Dark Versus Light

Scripture: Gospel of John 3: 1-21

Nicodemus,  a prominent member of the Israeli Sanhedrim,  made his way along the streets of Jerusalem  under the cover of darkness.   He came to meet with Jesus in the darkness of night because he feared being seen as one of Jesus’ followers.    He took the risk, because he was curious about what Jesus was doing .

Jesus answers Nicodemus’s question; with an astounding revelation.  “Unless a man is born again from above, he cannot be in God’s kingdom.”

Nicodemus, in his ignorance, interprets what Jesus said literally – how can one be born a second time?

Nicodemus  came to Jesus in the darkness of night but his mind was also in darkness.

Nicodemus  misunderstands the spiritual reality Jesus is revealing,  again making it clear that he knows nothing of the true life and death of which Jesus is speaking.

Jesus appears to lose patience when Nicodemus continues to question him.  He realizes that he is dealing with someone who doesn’t really want to understand, but just wants to argue. But Jesus does not give up   As Scripture says,”Light shines in the darkness and darkness does not overpower it.”

This story of Jesus and Nicodemus is not just a conversation about theology. Jesus, who said “I am the Light of the world,” strongly opposes  evil – especially when it is done in the name of religion. This is Jesus at his best: “telling it like it is.”   Jesus  wants to bring evil out into the light, and expose it for what it is.   “Everyone who does evil hates the light.”  he said…  Those who hate the light always have something to hide. Those who love the light are not afraid of being seen for who and what they are… even when they are less than what they want to be.

Jesus will give Nicodemus a sign – the sign of a man being raised up the way Moses raised up the serpent in the wilderness. Jesus is talking about a well-known sign of death for the people of Israel -the figure of a serpent on a pole ( a sign of death) which became a source of life. You’re going to see such a sign, Jesus tells Nicodemus, and then you’re going to have to decide whether you want to continue debating or start living.

Darkness and night-time are only known as such when there is light with which to contrast it. Hiding in the darkness makes us feel safer, and gives us a false sense of security. Whereas  light shows us to be what and who we truly are. Perhaps we can learn from Nicodemus.Nicodemus along with his friend  Joseph stayed “under cover”as followers of Jesus  until the crucifixion. At the crucifixion, Nicodemus, the night-time disciple, the one who gropes in darkness towards the light which will dazzle him, is faced with eternal night, the triumph of death, as he helps to bury the body of Jesus and, in so doing, stares the darkness of death squarely in the face.  Somehow, his friend Joseph found the courage to brave Pilate’s wrath and ask for the broken crucified body of Jesus to bury him in his tomb.  While anointing the corpse of Jesus and wrapping it with burial cloths they and the women with them  felt sad. Jesus was dead. Many modern Nicodemuses wake up when it is too late, when the Truth has been killed and all that remains is to bury the remains of the Truth.
Those of us who are of the Truth, must come to the light  – and be born again to the life of the Risen Christ.  May the joyous light of the Risen Christ shine brightly through the lives of all who are  united with our King, our Risen Savior.  For we all are moving toward our destiny – to live in the brightness and light of God’s Kingdom forever or in eternal darkness.