"Dying to Live" - Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent

Dying to Live
Lent 2A
March 8, 2020
Grace, Waseca, MN
John 3.1-17; Genesis 12.1-4a

Change is hard. Even when change is good, change is hard. For example, a job promotion may mean moving and changing everything. You are asked to leave who and what you know behind for the unknown and unfamiliar. Then, with loss comes grief and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, even when what’s past is awful. An abused spouse finds it difficult to leave an unhealthy marriage or an alcoholic a destructive life. Knowing that the change you are making is the right thing doesn’t always make it easier.

In our Old Testament and Gospel readings for today, both Abraham and Nicodemus are being pushed to make significant changes in their lives. Abraham is asked to leave everything behind to settle a new land based on an unlikely promise of a son. It seems like a fool’s errand. Nicodemus, on the other hand, is a religious leader and part of the establishment. Interestingly, he comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He has what we call in John’s Gospel a “signs faith.” Signs faith is believing in Jesus based on the signs Jesus has done yet superficial and inadequate for the relationship of new life.  For both Nicodemus and Abraham, change is hard.

Today we have the first of four readings in John, my favorite Gospel. It has been said of this Gospel that it is like a river, both shallow enough for children to wade in and deep enough for elephants to swim. It’s that simple and that difficult all at the same time. The story of Nicodemus is a great example, with John 3.16, the “gospel in a nutshell,” as Martin Luther says. But it also includes Jesus’ confusing but characteristic play on words about being born anew or born from above. And then there is the play on words for wind, breath and spirit as well. Finally, there are several polarities in John, including the themes of light and darkness, and life and death,

Nicodemus comes under the cover of darkness, perhaps so as not to be seen by his fellow religious leaders but John’s message is clear: Nicodemus is “in the dark” nonetheless. In their conversation, Jesus challenges Nicodemus’ understanding of God’s working in the world. He invites Nicodemus to go deeper and to let go of what he thinks he knows about God. Then Nicodemus fades away from today’s story, perhaps uncertain what Jesus is asking of him, although he does show up again later on in the Gospel. Meanwhile, as Nicodemus leaves the stage, he also leaves us to wonder what Jesus is asking us to let go of.

Our Southeastern Minnesota Synod Bishop Regina Hassanally sent out Lenten greetings via video last week. I think her comments can help us think more deeply about our journey from death to life in Lent.

As you continue your Lenten journey, I invite you to ponder where Jesus is inviting you into a deeper understanding of your life with him, about what may need to die to give you life. I know that I have identified a number of areas that I want to continue working on. As your interim pastor, I also invite you to think corporately as a church as well as individually. I want you to ask what at Grace needs to die so that God would bring about new life, where Grace needs to be born again or born from above. Either way, remember the good news: God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but so that the world might be saved through him. Amen.

For an audio version of this message, please click here.