Lent 2,yr A,2026

Nicodemus just doesn’t get it and Jesus knows he doesn’t get it and Jesus saved him anyway.

One of the things that I love about the bible are the people held up as examples and paragons of our faith.  All those spiritual ancestors who are the idols and faith-filled examples in the bible whom we are called to follow.  I love it because they are, so very often clueless.

Think about the Disciples…later Apostles.  They spent most of their time with Jesus listening without a clue to what he really meant!  They didn’t know what he was doing.  Why he was doing it.  When Jesus explained they still didn’t get it.  They often listened to Jesus one minute and then carried on talking about who was more important than who or chasing their own ideas or ambitions.  It is just so real!

Centuries later when the church began establishing their canon of saints they chose different sorts, people’s whose faith and life were examples of exceptional Christian Character and whose lives included great achievements, super natural abilities and astounding miracles. 

For example, today is St. David’s day.  He is the patron saint of Wales, and of vegetarians…he was believed to have founded St. David’s cathedral and many monasteries in Wales.  He lived in the 6th century and was known to have been a great scholar, knowing several languages and being a great missionary.  A kind and humble man, he lived a very simple and austere life; drinking only water and eating only vegetables, he worked the fields by hand and had great respect for animals.  St. David was also well know for his healing miracles; restoring sight to the blind and life to the dead and having founded or patrons many healing springs.  Purportedly, His last words to his followers came from a sermon he gave on the Sunday before his death:  "Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do."

St. David’s life was truely worth aspiring to, and a very different sort to those saints of the bible.  One of which we meet in today’s gospel.  Nicodemus, a faithful Jew and leader of his people.  Someone of whom you would expect great things and today we reading of him coming to visit Jesus at night.

He didn’t want anyone to know. 

Nicodemus was a faithful man, a spiritual man and he recognized God in Jesus.  “no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God”  and he had many questions, but he didn’t dare be seen cavorting with Jesus, especially not in the light of day.  Hardly exemplary…furthermore he questioned Jesus continually, not understanding what Jesus himself was teaching him. 

Now I am all for questions! Those at bible study know that we question nearly everything we read in the bible.  Picking it back and forth, exploring different translations and seeing how each chapter helps us grow in faith.  However, I have also known many Christians who feel strongly that you are not to question the bible, certainly not the priest and heaven forbid! The teachings of the church.  However, that is not what we read in the bible, not what Jesus taught.

 

That is what I love.  Nicodemus along with many of Jesus’ followers continually questioned, continually probed and queried, never accepting a ‘because I said so’.  And Jesus never gave a ‘because I said so!’  Jesus answer to their questions.  Despite his answers often causing even less clarity, they were sometimes straight forward, and always pushing disciples to grow in faith and relationship, never demanding mindless obedience.

Jesus accepted people where they were and with whatever faith they brought.  He met them, conversed and dined with them and invited them into relationship, regardless of who they were.  I have always found that those we encounter in the bible are so very like us…so very relatable.  Nicodemus doesn’t simply say ‘yes, lord’ to Jesus teachings…he probes deeper, especially when Jesus is speaking cryptically.

“‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’” 

I love it! So understandable, this doesn’t make sense!  What does Jesus mean?  Nicodemus simply doesn’t understand what Jesus is talking about, and after Jesus answers…things make even less sense. 

‘Are you a teacher of Israel,and yet you do not understand these things?Jesus asks Nicodemus …and Nick just shakes his head.

And that is ok.

There is so much of the Christian faith, that those who grew up in the faith, now take for granted.  And Christianity has been around so long now that a lot of the symbolism is embedded in western culture.  That being said, the theology behind those symbols has often stopped being taught, we simply assume people know.

However, the culture has shifted and as people are returning to churches we cannot assume ‘everyone knows that’.  The younger generations didn’t grow up in Sunday Schools.

We have come to the point in Christianity when it is important to ask questions again.  To not simply accept Christianity’s rituals and symbolism at face value.  What does it mean to be ‘born again’ or ‘born of the spirit’?  Why is Jesus referred to as a lamb? Why do we say the wine is blood is it is not really blood…and isn’t that gross? We need to be ok reading the bible and attending worship and asking ‘what in the world are people talking about’? 

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night because he was uncomfortable asking his questions in front of others.  Perhaps he feared losing his status?  Perhaps the other Jewish leadership would shun or mock him?  Perhaps he was embarrassed to ask in front of others… we don’t know.  What we do know is that Jesus accepted and answered his questions.  And when Nicodemus still didn’t seem to understand Jesus answered this:

“‘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. ‘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.”

 

                Jesus didn’t come to condemn, but to save.  We don’t need to have all the answers.  We don’t need to understand all the theology.  We don’t need to ascribe to every single detail the Anglican church provides.  We simply need to believe.  Believe that God loves us and somehow, someway that will save us.

                The wonderful saints, like St. David, are there as inspiration…to show what faith is capable of.  To show how exceptional things can be achieved by faith, but they are the exception. 

                We can all be extra- ordinary, but ordinarily we are more like the disciples that those we refer to as saints.  We are like those people in the bible, Nicodemus with his questions…Peter and his big mouth… Thomas who was always remembered for his one bad day of doubt.  Yet, even we are referred to as saints by St. Paul.

                Not for the miracles we preform but for our everyday faith lived out in everyday ways like Dorcus, whose ministry and image are recorded in stained glass at the back of the church.  Her ministry continues in many forms to this day; she was famous for making and giving clothes to those in need.  This continues in the rummage room, in prayer shawls, in hats and mittens knit and in many other ways.

This lent we are called to grow our relationship with God.  That includes prayer, ministry and questioning.  We are called to be like Nicodemus, always searching and braving our fears to ask the questions on our mind.  To be like the saints of the bible, not always understanding, but ever faithful.  And to strive to be like the Saints like St David, who not only inspired with his healing ministry, but also with his faith filled and simple life.  All of whom are examples for our Lenten and life long journeys.

So, I close with the commendation attributed to St David.

"Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do."

amen