February 17, 2008

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church

Pr. Per Inge Vik  

Joh 3,1-17          

A Night Wanderer

Several times, I have met people that walk about carrying a secret admiration for the person Jesus from Nazareth. They have learned about him in childhood. Later they have met the reflection of his words and deeds in literature they have read, in music and song or in visual art, inspired by the stories in the gospels.

In my home country there is much hidden faith, and groping religious longing. When I hear about the person searching for Jesus in the cover of the night’s darkness, then I think: he could have been three-quarters Norwegian, at least!

Nicodemus has a small, but not unimportant role in the gospel according to John. He is mentioned three times. He is most known from this nighttime visit with Jesus. Later he is present in chapter 7,50, where he warns about premature judgments over Jesus. And so it is on Good Friday.

At our Bible study last Tuesday a question was posed about what happened to Nicodemus. Did he come to a clear confession in Christ? If we read the third time Nicodemus is present in the gospels, John’s story about Jesus’ dead body taken down from the cross, it gives an answer.

A maturing process towards a conscious attitude must have taken place. A faith, so dedicated that Nicodemus has provided a precious ointment, and he  takes part in anointing the dead body of the Master.

So who is this man, Nicodemus? A Pharisee, we read. And a leader of the Jews, literally a member of the Sanhedrion, the highest ruling body of the Jews under Roman occupation. Respected. Well known.

But even if Nicodemus belongs to the top level in society, he most of all represents the troubled ones. The longing ones. He has to meet this Jesus! Not just because he is curious. He is driven through the streets and to the place were Jesus is staying. A deep respect for what he has heard is driving him.

Nicodemus represents a huge crowd of night wanderers. Those who are too shy, spiritually, to seek out the Master in full daylight. It would oblige them more than they can stand. They are not  ready to confess a creed with all the indicated consequences. At least not yet.

Still, Jesus welcomes. He doesn’t impose any conditions for the secret audience. But when Jesus is open to him, that doesn’t mean that Jesus agrees with the doubt and the uncertainty of the night wanderer. On the contrary he gives a clear message: What entering the kingdom of God is all about.

No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. So what does this mean, a new birth? Common religious thinking today has much in common with the Pharisees at that time, that if one does one’s best, God will accept it. But according to the Bible, this is wrong in two ways:

First, God accepts us without a single good deed. You have to become like children, Jesus says. The little child has not yet been able to do a single good deed. This is exactly Jesus’ point: Come to God with your empty hand! Without any achievements, without any contribution. God’s kingdom is a free gift!

But secondly, God does not accept us regardless of how many good deeds we do. As Jesus says here in v.13: No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. In other words, a “ladder to heaven of good deeds “ that we can climb to God on, doesn’t exist.

Only one good deed makes God accept you and me. That is what Jesus has done for us when he let sinful soldiers lift him up on the cross at Calvary.  Jesus gives us a clear message today: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born again. Or born from above, as the Greek word is rendered in the Bible we use here. The new birth by water and spirit. The Christian baptism.

I have now and then envied those denominations that practice baptism by full immersion.

The pastor and the baptismal candidate go together into the water. And the one being baptized is covered completely by water. This makes clear what happens in baptism: The old human being is being drowned, and a new person belonging to Christ is raised from the water of baptism.

But indeed there is beautiful symbolism also in our baptism by the pouring of the water.  Not least connected to today’s Scripture reading. The birth from above by water poured down over the one being baptized. Born by water and the Spirit, born by a new, miraculous intervention from above.

To be born is not a child’s accomplishment. A human comes into being by conception, and then 9 months later being delivered from the mother into an independent existence. In the same way, faith is not a result of religious or emotional display of power  by us. I find the thought relieving, that in the realm of faith, we must be born. By the Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus was amazed and impressed by the rabbi from Nazareth. His deeds and his words. But Jesus makes it clear to the wise man sitting with him at night: You do not get into the Kingdom of God on the wave of admiration. There is a new start needed. One must be born anew. And the night wanderer is wondering how can that come about?

As an answer Jesus utilizes a story about a historic incident that Nicodemus knows well. The one about Moses and the Israelites in the desert, when they were bitten by poisonous snakes. They were about to die from the serpent’s venom. Then God ordered Moses to make a copper serpent and put it on a staff.

Then everyone who was bitten, was to look up at the copper serpent. The glance was enough to heal them. In the same way it is for the ones who fix their eyes upon the Son of Man as he is being lifted up. On a cross. And three days later lifted up from the grave. And another 40 days later lifted up to heaven.

God has made it that easy for us human beings. This clear message he has sent us: Do not toil doing good deeds so that God will be satisfied. No, a glance at the one who was lifted up on the cross, up from the grave, up to heaven, that is faith. That is a clear message: A glance at Jesus!

When our thoughts get rolled into a ball. When our feelings are deep down. When most things become chaotic, and we feel worn out, then it is relieving to hear this: Look at Jesus, and what he has done for you! Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who was, is and shall always be one true God from eternity to eternity. (Congregation:) Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716