A few weeks back we read about Nicodemus' nighttime visit to Jesus. We all chuckle when Nicodemus misunderstands Jesus' talk about "being born from above of water and spirit."
But, I sort of like Nicodemus' question about being born again: "how can this be?" Sounds very much like the question asked by Zechariah, Mary, and Sarah when surprised by divine revelation. Nicodemus was invited to a life of significance away from perfect law keeping. Nicodemus knew a lot about God, but didn't know who God was or is. Would he or could he step away from the bounds of the law to find God and grace?
As we make our way through our book on faith fundamentals, a faith for the future. like Nicodemus we often prize ourselves in knowing a lot about faith, church history, creeds, doctrines, Episcopalians, rituals, etc. But, do we really know God? Have we sought and been found by God?
When I hear John 3:16 there seems to be a welcoming embrace of anyone who would as much as lean God's way (believe) to be accepted, loved and welcomed. Yet, we take such moments of scripture and turn them into law: here is what you must do, must know, must profess, dress like, participate in, and behave like in order to be allowed into membership in our group. If you meet these qualifications we may consider you.
How do we keep it real? How do we avoid the legalistic trap? Why do we find comfort in our gold star standards while missing everything that Jesus taught and showed in his life? Why do we make it so complicated to follow Him? Where is our discipleship? Where have we picked up the cross to follow?
If I had to fill in the blanks in Nicodemus' life, from his nighttime excursion to see Jesus to his showing up at the foot of the cross, I would say that Nicodemus likely had some gut wrenching moments of wrestling with what he had heard and what he was coming to understand. I'm sure there were moments of rejecting and wanting to stay with what he was comfortable with, what he knew well, while also being intrigued, drawn, perplexed, and finally convinced of the realness of his encounter with Jesus. I suspect Nicodemus tasted freedom and grace and found it quite appealing.
Can we be as brave as Nicodemus? Are we willing to give up the same old thinking, the same old results, to open ourselves to something bigger, less controllable, less definable, and more real? Even more important, is our church willing to die the necessary deaths to be revived and resurrected in new ways?
From the dark of night, a secret encounter with Jesus, to standing at the foot of the Cross: what a journey! Could we, will we do the same?
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