Nicodemus

A person approaches your home. You are inside, alone. As the person walks by, they glance in through the window and something catches their eye. They want it. Instantly, they enter your house. You are startled because you did not expect it. You are frightened because you fear for your safety. The person grabs what they wanted and races back out of the house. At the end of the block is a police officer. The officer has witnessed the entire event and apprehends the individual. The officer is ready to arrest this person, pending your decision on whether you care to press charges or not, since the offense is against you. What is your decision?

Your decision should come down to one of two things:

1) What did they take?

2) Why did they take it?

If they stole your television, or your gaming system, or your laptop or tablet, you would probably want to press charges. Those are valuable material things that belong to you, and that idea of possession should be protected. But what if they stole your bible? That's a material object that holds a lot of personal value for many people. I would certainly be distraught if someone stole my bible, the first one I was ever given, personalized with my name in it, signed by a dear friend. I may not use it as much as I should, but it's one of my most cherished possessions. But if somebody stole it from me, should my first reaction be to punish them? To want them imprisoned for this "heinous" act? What could possibly have driven them to steal a bible? If someone had a list of things they were to steal, shouldn't I want a bible to be at the very top of that list? I would be strongly inclined to encourage that "crime." Far be it from me to prevent someone from pursuing the Word of God.

That scenario is a little far-fetched. Say they did steal an expensive piece of jewelry or an electronic device of some sort instead. Something with high monetary value. Pressing charges becomes much more desirable. But what if the perpetrator was homeless, had a starving family and nowhere else to turn. The stolen item was going to be sold for money which would pay for food. Would it still be so easy to turn them in? 

Laws exist so society doesn't crumble under its own selfish and destructive desires. They are meant to protect citizens and instill order. But sticking to the letter of the law (the literal interpretation and enforcement with no regard for the situation) versus abiding in the spirit of the law (why the law was created in the first place) is a blurry line to straddle.

In the third chapter of John, a man named Nicodemus finds himself entangled in this philosophical battle. 

Nicodemus is described as a Pharisee, a "ruler of the Jews." Pharisees were known for their "strict observance of religious ceremonies and practices, adherence to oral laws and traditions, and belief in an afterlife and the coming of a Messiah." (Merriam Webster) In other words, they interpret the laws of Moses to the letter, and anybody who fails to comply with those laws is not observing the Jewish code. Eventually, God would send a Messiah (a king who will save the Jews), but that person had still not arrived. 

Then... Jesus. Verse 2 says, "(Nicodemus) came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.'" First, Nicodemus' arrival "by night" implies he is keeping this meeting a secret. As a Pharisee, mingling with someone who is performing deeds the way Jesus is would be frowned up, to say the least. Then, Nicodemus concedes that Jesus is doing miraculous things that only God is capable of. This is blasphemy, to be sure.

So here's what we have: a man who has spent his entire life learning to live by a set of laws, teaching and enforcing those laws. All of the sudden, he encounters someone who appears to legitimately make those laws irrelevant. Nicodemus comes to Jesus confused, hoping to receive confirmation one way or the other as to which path his life is supposed to take: the one dictated by the Law, or the one Jesus is preparing. Jesus could respond in a straightforward way and make this a very easy decision for Nicodemus. Instead:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

I know what "born again" means. You know what "born again" means. Nicodemus, however, has no idea what on earth Jesus is talking about, and makes that obvious when he responds with, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" As are most of the things that Jesus describes to those around him, this concept is unclear. Nicodemus just wants to know what to do, and all Jesus did was confuse him more. Jesus responds to Nicodemus' puzzlement with a more thorough explanation. Things get sorted out now, right? Wrong.

Nicodemus: "How can these things be?" (Verse 9)

Jesus: "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ... If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (Verses 10 and 12)

One of the reasons I love reading about Jesus in the Bible is his range of emotions are so relatable. Everything Jesus says makes perfect sense to him, and yet nobody around him ever understands. Jesus is often incredulous and frustrated when the people he talks to are unable to grasp what he is saying. If you ever wanted to know what it felt like to be a teacher, this is a perfect example.

Jesus came to the world so "that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (Verse 15) Jews at the time believed that the only way to be with God was to follow all of the laws given to them by God through Moses. Jesus turned that on its head, to much criticism and disbelief. People were so caught up in the letter of the law (You must do every one of these things exactly in order to get to God) that they missed the spirit of the law. God (in the person of Jesus) had come to them and was standing right there in front of them! Jesus couldn't say it outright lest he get persecuted (and eventually crucified), so he had to be vague to protect himself and those around him.

The takeaway: It is incredibly easy for me to lose sight of the bigger picture in favor of what is right in front of my face. The phrase "too far in the forest to see the trees" comes to mind. I have to remember that everything that takes place around me is part of a grander world, with motives and reasons that I am not privy to. Jesus wants us to read between the lines, because that's where the words actually are. Rules and laws help guide us towards generally appropriate behavior, but don't let them get in the way of doing what is right. Seek God, then the rest will follow.