Yesterday and today, we have been drawn into a conversation Jesus is having with Nicodemus who is really struggling to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words. Can he believe in Jesus or not?
There was a lot at stake for Nicodemus to even be talking to Jesus. Most of the disciples were ordinary people with no status to worry about losing. A fisherman or tax collector surely wouldn’t lose much by following an unorthodox teacher. But Nicodemus had quite a prominent reputation at stake. He was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and held an important ruling post. As a Pharisee, he was committed to a certain set of beliefs. As a prominent religious teacher, he was a respected interpreter of God’s law, which he believed in wholeheartedly. But now he’s genuinely curious and trying hard to understand what Jesus is saying about the law. Does he believe it or not?
All that explains why Nicodemus wanted to sneak out and meet Jesus at night, hoping no one would see him. He himself was the one in the dark. However, as time went on, he must have had a change of heart. We hear later in the Gospel that Nicodemus did grow bolder. When the Sanhedrin was discussing Jesus’s fate, Nicodemus spoke out against their willingness to condemn him without hearing from him first. (John 7:51) And after Jesus died, John’s gospel tells us that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body to be buried. (John 19:38-42). By these actions, he certainly showed he was willing to put his reputation on the line.
What can we learn from Nicodemus?
Nicodemus was hearing these truths from Jesus for the first time. Since we hear Jesus’ words often, our challenge is to remain open to the power of Jesus words in our lives and not be convinced we already know what these words mean. Are we willing to be changed by Jesus’ words, to welcome new life on Jesus’ terms? To approach the Gospel with this attitude is to be reborn and renewed by God’s love.
This is the heart of the Easter season we are now celebrating. Nicodemus initially had a hard time believing the unbelievable, experiencing the incredible. May we never take Jesus’ words and deeds for granted, and may we always be open to Jesus teaching us anew. Our times are calling us to bear witness to our beliefs. In many ways, we can boldly show others that we are not doubting believers in the night, but true believers in the light.
