Second Sunday in Lent, 2023

           John 3,1-17

       Rev. Neli Miranda

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (3,16). This is perhaps one of the best-known Bible verses recited by Christians; however, we may be unaware that this verse is part of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about the meaning of being born from above and understand Jesus’ message.

Nicodemus is a Pharisee and also an important leader of the Jews (member of the Sanhedrin 7,50). He belongs to the upper class, is economically privileged, and well educated. He is representative of the Pharisee tradition, a moral person, pleased with his own religiosity but looking for more. He comes to Jesus by night, which may refer to the fact that Nicodemus, despite being a great teacher, still lives in darkness and needs to find the light of Jesus. In this regard, he may also be read as “humanity”, representing those who live in darkness and need to find Jesus’ light. 

From his first approach, Nicodemus is politically correct and shows sensitivity and respect towards Jesus. He calls Jesus, “Rabbi”, a respectful term used to refer to important teachers in Israel who interpreted and taught the Holy Scripture. He declares that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God because of the signs (miracles) he performs: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God” (3,2).

So far, Nicodemus’ declarations are correct and may sound like authentic faith, but he is missing something. He is at a primary level of faith that leads him to believe in Jesus because of his miraculous signs. He only recognizes Jesus as a great teacher; recognizing him as the Messiah would place him in a politically incorrect position, and it seems he is not willing to take that risk.  So, Jesus goes right to the heart of the matter and invites Nicodemus to go beyond and commit himself to a real change, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (3,3). Jesus invites Nicodemus to live a conversion experience from on high—to be born as a child of God: humble, simple, empathetic, compassionate, committed to justice.  Jesus asks Nicodemus to quit his religiosity, his allegiance to the status quo, his comfortable social position, and enter the Kingdom of God by being born from above.

Nicodemus, thinking in human terms, misunderstands Jesus and asks him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” (3,4). Nicodemus questions how one can start all over again. How can our old and ugly habits be discarded? How can we leave behind our resentments, our desires, our comforts, our ignorance? As humans, is this possible?

 Jesus offers Nicodemus (us) another possibility, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (3,5). Jesus’ reply contains the same word “enter” used by Nicodemus, but Jesus is referring to “entering” the Kingdom of God, which is only possible by being born of the water, that is, the baptism that symbolizes our birth into the Kingdom of God; and by being born of the Spirt, which means receiving and experiencing God’s grace in our lives. These experiences renew our minds and change the direction of our lives, our desires, our values, our goals, our affections. These experiences orient us toward the Kingdom of God!

As Jesus’ teaching continues, Nicodemus the teacher of Israel continues to be confused (so are we!). His old religious schemes and his privileged position prevent him from understanding Jesus’ message and then he asks, “How can these things be?” (3,9). Nicodemus cannot understand what Jesus teaches him because he continues to be on human ground, and apparently, he is not willing to leave it.

  Jesus concludes by revealing himself as the One sent by God, the Messiah, whom Nicodemus does not want to recognize. He is the One descended from heaven who can speak about heavenly things, God’s message. Jesus also reveals his coming exaltation, his ascension into heaven by being lifted up just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Being lifted up means to be exalted on high but also to be lifted up on a cross; and the purpose of Jesus being lifted up on a cross is, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life”. Jesus adds, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (3,16).

Dear sisters and brothers, we are not told about Nicodemus’ response to Jesus’ great revelations about God’s love for the world. What we do know is that we can continue the conversation with Jesus today… From Nicodemus’ experience we  know that  when we approach Jesus in human terms and rely only on our earthly knowledge, we cannot understand his teachings and his proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Only when we are willing to be born from above and experience God’s grace in our lives, can we transcend Nicodemus’ position and embrace the message of the cross. Only by a genuine commitment to Jesus, can we understand his message, his commitment to death, and even the death of the cross.  What is our response today?  Are we ready for a real change in our lives?

In this Lenten season, may we be willing to commit ourselves to Jesus, the Messiah, the One sent by God. May we be committed to follow Jesus’ path. May we experience in Jesus God’s great love for the world. Amen.