Jesus and Nicodemus - Fear & Love
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The Wilderness of Fear
FEAR. In recent weeks fear and anxiety have been rising across this nation, but especially right here in Minneapolis and the suburbs…and I trust in many of you here today. As we see a surge with immigration control enforcement (ICE), we hear national rhetoric of “protecting public safety.” But our experience is officers causing terror and fear. We see complete lawlessness and violence against our neighbors from people hired to enforce of the law. And just yesterday another Minnesotan, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by ICE. Fear and anxiety may be on your minds today.
And there is something about FEAR going on in today’s gospel. Nicodemus is afraid. It’s fear that makes him come secretly to Jesus…in the dark of night. What was he afraid of? He was a “teacher of Israel,” a leader in his community. I suspect he was afraid of being ostracized for associating with Jesus, losing the respect of his community. But he may have feared greater threats too. Years later, in the Book of Acts we see arrested and led off in chains, and another man snatched off the street and stoned to death for being associated with Jesus (Stephen in Acts 7:54-60).
Nicodemus was afraid. But still, he goes to see Jesus…in the dark. He comes not with faith…but with fear and …curiosity. Some people have nicknamed Nicodemus the “Patron Saint of the Curious.”
He comes, to find out more about this Jesus. “We know you’re a teacher from God…” Nicodemus says to Jesus, “…no one can do the things you do unless God is with them.”
Patron Saint of the Curious
Jesus meets him in his fear. But as Jesus answers Nicodemus’ questions, it’s hard for Nicodemus to understand. All this talk about being born anew, or born again, or even born from above. Jesus used a word in Greek, which can mean all of these things. Nicodemus’ final words to Jesus in today’s gospel show his confusion. His final words that night are, “How can these things be?”
But this isn’t the last time Nicodemus comes to Jesus. More than just confusion happen that night. Even in the midst of his fear and confusion…as he looked to Jesus, Nicodemus began to see a different reality. In fact, Nicodemus not only saw, he entered that reality.
Later in the Gospel of John, Nicodemus stands up in front of his peers, the ones he was hiding from that night, the other teachers of Israel. The others are speaking badly about Jesus, but instead of hiding, Nicodemus speaks up to remind them not to judge Jesus before giving him a trial - not to act lawlessly. This is advocacy…perhaps only a small word…but this is a change for Nicodemus.
Then, again near the end of the Gospel of John, we see a shocking picture of Nicodemus. After Jesus had been crucified, Nicodemus arrives bringing an enormously expensive gift (comparable to what might be given to a king!). Nicodemus comes with love to honor Jesus.
It seems that…perhaps little by little, over three years of watching Jesus, Nicodemus developed an enormous respect for Jesus…and perhaps much more. He treats Jesus like a king, perhaps the King of Kings.
Born again/Born from above?
What was it that Jesus taught Nicodemus that night – with a confusing Greek word - and what did he see in Jesus over those three years?
Jesus taught him the heart of the gospel that night. Jesus’ words include the most widely known Bible verse in history. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Martin Luther described this verse as "the gospel in miniature.” It reveals God's profound love for the world. God taking the initiative through the sacrificial giving of His Son, and promises eternal life to everyone who believes.
What about that confusing Greek word? When Jesus said you need to be born again or born from above, Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that he needed the Holy Spirit. That’s what he meant by saying you need to be born from above. In your fear, in your confusion, no matter where you are – Jesus is ready to meet you in the dark – with a gift of the Holy Spirit to help you see the Kingdom of God…to help you enter that Kingdom…to help you believe even in the midst of your doubts and unbelief. God so loves the world that no one is left alone.
In spite of his confusion that first night with Jesus…I believe Jesus gifted Nicodemus with the Holy Spirit…to help him see Jesus, to help him see, enter, and believe in the Kingdom led by the Lord.
Visions of the Kingdom of God Jesus
I think there are many Nicodemus-es among us. Perhaps, people afraid today and needing a vision of Jesus’ kingdom.
Maybe some of us need help to see again that Jesus loves ALL people – without exception. In the Kingdom Jesus leads – everyone is a neighbor, no matter what color skin, no matter what language you speak, no matter what papers you carry, no matter what you’ve done or not done – Jesus welcomes you - all people as neighbor.
Jesus meets us in our fears today, just as he received Nicodemus so long ago, in a dark, dark night.
As we watch Jesus, we discover that love is the Ultimate Force for good, capable of even transforming enemies into friends.
Jesus Himself embodies this radical love. He prayed for those who crucified Him and extended grace to those who rejected Him. He also enables – even curious and hesitant Nicodemus-es to do the same.
