Nicodemus

There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. One night he went to Jesus... "How can this be?" asked Nicodemus. (John 3:1-2, 9)

A couple of things struck about this text while preparing for this Sunday's sermon.

The first was about Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night. Was he really afraid of being seen with Jesus? Or was it more a case of wanted a time of uninterrupted dialogue with him. The Jews believed that one of the best times for studying the Word of God was in the evenings after the day's activities had finished and friends and neighbours had returned to their homes and families. John presents us with Nicodemus, who in his role as Pharisee highly valued the study of the Word, perhaps unknowingly involved in just such a studious and reflective dialogue this night with the Word made flesh. Though it is obvious from the dialogue that John records for us the meeting was less than satisfying for Nicodemus, it is obviously the beginning of something in his relationship with Jesus as Nicodemus is one who actively participates in the burial of Christ's body after the crucifixion. (John 19:39)

The second thing that struck me was his concluding statement in this dialogue with Jesus. "How can this be?" This question alone should qualify him to be the patron saint of all Christians who seek to know and understand God and his will. Many times in my life as a Christian and as a pastor I have come up against situations or events that have caused me to wonder how God was working or why things had happened and where was God's presence in all this. "How can this be?" is a heart-spoken question of one seeking to know the truth of God.So Nicodemus' story reminds us that we are all seeking to know God in some way. He shows us Jesus as a teacher who challenges and stirs us in our seeking without condemning our questions or condescending to our ignorance. We can draw courage from Nicodemus' actions...courage that enables us to love our God with the whole of our heart, soul, mind and strength even while we wonder "How can this be?"