John 3:14-21

Gospel according to John 3:14-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned; but the one who does not believe is condemned already, for not having believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Reflections

Nicodemus is mentioned three times in the Gospel writings: The first time, after Jesus cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem, and Nicodemus visits him in the night to gain an understanding of his teaching (John 3:1-21); the second time, after he speaks up in the Sanhedrin to remind the chief priests and the pharisees that a person cannot be judged before they are heard, but is silenced; (John 7) and a third time, after Jesus is crucified, and Nicodemus appears during the night, bringing a hundred pounds of ointments, and spices, myrrh and aloes, to help Joseph of Arimathea and a small group of followers lay Jesus’ body to rest in a tomb (John 19). From these key moments we may assume that Nicodemus witnessed Jesus’ words and deeds and was convinced that He possessed powers that came from God. Consequently, we may also note that, despite this being highly unlikely for a Pharisee, Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus.

Today's reading is part of Jesus’s private conversation with Nicodemus, as recorded by Saint John. It most likely took place while Jesus was surrounded by a small group of the disciples in Jerusalem, some time before the celebration of the Passover, and the last time when Jesus entered the city.

After Jesus drove out the money changers from the temple, the Pharisees questioned him about his authority. “Destroy this Sanctuary, and I will rebuild it in three days,” he said. Some, but not all the Pharisees dismissed these words as “foolish,” because they did not understand what Jesus was talking about. Some, however, pondered what his words meant. One of these pharisees was Nicodemus.

By this time, Jesus’ fame had spread throughout the countryside. People were talking about his miracles as well as his teaching in which he often referred to the “Kingdom of God.” In the Sermon on the Mount for example, he said that those who are meek, gentle, humble, loving, and compassionate, are “the children of God;” they will “see God; and they will receive their reward. Jesus called them the “salt” and the “light” of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16).

Nicodemus heard about Jesus’s miracles and probably witnessed or heard what happened at the Temple. He approached Jesus and his disciples in secret to inquire further about Jesus’ message. He shared with Jesus that he and some of his fellow priests have been talking about Jesus and concluded that the signs that he has been performing could not have come from an earthly source. Calling Jesus a “Rabbi,” Nicodemus acknowledged that “no one can do these things apart from the presence of God.”

Nicodemus was different from the other Pharisees in that, instead of questioning, doubting, and rejecting Jesus, he admitted his lack of ability to comprehend Jesus’ message in the light of his previous convictions. There seemed to be a contradiction between what the world would see as powerful and mighty, and Jesus’ message of gentleness and humility. There seemed to be a dissonance between his miracles and what the other Pharisees dismissed as a “laughable” statement. Nicodemus was struggling with the message of Jesus, because he was not able to reconcile Jesus’ identity and the plan of God with the reality of the world he experienced.

Jesus replied to him that to understand this message, a radical new way of being was necessary: “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born from above” (John 3:3) and “…without being born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5). But Nicodemus still did not understand and kept questioning how these things can be. He stated concretely: “…can an old man become a baby again and be re-born?” Jesus replied with a direct question: “Are you a teacher of Israel, and you do not understand?” Then, He pointed out to him that an understanding in the Spirit is required for approaching matters of faith.

There are many phenomena, said Jesus, that one cannot fully understand because they are beyond what the human mind can grasp. Nevertheless, they exist. The “Kingdom of God” is such an abstract concept. The Son of Man can proclaim this message because he is descended from heaven, but it remains hidden to those who seek human reason to reveal this mystery to them.

Then, using an image from the Old Testament that Nicodemus would have been familiar with – “When Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” – Jesus foretold his suffering and crucifixion for the sake of sinners. The wisdom of God radiated from the heart of this message: “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.”

Jesus continued to clarify to Nicodemus that those who live in the light walk upright, but those who fear the truth because of their evil deeds avoid the light. With this he repeated that those who believe in Him and trust God will not be condemned but have everlasting life.

Very poignant in the succession of events, is that the next time Nicodemus spoke up in public to defend Jesus was when the Pharisees plotted his crucifixion. There was little that he could achieve. Nevertheless, he tried. And Nicodemus was there when they crucified Jesus and when his body was taken off the cross and laid in a tomb. He offered his last respects to Jesus and made sure that his body was buried according to the Jewish customs and traditions.

Nicodemus’ quest to understand the heart of Jesus’s message represents the struggle of the intellect when the essence of the matter lies elsewhere. When we struggle to understand “why,” or “how come,” Jesus, just like He talked with Nicodemus, gently guides us toward “what” answer the heart longs for: Love, at the end; Love, to the end – Love that prompts us to respond with all our heart, all our mind, and all our soul to God, who offers Himself, so that we can become the co-creators of His Kingdom.

Through talking with Jesus in private, Nicodemus gained courage. Not only did he openly speak up in front of the Sanhedrin to protect Jesus, but he also participated in the mission to give Jesus a proper burial. We can only imagine the surprise and joy of Nicodemus upon the resurrection.

Jesus waits for us in private. If we call on Him, He talks with us at night. While it’s still dark, He talks about the light. He leans close to us and understands our heart. That is why Jesus is “The Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6).