Forgiving and loving our enemies is not something we can do in our own strength. It requires the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts.
This was the experience of Martin Luther King Jr, who we celebrated this past week.
This is what led 650 faith leaders to descend into Minneapolis this past weekend.
Did you see a hundred pastors kneeling at the Airport Why the airport They actually were a barricade Symbolic because it didn't last forever, But a barricade for anybody being deported right there. …You're going to have to walk over us.
And did they do that with hate in their voice and in their face? No. Praise God, they sang Amazing Grace instead. Resistance can look like love.
Did it change things? No, 100 of them were Zip-tied and taken under arrest.
Did I say it didn't change things, just because they were zip-tied? Perhaps there was change in the tone and perspective already. Together, we stand and bring all that is happening into the light. The light of the love of God, And we say:
“No. There is spiritual power over and against you, oppressor. Because you, oppressor, are still a human being loved by God.”
The Holy Spirit is at work in you to give you sight to see the Kingdom of God…to give you ability To enter the Kingdom of God… To give you belief even in your unbelief.
We need strength. The Holy Spirit is here. And it is in you, And in each other, we need it.
What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to work through you today?
Well, maybe it looks like a demonstration. We'll do it with love, Do it with peace.
What does it look like? Well, it looks like prayer. Yesterday, the CEO of the Minnesota Council of churches, wrote,
“Christians across this state and across this nation … I ask you to join in lifting united voices to heaven, trusting the promise of scripture in II Chronicles: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Join us as we pray for the violence and oppression to cease.
Join us as we pray for healing to move across our state.
We are praying from a city that feels surrounded—
like Jerusalem encircled by forces greater than its walls—
yet still trusting God to be our refuge in the midst of the shaking.
Like Paul, confined but not abandoned,
pressed in body, yet free in spirit.
And let us be clear: prayer is not passive. Prayer is action.”
Let us unite around the state, the nation, the world. There are people around the world right now praying for peace. Let us be part of it.
Now for those of you who want to pray and do something else too. What does the Holy Spirit look?
This might not be too dramatic, but I'm going to tell you an ordinary story from our partner congregation, San Pablo’s. This story was lifted up, even by National Public Radio. It is the story of a girl we're, going to call her Esperanza, as we don't want to tell her you her real name. And this little girl was going through something that every girl has to go through. She was 12 years old, and she had her first period last week.
Okay, that was private, But, she didn't know it was common. She didn't know what happened. All of a sudden, she's bleeding, and she doesn't know what to do. And she has a single dad, at work. And Esperanza is afraid so she calls her dad.
“I don't know what's going on,” she says, “I'm afraid I need help.” But dad can’t leave. He can’t leave because ICE is there too. And by the way, Esperanza hasn’t left her house for three weeks because she's afraid of ICE.
And What does dad do? He calls his pastor. “Pastor, this is the situation for Esperanza.”
Pastor calls an older woman in the church and says, would you help me? I don't know what to do. We gotta help Esperanza right now, And this woman says okay, but I'm afraid to leave my house. Normally, I would be happy to, but ICE is outside my house, at least they come often. I can't just go to the store or run over and bring her something right now, But of course, I'll take care of it.
And she calls another girlfriend. Another woman, probably old enough to be grandma for Esperanza.
“Will you help me? You live closer to the store. Will you come with me?”
“What are you thinking I can't do that? The ice is here all the time.”
So these women are desperate, but they know another 69 year old woman Who is white Anglo-Saxon Protestant and stands on their corner most days. She's, she's a Watcher.
And so these two women know how to reach her by phone, and they call her. And they say, here's the situation. We're terribly afraid, but we've got to do this. So that 69-year-old woman says, let's do it together.
And so, with the courage of being accompanied, they go to the store to get a pad, and then they go to Esperanza, and reassure her, “You're not sick,” they say. “It's okay. This is going to happen every month now, and you've got women standing with you.”
That's kind of normal, Not a dramatic story, except because of the violence that makes it dramatic.
What does the Holy Spirit look like today? It looks like normal actions.
It looks like prayer.
It looks like helping that Girl… that, boy…That neighbor.
It looks like love. And you know, God's going to use that witness. Even in the midst of the horrors that we've seen, Let the horrors not change who you are.
Evil is at work, But let light shine.
The Holy Spirit is at work…and using you. Be not afraid.
For there is spiritual strength that we can share with the world. Even those who oppress.
Let us be active in prayer and acts of love, in Jesus’ name in his place.
Amen.
Pastor Doug Cox