John #4 – A Tale of 2 Disciples: The Visitor at Midnight – John 3:1-21
… Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…
The
escape from Egypt had been so dramatic and exciting. Moses driving this disorganized group of
former slaves towards the Red Sea – in front of them, leading the way – a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night…
And
then, on the edge of the shore – Moses lifts his staff and parts the sea… and
the people cross on dry land…
Then
the waters return, drowning the Egyptians while Moses’ sister Mirium (or Mary)
sings, dances and leads a celebration.
But
then the wandering begins. 40 years of wandering
in the desert – no food – no water – harsh conditions. “Why have you brought us
up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water,
and we detest this miserable food." The people cry.
The
atmosphere is poisonous; the relationships are becoming poisoned; the people
are poisoning themselves with their complete selfishness - self-centeredness.
Like
the serpent in the garden who suggests to Eve that she and Adam could become
their own gods if they want – the wandering former slaves, one day to become
Israel, are also consumed with themselves, even as the serpents slither around
them.
“Look
up” Says Moses – What do you see? The
serpent impaled and lifted up on a staff – the power of the serpent destroyed –
“Look
up” Says Jesus to Nicodemus and “What do you see?”
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must
the Son of Man be lifted up…
Look
up, people of God what do you see? The
power of human self-centeredness impaled on a cross – the power of death and
evil, which seems so powerful, totally and completely impotent…
Look
up, people of God, what do you see? Grace
upon Grace… The overwhelming and abundant grace and love of God showering
down upon us...
But
it is hard to see at night. It is hard
to make out things in the dark, or to recognize people in the dark. It is easier to hide in the dark. So maybe that is why Nicodemus chose to visit
Jesus in the night. Our Gospel for today recounts the first of two encounters –
this first with a learnéd Pharisee, a man who is very much a part of the power
structure – He is part of the in group – he is established – he is
knowledgeable – but he comes at night.
And he will remain in the dark.
The
2nd encounter is found in the next chapter 4 - that encounter by contrast happens in the
bright daylight with a foreign Samaritan woman who is definitely on the outside
in every way - but she will see what Nicodemus cannot see. We will look at that story next week!
But
Nicodemus comes to Jesus asking how it is that Jesus can do such great signs;
how Jesus can talk about love and relationship.
Isn’t our faith about following the rules (he asks) - you know, making ourselves right with God –
doing all the right things – being the right kind of person – having the right
background and culture? Don’t we have to
do stuff to keep God from being angry?
No,
says Jesus, just like your physical birth – which you had no control over – you
have no control over your Spiritual birth – God gives you the gift of being Born
Again in the Spirit – of being Born from Above – this is not based on anything
you do or say or think or believe – it is an unconditional gift given in love –
it is Grace upon Grace.
But
we humans like to be in control – we like to think that we can control even our
relationship with God – we like to think that we have the power to determine
who and how one enters into a relationship with God. But – says Jesus – it is an unconditional
gift of God’s and you have no control – all you can do is accept the gift,
accept the calling to love and begin to witness – in other words: to live lives
that reflect through words and deeds this incredible gift of unconditional
abundant love and grace.
How can these things be? Nicodemus doesn’t get it.
It doesn’t make sense to him. It
doesn’t make sense to us either, does it?
Because in order for it to make sense we have to give up our need and
desire to be in control – we have to give up our self-centeredness.
It
all comes down to love – says Jesus: For
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes
in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
We
all know this verse from memory. But
have we ever stopped to really think about it?
For God so loved the world… This is the most important part – Jesus sums
up our relationship with God in these few words and it all comes down to
love. Not our love for God – but God’s
incredible love for us. This is the key!
Can we accept that? That God
loves this creation and the humans that God created so passionately and
abundantly that God has entered into our world by becoming en-fleshed,
incarnate in Jesus! This is how much God love us – this is how God demonstrates
that love.
And
not only that, but God’s love is not selective – though we might like it to be
– Jesus tells us that God loves the world…. No qualifications here –
God’s love extends to everyone, from all cultures and backgrounds and
lifestyles and races. To underscore this
next week Jesus will reach out to a hated and despised outsider a poor
Samaritan woman – but for now we need to let this sink in: God loves the world….
So that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life.
This
is where we sometimes get hung up. We sometimes
hear this “so that” as a condition. And I
suppose maybe secretly we breath a sigh of relief – ok, great – I can
understand that – so we have to do something after all!
Not
so fast – let’s answer this question first:
what exactly is belief? What is
faith? What does it mean when Jesus
says, so that everyone who believes in
him may not perish but may have eternal life?
The
problem with the way we tend to hear this phrase is that we 21st
century post-enlightenment Christians tend to define belief or faith as a
mental activity – something we do with our mind. But we need to remember that in the Bible
belief/faith is never a mental activity it is always an action – something we
do and a way of living. And to this
understanding John adds an additional dimension. For John, belief/faith is a way of being in
relationship with God and with others – a way of being in relationship that is
rooted in God’s love for the world. In
John - to have faith means that we live in ways that reflect the loving
relationship and commitment that God has for us, and the action on our part is
to allow this love to define how we are in relationship with others.
Jesus
is also saying something else – and it is this: That you cannot say you believe
if your lives reflect hate and exclusion; you cannot say you believe in Christ
if you spend your time supporting and finding ways of pushing other people away
or judging or dismissing others. To
believe means to be in a relationship that is rooted in love of God, through
Christ and others.
And
this gift of relationship includes Eternal
life… which is not some kind of heaven far into the future – but, like the
Kingdom of God in Luke and Mark and like the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew – the
gift of Eternal life begins NOW – it begins in Baptism – it is nurtured and
sustained by the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion, and it is a gift which comes
from being in a relationship with God in Christ that is rooted in love.
Jesus
tells Nicodemus and us – it is all about love
Look
up – and what do you see?
God’s
incredible love, God’s overwhelming love which is given to us freely..
But
at the same time calls upon us to accept the gift and to love in return…
This
is Grace upon Grace
For
God so loved… you and me… and them and everyone – the world that God GAVE the
only son – the one who is God incarnate – the one who is the creative WORD – so
that everyone who accepts this gift of love will not perish; so that everyone
who accepts this gift of love will not succumb to the poison of the serpents of
selfishness – but will experience the gift of Eternal life – that is the gift
of relationship with God and with others that begins here and now – today –
this moment!
Look
up … and see!
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