WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
June 11th 2006
Trinity Sunday
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Even Presbyterians must be Born-Again?”
John 3:1-17
Nicodemus is a compelling witness to the radical transformation possible in Jesus Christ. His radical transformation is a true born-again experience. While Presbyterians do not usually talk about being born-again or conversion experience, it is language with which we ought to become more familiar. I believe a better understanding of Nicodemus’ witness could help even Presbyterians claim, with authenticity, born-again status.
Nicodemus is a fascinating character. He is a member of the Pharisees. (It was a Jewish sect known for its strict religious observances as well as having notable political clout.) Nicodemus is not only a Pharisee; he is a leader, a real ‘mover and shaker’ in the religious community. He was the sort of person one might imagine having private prayer and strategy session with the President. Nicodemus is a man who has great religious and political power and authority.
The way Nicodemus approaches Jesus is quite illuminating. Unlike everyone else, Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. It is a risky and arrogant act. It is a risky act because if word got out that the leader of the Pharisees acknowledges that Jesus is from God Jesus reputation would grow in ways the powerful could not risk. It is an arrogant act because Nicodemus assumes he is entitled to a private audience with Jesus. It should come as no surprise since this is the way the powerful work; at night, behind closed doors, behind the scenes, arrogantly trying to control anyone who might be a threat to their well ordered world.
Nicodemus’ plan and agenda become quickly evident. He intends to find out exactly how Jesus is doing all these signs, wonders and healings. It is possible that if Nicodemus can figure out how Jesus is doing these things than the power of this troublesome preacher can be nullified. He speaks to Jesus saying: “We know that you are from God since no one could do what you do apart from God.” Nicodemus is not speaking only for himself. He comes as the representative and leader of the Pharisees. However, this powerbroker, with his well devised plan is about to have the very foundations of his faith and understanding of the world shaken to the core.
When Jesus speaks he radically alters Nicodemus’s plan for this encounter. “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” No one, Jesus says, can see or understand or perceive the ways of the kingdom of God without being born from above. Nicodemus is so rattled and his imagination is so limited that he wants to know if Jesus expects him to crawl back into his mother’s womb.
Jesus language about being born again or born from above can be rather confounding. It is no wonder the W H Auden said: “it is hard to be a Christian if you are not something of a poet.” Jesus speaks in ways that often require a willingness to be comfortable in and with the ways of ambiguity and metaphor. This is something for which Nicodemus is unprepared.
Nicodemus wants to know how. He is desperate to know the step-by-step process for attaining birth from above. Nicodemus knows the way the world works. He understands so much yet despite this Nicodemus is unable to understand Jesus teaching. Since Jesus does not fit into the well ordered world of the Pharisees, he must be dismissed as irrelevant and ridiculous. However, this is a problem since Nicodemus and the Pharisees have already acknowledged that Jesus is from God. So what is to be done?
After Jesus finishes speaking, Nicodemus is silent. It appears that he leaves this encounter with Jesus without saying another word. He is so dumbfounded that there is nothing left to say. However, this is not the last we hear and see of Nicodemus.
A few chapters later (chapter seven verse fifty) Nicodemus comes on the scene again. This time it is not an encounter with Jesus. It turns out that the Pharisees are meeting trying to devise a plan to rid themselves of this troublemaker Jesus. During this meeting Nicodemus speaks to challenge this budding injustice. He reminds those gathered that it is not lawful to condemn anyone who has been given the opportunity to speak in their own defense.
The response to Nicodemus words is powerful. Instead of acknowledging the truth of his statement they simply say: “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you?” Nicodemus speaks an inconvenient truth. As a result, the other power brokers quickly seek to dismiss him by defaming his character. Nicodemus quickly learns the price for speaking truth to power. However, it also shows that his late night encounter with Jesus has had an impact.
The last time Nicodemus appears in the Gospel of John is at the crucifixion of Jesus. When Nicodemus last appears, he says nothing. However his actions speak loudly. This leader of the Pharisees joins with Joseph of Arimathea in wrapping the body of Jesus, anointing it with oil and lovingly placing his body in the tomb. It is an act of a true disciple. This leader of the Pharisees is now doing a job often left to the lowest class in society. No longer is Nicodemus asking how. Instead he lovingly cares for the body of the one who altered his whole world in a late night meeting.
In our modern world there is a great misconception about what it means to be ‘born-again.’ For many, it is the idea that we make a one time decision to follow Jesus. While I know this can be powerfully important in people’s lives, I believe minimizes the all encompassing nature of Jesus teaching regarding being born from above. Jesus use of the birth metaphor is no accident. It is meant to emphasis the work of the Spirit and not our mental assent. After all, we did not choose to be born in the first place what would make us think we could choose a second birth? Being born again is a gift. It is a gift to see-perceive and understand the world in new ways. Being born again is about living differently each day as a result of an ongoing encounter with the work and person of Jesus.
Anytime we fall into the belief that we have the ability in ourselves to fully comprehend our world we have fallen into the trap of Nicodemus arrogance. If we begin to think we have it all figured out – our lives – the way the world works – the church – theology – faith – God – then we must be reminded that we have fallen into the trap of arrogance. The life and witness of Nicodemus serves as a powerful reminder that our call is to see-perceive and understand the world in new ways. But it does not end their. As a result of this gift, this new perception, we are called to live our lives in ways that give witness to this life changing reality.
I can think of no more amazing witness to the world than to hear how an arrogant religious and political leader was transformed into a silent, humble care-giver of the crucified Jesus. It should challenge all of us in those moments of self assured arrogance to become humble servants of the crucified Jesus. This is what it means to be born again. So the next time someone asks if you are born again you can answer: Yes, everyday. Amen.
