Title: those o so famous words…
John 3: 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
John 7: 48ff
40On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
41Others said, “He is the Christ.”
Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family? And from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.
47“You mean he has deceived you also?” The Pharisees retorted. 48“Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51“Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”
52They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet? Does not come out of Galilee.”
John 19:38-ff 38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.? 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Nicodemus; (in the first person)
Good morning my name is Nicodemus. My name may not mean much to you, but in my culture--the Jewish culture of the first century a.d. 32, it was a very common name. I am very respected in my nation of Israel as a religious leader and symbol of authority--at least I was until I met Jesus...
As I said I had a position of power--I was a Pharisee--or in your language a "bishop" in the religious world. But not only that I was also a member of the ruling council--the Sanhedrin . It was our responsibility to preside over all religious matters for our people. This was very important because it meant we were responsible for the correct interpretation of the holy scriptures--and we took our responsibility very seriously. I thought we were doing fine. But often I was in situations that I must admit were not handled very honestly.
And we always had such difficulty obeying the law--it seemed impossible --but yet we must try. After all, if we wanted to serve God, we had to obey his law--but why was it so difficult?
Sometimes I ever felt like quitting religion altogether, but then it was really my whole life...
Then, a few years ago, a simple man came on the scene--he looked the same as the rest of us--but he was different. He oozed love and compassion for everyone he met. He talked in some religious ways, but he was very different in his approach from the rest of us religious leaders.
The people seemed drawn to him. He became very popular--at least for a while. But I’m getting ahead of my story...
My colleagues and I decided to watch this character--for in some ways he was a threat to us. We didn't quite know how to deal with him. Often in fact he seemed to put us in our place. Some of the Sanhedrin members were very tough on him--accusing him and tried to back him into a corner. He always had an answer for them. Mostly I just listened-- I guess you would call me a thinker. Sometimes I was quite passive--but when I made up my mind about something, I acted upon it.
Well, after sizing up Jesus for some time--about a year I guess it was-- I decided he was for real and that he had something that I needed to consider.
So, one night I finally mustered enough courage to pay Jesus a personal visit. As I walked through the streets of old Jerusalem, in the cool night air, I was alone with my thoughts as the city slept. I was still nervous that someone might see me with Jesus--what would they think?
Jesus was staying with friends, so I would meet him there. He was very warm and always willing to talk.
As I walked the rocky road to Bethany, I wondered what to ask him first--I needed answers. Jesus had somehow made me realise that religion as I practised it wasn't sufficient--there was something missing. Maybe Jesus could help me. I had heard him speak about the law--the law that I cherished and protected--but he had said that the law needed to be changed and a new law was now here--a law of love and a day of grace-- what does this mean, I thought--have we been wrong all these years? What about our traditions and our animal sacrifices?
Religion, and relationship with God, are not the same thing, Jesus would say--now that confused me... I thought that if I was a good Pharisee or a good Jew--or in your case--Anglican, Pentecostal, catholic etc. That everything would be fine.
But I was hearing a very different message from Jesus--he seemed to be saying that religion isn't the answer--how could this be??
I had devoted all my life to religion and now was I to learn that I had missed the mark?
Yes, there was no doubt about it - I needed to talk to Jesus--maybe he could clear some things up for me. As I pondered these questions, I had to concede that our religion was very different from that which the old testament taught us... We had made it into something burdensome. Our form of religion produced far too much guilt and condemnation.
When I arrived, Jesus greeted me warmly and thanked me for coming--and I thanked him for waiting up for me at such a late hour. I began my preamble to my questions this way; we know you are a teacher come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him".
Immediately, even before I could ask my question Jesus seemed to know what I was thinking--he gently interrupted me and in a soft but firm voice said; “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".
I looked at him in disbelief; "born again"--what does that mean? Now I was more confused than ever? Did he mean that some "born again" experience was the means to going to heaven and not religion? How can this be?
How can an old man like me be re-born? Impossible! Surely, he cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time!!! How absurd!! Jesus didn't flinch when I resisted--he simply replied--no one can enter heaven unless he is born of the spirit.
To paraphrase Jesus, he said to me "I know it’s a new concept to you- it’s hard to grasp perhaps-but it’s like the wind, we don't understand where it originates, or where it’s going. In other words, we see the effect but not the cause--that’s the way it is when we are born again--it’s a great miracle.
Jesus continued--the wonderful thing about being spiritually reborn is that you never die--you die physically but not spiritually. It’s the pathway to eternal life. To be born again Jesus said meant believing in Jesus as Lord and God-- He the one who forgives sin.
And then Jesus spoke some very beautiful words;" for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life".
I sat there spell bound!
Jesus continued. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world!!
This was radical religion – if you could even call it such.!!
If I was hearing Jesus correctly, he was saying that religion and trying to live a good life was missing the mark--it wasn't enough, it wasn't what God wanted. Yes, he wants us to be good people but not in our own strength or by religious performance---it was to be simply by believing on Jesus and allowing his presence to guide our lives and change us from the inside out.
Religion specializes in change on the outside.
Well, I had much to think about. As I left, I sensed that I would never be the same again--some of the implications of what Jesus had said began to flash across my mind--all these do's and don'ts that we religious leaders had devised were missing the point? How could we be so wrong? I remembered how Jesus would heal people on the Sabbath and we would be right there to throw the law up in his face-even though we knew he was doing something wonderful--I felt ashamed but also relieved -I was beginning to understand.
As I went home that night, I had much to think about. Privately I wanted to believe, but I needed more time to think about this. Immediately, the consequences of following Jesus came to mind-I would lose my place as a Pharisee- a position I had worked very hard for.
Over the course of the next few weeks I became more and more convinced that Jesus was for real--it all began to make sense. Eventually, I became a secret follower of Jesus-even though that was not really proper. But I decided it will do for now.
My Feeble defence of Jesus
John 7: 48ff
40On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
41Others said, “He is the Christ.”
Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family? And from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.
47“You mean he has deceived you also?” The Pharisees retorted. 48“Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51“Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”
52They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet? Does not come out of Galilee.”
I have some regrets about that feeble defense of Jesus---have you ever felt that way?
Sometime later Jesus--as I’m sure you know was arrested and crucified. I couldn’t believe it--some of my colleagues were involved in this plot to kill Jesus--there was nothing I could do.
Then I thought well if he really is genuine certainly, he will not allow a mob to kill him-how would that serve his goal??
Well they killed him alright-I couldn’t believe it—now, I had real doubts all over again. They crucified him on a Roman cross. It was horrific. Such a painful and cruel way to die. Nails in your hands a feet.
I decided to assuage my guilt by helping Joseph (he’s from Arimathea) bury the body--it seemed to be over, what would happen now? I guess he was a phoney after all.
But then 3 days later, Jesus rose from the dead!! All his followers were amazed -including me. As I reflected upon the teaching of Jesus, I learned that he had foretold his death and his resurrection!!
Now I was certain-this was the proof I needed--Jesus rose from the dead-he was alive!!
His death, I discovered, was to take the place of our animal sacrifices and to remove our sins forever!!
Now there was no doubt I would follow Jesus and become his disciple--there was no other way.
An incredible change came over me--I was born again in that moment- but I did it not just to go to heaven and avoid hell-- I did it because I loved Jesus--after all he loved me enough to die for me!!!
