Most of the country knows our gospel text only by that one verse. It is on banners in stadiums around the country-an advertisement for God. For some this is the whole of the message-Martin Luther described this verse as the whole gospel in miniature. It has been used to divide the haves from the have nots…those who are saved versus those who haven't made the cut. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he have his only son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Somehow I don't think the gospel writer envisioned the chapter being reduced to this one verse, nor could he see it unfurled at the sporting stadiums of his day let alone those of today. To take only this verse from the story is to miss the nuances and depth of this night encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus. It is like reading only the Cliff/Spark notes for a book-you get the basic facts, but you miss the flavor.
This encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus follows a pattern typical to John's gospel. A question is posed to Jesus who gives a cryptic answer that the person misunderstands. Jesus follows with an even more cryptic response and a discussion begins. John's gospel often contrasts light and darkness. The gospel's beginning contains ones of the most well-know: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The theme of light and darkness is present in today's story as well.
I invite you this morning to see the encounter through the eyes of Nicodemus. Like all of us he is a mixed bag. He comes desiring to know God, but also wants to be in control of the deal. Nicodemus is a respected, learned man of the community. Not only is he a Pharisee, he is probably a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin functioned as the Supreme Court of the day. It was comprised of 71 Torah sages how met to discuss the fundamental principles of the Torah. Any case of law that presented difficulties for the people was decided by this group. To be a member of the Sanhedrin was high praise, for one was given the privilege of sitting on the court by one's teachers.
It is this highly honored man that comes to Jesus. Nicodemus is rightly justified in thinking that he, Nicodemus knows a thing or two. Imagine yourself in his place as the encounter unfolds. Think of the place in your life where you feel most sure and competent…where you are most on solid footing. What do you do best? When we come up against something or someone that calls that place into question, it can be devastating. Our self confidence wavers. We often lash out in anger. The same thing happens when what we think we know is called into question. There has always been a debate about the status of Pluto-is it a planet or not? Discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh it was quickly heralded as the theoretical ninth planet. It is spherical like other planets; it has an atmosphere and seasons. But it also is tiny, and has an elliptical orbit. There is no official definition of a planet. There is new interest stirring the debate over Pluto's status. And many are angry about calling Pluto into question. In a small way that anger reflects our anger whenever something in our lives we thought secure; something we thought we knew is questioned. Sometimes we are challenged simply by the facts, as in the case of Pluto's status. More often it is the life challenges-when things we knew to be secure are yanked out from underneath us. Death, divorce, illness appear and what we knew to be true no longer is. Again, we get angry. Nicodemus knew that anger as his place in society is challenged. Nicodemus knew that anger as belief system is called into question.
The other thing that strikes me about Nicodemus is that he comes under the cover of night. He may have to sneak about to see Jesus for his safety, since this encounter comes soon after Jesus throws the money changers out of the temple. But I suspect it has more to do with his not wanting to be open about seeing Jesus, he wants to keep it safe. We like safety. He also doesn't own his questions-they attributed to that mysterious "they" that haunt all churches when someone doesn't really want to own up to the fact they are really speaking for themselves.
Again, we have sympathy for Nicodemus. We like to think we have it all together in putting on our public face. Someone like Nicodemus would have to be more aware of that than others. At the same time, we know we don't have it all together, but we like that illusion when we are out in the light. And so we tuck away our passions, our joys, our tears, and all the places we feel insecure about….and we turn to face the world. Nicodemus had the cover of night and his place in the Sanhedrin to hide behind. We find our own ways to hide before others, and before God. We are afraid…if someone really knew all about me, would they….could they still like me? Can even God love one such as me given who I really am? The cover of night, and a bit of competency to hide behind is not a bad thing!
The answer that Jesus gives to Nicodemus is his opportunity for transformation, even as it challenges his notions of who and what he really is. "You have to be born from above," Jesus tells him. "Born again?!" Nicodemus sputters, mishearing Jesus. "You've got to be kidding." Not only is that impossible, would one really want that? Birth, even in the hopeful safety of a hospital is chancy enough. No matter how hard we try to control it, birth is a process that takes on a life of its own. Nicodemus is not sure about letting go of control, and neither are we. Like Nicodemus we bring the beliefs we thought secure, we bring the places we thought secure, and the notions of who we are….and we find them challenged. The challenges of life bring anger. And Jesus offers new birth. Even that is not so comforting….do we really want to start over? Sometimes we think that we do….to crawl back into the womb as Nicodemus speaks. But more often than not, starting over is not our choice. A relationship ends and a person loses sight of who there were and are. A stroke victim is forced to relearn how to move and walk, and use a knife and fork all over again. A death forces us to live without someone.
This perfect Pharisee, hiding under the cover of his credentials and the dark of night is challenged to let God be God. To let the spirit blow where it will, breathing new life and hope. Because it is there we find the power to transform our lives when we cannot do it ourselves. It is there we find the power to transform our pain, our disappointment, and especially our anger at what is not into what can be. New birth, new life.
The great good news in this passage is the love that Jesus declares God has for the world. Nicodemus comes to Jesus thinking he has his best foot forward and ends up putting his foot in his mouth…just like we so often do. He wants Jesus to see him as a learned, finished person…just as we would like Jesus to see us. For we are afraid of rejection. What he finds is that God loves him as he is and wants to be present with him.
Fear and confusion and anger….Nicodemus brings it all to Jesus under the cover of night. In God's love Nicodemus is exposed and light is offered. It is the possibility that we are offered. Out of our dark places, new birth is possible. Do we dare? There is evidence that Nicodemus got it that night. Later in John's gospel when Jesus is hauled before the Sanhedrin court, it is Nicodemus who defends him, saying "our law cannot judge people without finding out what they are doing." (John 7:4-53) And then it is Nicodemus in the end who gives a fortune to buy 100 pounds of ointments for the body of Jesus to be properly prepared. Indeed, what possibilities we are offered. "For God so loved the world that he have his only son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."