the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, Paul tells us the spirit comes to dwell within! We become a member of the family of God.
But everyday life brings choices, our battle is against not flesh and blood but the forces of this evil world it tells us in Ephesian 6. We have to clothe ourselves with the armour of God – each day ask for the filling, the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirt – to fill us to overflowing that we may be His hands and feet here on earth. As a member of his family, we stop being observers but enter the river of life. We can choose how deep we go – but it is through his spirit that we are emboldened, changed, moulded, challenged to go deeper.
We can talk about gifs of the spirit and depending on which church you will get difference interpretations, but it is very clear in Matt 7 v 20 Therefore it is by their fruits you will know them – you cannot fake the fruits of the spirit – their evidence surges up from within!
In Pauls letter to the Galatians, it records 9 Fruits of the Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And the overriding quality is love – bringing us to the pivotal verse in John 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Lord I pray you keep what is worth keeping: and blow the rest away.
Amen
