Gospel June 7

Year B Trinity Sunday

John 3:1-17

"He came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.'" (John 3:2)

This magnificent dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus takes place in Jerusalem. It contains the verse know as 'the gospel in a nutshell' (Jn 3:16) and includes indications of the dualisms that are typical of John's gospel (earth/heaven, temporal/spiritual, darkness/light).

As I read this text again the question that was raised for me was this: "Why does Nicodemus come to Jesus by night?" As I reflected on the scenario John has presented another more basic question was added "Why does Nicodemus come to see Jesus at all?" John's narrative does not offer clear explanation for either of these questions. We need to go 'behind the text' to offer some answers.

The time of this incident has been set - it was around the Passover (2:13,21) - and the location is Jerusalem. Nicodemus makes reference to the 'signs' that Jesus has done, but of these 'signs' (miracles) there is scant reference (2:23) and little detail (2:1-12). Yet these signs have prompted Nicodemus to seek out Jesus.

And Nicodemus, a 'leader of the Jews', comes to Jesus at night even though there is no indication of any tension developing between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. Perhaps it is, as Beasley-Murray suggests (Word Biblical Commentary, Vol 36, The Gospel of John), simply a way of seeing Jesus privately and without the crowds that would demand his time and attention.

Yet there does not seem to be enough evidence in the narrative to this point to justify Nicodemus seeking a private nighttime audience with Jesus, and recognizing him on the basis of signs done as a teacher from God. Yet it is just this scenario that John's gospel presents - and the setting in which the dialogue unfolds.

Behind John's gospel is a great deal more information and detail than could be included. The synoptic gospels offer other episodes and teachings, and John alludes to a great well from which other stories could be drawn (21:23).
Behind John's gospel there is also a great deal of folklore and information that was held in the hearts and minds of people and was never written down - the knowledge of Jesus that people had before they ever read John's gospel. Readers and hearers knew of Jesus, the word had gone around about his teaching and his miracles. They did not need the detail to be spelled out in John's narrative. When they came to John's gospel they had their minds opened to John's take on Jesus. What Nicodemus knew of Jesus would have been far more that was recorded in the first two chapters of John's gospel, and what others knew of Jesus was far more also. The signs of which Nicodemus spoke were many, not just the 'miracle' at Cana.

What Nicodemus knew, and his political nous, had him seeking a private audience with Jesus away from the eyes of his peers and the intrusions of the crowd. What he had seen and heard of Jesus was enough for him to come seeking answers to the questions that had been forming in his own heart and mind.

Today bookshops have shelves and shelves of self-help material - and many homes have more than a few books on how to be rich, healthy and happy. Self-proclaimed and well- marketed gurus are ready to share their secrets with us, for a price. Yet none of the advice works 100% of the time. If it did there would not be so many books, we would all buy the only one that works. The gurus may have had personal success (and added to their personal happiness through income derived from their books), but it is only by clever and targeted marketing that their books are sold.

Where, and to whom, do people go if they don't go to a bookshop (or to the internet)? They will go to someone they know, someone who has been successful in the area of their need. Today happiness, contentment, and fulfilment are still in great demand. People who have 'got it all together', who can stand firm and strong and peaceful through the storms of life have a great opportunity to share the secret of their contentment.

Followers of Jesus Christ should have no need of sophisticated marketing techniques or loud trumpeting of success. What is needed to share the secret is evidence of life well lived, of grace continually expressed and of love generously shared.

If we could do this well others would ask us of our secret - and we could tell them of Jesus.

Nicodemus came to Jesus because of what he saw, and knew of Jesus. Do people come to you because they see Jesus in you?