In the Shadows

  This weeks lectionary gospel reading comes from John 3. This has the most quoted and remembered verse in the entire bible in it,(John 3:16) but it is the story of Jesus and Nicodemus. I like to use the lectionary as a base for my sermons, so I have really been giving this a lot of thought and research.

  Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin. He was very well tought and was definitely on the fast track of Jewish religious leadership. He must have been moved by what Jesus had done, and he was curious. He came to visit Jesus, but he came at night. He wanted to know more, but he didn't want to do this in the light of day. Afterall, if you do things in the light of day, people might see you.

  As I read about the discussions Nicodemus and Jesus had, I stil keep coming to this. This is done in the dark. Nicodemus lived in the shadows, not wishing to be outed. Do we do the same thing?  Do we worship God in the open, during the day- the work day? Or do we only talk to Jesus while we are in the shadows.

  I understand Nicodemus had a lot to loose, and he needed to be sure that Jesus was who people said he was, and what Nicodemus suspected. Are we in the same boat? I think this is why so many young people are turning from the church . They believe in a God, ( as did Nicademus ) and may be curious about Jesus, but are afraid to come out of the safety of the shadows to really get to know Christ.  Most of Nicodemus' friends trashed Jesus, of this I am pretty sure. His church, (Jesus'- not Nicodemus') is catching a lot of bad press now, some deserved. Until we, as disciples of Jesus, can ourselves come out from the shadows, how can we expect others to do so.

Go-Fight-Win. Amen