Monday, April 7—Day 34

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus saith unto him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said unto him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:1-17

The Questions of Nicodemus
I often hear good Christian folks say that they would like to talk to Jesus. I would like to also – though we, like Nicodemus, might come away from the engagement more confused than when we entered it. Nicodemus begins the conversation with an affirmation that Jesus is indeed a teacher from God. Jesus sizes up his conversation partner and conjures one of his greatest metaphors for what is required to enter the Kingdom of God:

“…except a man be born again...” 

Of course the phrase, “born again Christian,” has taken on slightly pejorative connotations these days, suggesting a simplistic and overzealous faith to some. But I think we would do well to remember that the humor and incredulity attached to that phrase is also part of Nicodemus’ response. Jesus chose his metaphors carefully, and when approached by an erudite man, in the dark, who hails Him as teacher, he throws this metaphor like a sabot into complex machinery of the Pharisee’s mind. Even after Jesus distinguishes between physical and spiritual rebirth, Nicodemus seems unable to assimilate this picture.

“How can these things be?”

Henry O. Tanner’s painting of this theme captures the matter of fact quality of Jesus explanation–note the simplicity of His raised hand–and Nicodemus’ uneasiness with what he is hearing. Tanner places Nicodemus on the ground and captures a moment where he seems to teeter back at the utter impossibility of what is being said. Picturing Nicodemus as considerably older than Jesus, Tanner helps us to imagine how extraordinary it would be for Jesus to tell the older “teacher of Israel” that he must become an infant again. In the painting, Nicodemus sits on the ground in a pose not unlike that of a listening child, a pose closer to that of the infant in utero than the standing adult. Looking at the painting, one can imagine him rocking back and forth as a child would, listening to a story at night.

And why night? Nicodemus was probably afraid. Jesus still receives this man who comes to Him in secret, and after the confounding metaphor, Jesus offers this man the best news ever–the way not to perish, but the way to be reborn.  Nicodemus came desiring a new teaching, but the real teaching of Jesus was always Himself.

Let us all pause to considered the extraordinary fact that John 3:16, perhaps the most revelatory statement in the history of the world, was first said to a man who had not the courage to come to Jesus in broad daylight. Tanner seems to paint the heaviness of the air that would have carried those vibrations from the human larynx of Jesus to tympanic membranes of Nicodemus. And did anyone else hear them? Or, as Tanner paints, was it just the two of them? If so, then Nicodemus alone would have been entrusted with a priceless and fragile gift.

As we listen to the National Lutheran Choir sing John Stainer’s majestic composition, let us imagine hearing these words as they were first whispered. The Son of God, sitting in the cool of night, soothed the fear and confusion of a curious but frightened man. I wonder if, as He spoke these sentences into existence, a knowing smile crossed His lips.

Prayer
Jesus, without you we will surely perish.
Tell us again about the love of the Father,
that sent you from so far, so near.
Becoming small, rewinding to the beginning,
We want to be raised again by you
our parent and maker.
This second time the serpents won’t come among us. 
We won’t be plagued
by the fear of death or the terror of judgment.
Jesus, tell us again about life everlasting,
walking with you in the cool of the evening.
Amen.

Jonathan Puls, Associate Dean, Fine Arts & Communications