03112020 – John 3. 1-17 (Lent II)
So, HOW DO YOU relate to the night or to the darkness?
We know SOMETHING about “nighttime.” More drinking, more carousing, MORE PARTYING, more arguments, probably more injury, accidents, more spousal abuse takes place at night. Robberies, thefts, crimes, break- ins…all under the cover of darkness.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by “NIGHT.”
Some have said that Nicodemus was HIDING in the dark. He was AFRAID of being seen…or of being caught seen WITH JESUS.
He liked the shadows…
Some have SUGGESTED he was not a “REAL BELIEVER” …at least, NOT YET. He was still SEARCHING…he was NOT yet CONVINCED…and as a member of the SANHEDRIN he had to be very careful.
We know “HOW SPECIFIC” John was with his “choice of words.” “WORDS” for JOHN were EVERYTHING. He always seemed to USE THEM in a particular way or fashion.
Perhaps, maybe…John is “using the WORD” NIGHT to describe a “CONDITION” or some kind of “CIRCUMSTANCE.” His use of words has A LOT of meaning…which is to say he chooses them WISELY.
JOHN tells us elsewhere that NIGHT is the time when NO ONE can WORK.
It is also in John that Jesus says, “NIGHT is the time when we STUMBLE because there is NO LIGHT in us.”
Because it is NIGHT, we cannot SEE the WAY FORWARD.
Remember poor old Judas? He got up and left the table at the LAST SUPPER “and it was NIGHT.” (Dun-Dundun…)
Again, elsewhere in John, NIGHT is the time when you FISH all night long, but YOU catch nothing.
Our efforts are FRUIT-LESS, and our nets remain very empty.
When John mentions that Nicodemus comes to Jesus at Night…he is talking about the “Daytime Nicodemus” versus the “Nighttime Nicodemus.” Almost like they were two separate people.
Sometimes we have been known to act DIFFERENTLY in-the-light-of-day, then we do in-the-dark-of-the-night.
It is like we are DIVIDED. Or, TWO different people. (Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde!)
One role BY DAY, another role BY NIGHT! I think, that is what JOHN is suggesting here.
During the daylight hours: Nicodemus is a member of the SANHEDRIN. He is a PHARISEE. He is WEALTHY. He is RICH. He is POWERFUL. He is an ELDER, a LEADER of the Jewish people. He is a SCHOLAR of the LAW. People listen to him and follow him. He is a man of power and honor. He FITS in well among the WEALTHY and the ELITE. He is SURE of himself and WHO he is.
But in the darkness of the night, Nicodemus is LOST, ALONE, CONFUSED and QUESTIONING.
He does not understand SIMPLE THINGS. The night CHALLENGES him.
His REPUTATION, his LAWS, his STOCK ANSWERS and his POWER have little SWAY over the night.
He FEARS for his POSITION. He STUMBLES in the darkness. He SEARCHES at night…gone is the CERTAINTY of the daytime.
He fears he might be SEEN or noticed on the WRONG SIDE of the “Theological TRACK,” or ON the wrong side of any given ARGUMENT.
Nighttime is DIFFERENT. Gone is his SURETY.
In the night’s darkness he finds himself with MORE QUESTIONS than ANSWERS.
The night is a time for VULNERABILITY.
The night is a time for WRESTLING with LIFE…and BELIEFS.
GONE is the STRENGTH of the daytime.
In the nighttime we seek ANSWERS and EXPLANATIONS for our life. Why NOW? Why ME? Why US? Why THIS? WHAT did I DO? WHY? SOMEONE tell me WHY? The night CHALLENGES. The night SCARES…and FRIGHTENS. Approval and recognition COME during the day light hours. We consider the daytime to be SAFE.
The nighttime hours NOT SO MUCH. The daytime is full of CONTROL, it is ABSENT when the sun goes down.
If the daytime offers surety, the nighttime offers CHAOS and INCESSANT QUESTIONING. We roll, we toss, we lie awake. We overthink ourselves.
We ask ourselves, “HOW can these THINGS be?” So, Nicodemus came to Jesus by NIGHT. It is an important DETAIL. It carries a lot of BAGGAGE.
Nicodemus comes in his WEAKNESS. He comes seeking ANSWERS. He comes although he is FEARFUL. This one nighttime encounter with JESUS is worth gambling it all away.
But the darkness might just be his FRIEND and CONCEAL him from being SEEN. Sometimes we LOVE and EMBRACE the night…and at other times, WE DO NOT. What about YOU? SO, how is it, that you relate to the NIGHT?
Amen.