In the Dark - Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent Year A

In the Dark

Lent 2A

March 5, 2023

Christ, Preston, MN

John 3.l-17

Last week we found ourselves in the wilderness with Jesus during his temptation for 40 days and 40 nights. We discovered that the wilderness can be a thin place and a time of transition or change. This week begins a sojourn of a different sort as we begin a four-week journey in John’s Gospel. And, whereas last week we were in the wilderness with Satan, this week we are in the dark with Nicodemus. Nicodemus, a religious leader, comes to see Jesus at night although we aren’t told why. Even so, he seems to be truly curious. But we wonder, is he truly seeking to understand who Jesus is and what he came to do or does he have some ulterior motive?

As Nicodemus himself has pointed out, Jesus has been doing signs, John’s word for miracles. John calls them signs because they point toward who Jesus is as God’s Word made flesh. Prior to this text, Jesus has turned water into wine during the wedding at Cana. And as we’ll see in the coming weeks, Jesus will do even more amazing signs. But for now, Jesus ignores Nicodemus’ opening greeting and launches into a speech. It’s one that confuses Nicodemus on two levels because Jesus uses a word that can mean two things. The word that means being born from above can also mean born anew or born again. Yes, that word, one that has almost become a cliche among Christians.

This is such a rich text with many preaching points, including what is meant by being “born again.” And I love John 3.17 even more than the ubiquitous John 3.16, how Jesus emphasizes that God did not send him to condemn the world, but rather out of love we didn’t ask for is sent to save us. But I keep returning to Nicodemus coming at night, a time of darkness. For John’s Jesus darkness symbolizes limited understanding if not downright inability to see Jesus for who he is.

As I reflected on the themes of nighttime and the dark, it occurred to me that things happen in the dark, and not always welcome things. At night, after a busy day where we run from one thing to the next, it is the nighttime when thoughts, regrets, and the days’ events catch up to us. We often replay these events in our head, over and over again. If this doesn’t happen when we fall asleep, it may happen when we wake in the night and we end up tossing and turning. I wonder if Nicodemus was tossing and turning or simply brooding about Jesus. However it happened, at the end of the day he needed to seek Jesus out for some answers.

As so often happens, Jesus doesn’t answer the question he is asked but rather he givesNicodemus what he needs to hear. The language Jesus uses of being born from above, born anew, or born again doesn’t refer to a conversion experience. Rather it refers to Nicodemus’ willingness to let go of his preconceived ideas about how God works in the world. Nicodemus doesn’t have a bad life, but it’s a shallow one and Jesus is encouraging Nicodemus (and us) to be grabbed by the Holy Spirit and be willing to go wherever the Spirit blows us. 

Our Fifth Graders are being grabbed by the Holy Spirit in a new way today as they receive Holy Communion. As they receive Jesus’ body and blood in, with, and under that bread and wine, they will experience the new life that Jesus promises to bring. My siblings in Christ, when the dark surrounds you, look and listen for the Spirit bringing new life. Thanks be to God. Amen.

My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video here.