This week we hear the story of Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus (John 3:1-15). Nicodemus is one of the few Pharisees who is sympathetic to Jesus and His teachings. In fact, Nicodemus so admires Jesus that he becomes Christ’s secret follower. Nicodemus finds compelling the truth taught by Jesus and is deeply moved by what he hears in those teachings. Nicodemus tells the Lord how he truly believes that Christ is come from God and is sent by Him into the world for its salvation. Then the Lord tells him that no one can truly see the kingdom of God unless they are born again, born in the Spirit.
Jesus is pretty hard on us intellectuals. We are like the rich in that we have a lot of obstacles to overcome to enter the Kingdom of God. We think things over too much and for too long. These readings from John really hit home for me. While I do not have the status, credentials, and privileges of Nicodemus, in a lot of ways, I am like Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a recognized elite Jewish scholar, a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin. But something is missing for him. He knows that he does not have all the answers, but he is pretty sure that Jesus does. He is smart enough to pick up on how well Jesus knows his stuff. Jesus answers questions that Nicodemus cannot, and Jesus can really draw in the crowds and hold their attention. And he gets a lot of people thinking, even people like Nicodemus who thought they already knew everything.
Nicodemus knows that he is way out of his league compared to Jesus and he clearly respects Jesus as one who has divine authority to speak and to heal. That’s why he brakes rank with the rest of the Pharisees to come quietly to speak to Jesus at night. The rest of the Pharisees continue to try to publicly humiliate Jesus by asking him trick questions. Nicodemus knows that is foolish. He knows Jesus could easily embarrass him in public.
And what does Jesus know? Jesus recognizes that Nicodemus knows that something is missing in his life and that Jesus probably knows what he needs. Jesus knows that Nicodemus needs to be born of the Spirit, but Jesus also knows how hard it is for Nicodemus to grasp what that means. Prior to his encounters with Jesus, Nicodemus thought he just needed more religious knowledge. He thought it was about things on this earth, something he could see and control. So Jesus is pretty hard on him. Jesus challenges Nicodemus’ credentials as a teacher because Nicodemus, up until meeting Jesus, didn’t know the basic difference between things on earth and things in heaven. To be told that has to really hurt. But Nicodemus is already hurting, so he takes it. I think I know how Nicodemus felt.
So Nicodemus listens and this is what Jesus told him, what He tells all of us who are scholars, clergy, bishops, members of church councils, and Sunday school teachers. Religion alone cannot save us. We must drop our faith in systems of religious knowledge and rules and draw on salvation from Jesus alone. Being born into a religious family or community is not enough. You must be reborn from above, through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches us that it is necessary to be reborn to experience the kingdom of God and have a new relationship with God. It is not the credentials of this world and human action, but the works of God through the Holy Spirit that saves us. That is difficult for those of us like Nicodemus who like to be in control. We must recognize that our being in control and our accomplishments can get in the way of our own and others’ salvation. We cannot use our knowledge to put up barriers. We must let go of all that and let God work through us and others.
Despite his predicament, Nicodemus does something right. His conscience is awakened, and he overcomes his arrogance to seek out Jesus. But his approach is still misguided by a desire for more knowledge, not by a quest for wisdom. Jesus sets him straight. Nicodemus needs to separate his faith from what he can see and control in the natural world and place it in the spiritual world where God is in control. Jesus reminds him that the working of the Spirit is like the working of the wind. You cannot see it and you cannot control it. Our work, our efforts, and our knowledge do not make it happen. Like Father Michael once said in his Sunday homily, we cannot save ourselves. But by opening ourselves to our shortcomings, we can let the Spirit work in us. That might cost Nicodemus his wealth and status, but not his life. In fact, just the opposite, by being born again, he gains his life.
Today I pray with thanks that even though Jesus is hard on intellectuals, he does not rebuke us in judgment against us, but to show us the greater glory of God. It is a good example of tough love. This story of Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus comes just before the familiar and comforting words, “For God so loved the world, that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) That is really good news for me!
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!