Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 8)

I’ve just bumped into a man called Nicodemus.  He’s an important man, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council.  I have never spoken to him before, and probably would not have done this time if he hadn’t passed me on the road then doubled back and come after me.  I couldn’t believe it.  I know there was no one else around at the time, but even so – Pharisees do not talk to women…

Nicodemus had recognised me as Jesus’ mother and, the night before, Nicodemus had found Jesus because he wanted to talk to him.  It did occur to me that Jesus was around during the day, too, but I kept that thought to myself - maybe Nicodemus was worried about what the other Pharisees would think if they saw him talking to Jesus.

Anyway, Nicodemus was full of his meeting with Jesus, but he said he had been puzzled by some of the things Jesus said.  He had not understood them. 

‘Join the club’, I thought…

Apparently, Nicodemus had gone to Jesus wanting to talk about who Jesus was, but Jesus had turned the conversation away from himself and on to other people, including Nicodemus.

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

“What?  How is it possible to be born again?” I asked. “It is impossible to jump back inside your mother!” 

Nicodemus said he had asked Jesus the same question, and the answer was that it was a different type of birth; a birth of the Spirit. 

I turned to Nicodemus for clarification, but he was as puzzled as me.  I must say, I felt a bit better that even a learned teacher didn’t understand it.

Nicodemus had asked Jesus how a birth of the Spirit is possible but, as I am realising is becoming the norm with Jesus, had not really grasped what he said. 

Jesus had started talking about when Moses lifted up the bronze snake, way back when our ancestors were bitten by snakes in the desert.  I know this story – all they had to do was look at the bronze snake and they would be healed.  So far so good!  But then Jesus went on to talk about the Son of Man being lifted up in the same way.  Nicodemus remembered some of what he had said word for word:

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’*

I know that Jesus is God’s son, but how does that link with the snake on the pole story?  And where did the term ‘Son of Man’ come from?

Again Simeon’s words came to mind: ‘a sword would pierce my heart’…

*John 3:16

‘What do you mean?’ written in white on a black background.

Nicodemus had questions, and he went to Jesus.

He didn’t understand, and so he went to Jesus.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28/29

When we don’t understand, let’s go to Jesus.

Stay with Him.

Learn from Him.

Nicodemus was a learned man. A clever man.

Yet he went to Jesus to be taught.

However much we know,

however skilled we are at what we do,

let’s remember that Jesus is over it all.

We can turn to Him.

When things are pressured – and when they are not – hear Jesus say,

Take My yoke upon you….

Nicodemus asked Jesus for clarification. “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

The story of Nicodemus is proof that Jesus is fine with being asked, “What do You mean?”

We can ask Him, too:

What do You mean?

I don’t understand.

What do You mean about my situation/my future/my days?

What are you asking Him about at the moment?

In talking with Jesus, in sharing with Him, in being honest with Him, the turmoil in Nicodemus’ heart was shared.

Shared with the One who said, ‘come to Me….’

Nicodemus went at night, so perhaps he was embarrassed.

He went anyway.

Nicodemus had to admit he didn’t understand everything.

He went anyway.

And, in doing so, his burden wasn’t only his anymore. It was shared.

Do you ‘go anyway’?

When you’re busy/tired/angry/successful/overwhelmed/happy/embarrassed/don’t want Jesus to see you…?

Nicodemus made himself vulnerable before Jesus.

He went anyway.

And he was the one who heard the words: ‘God so loved the world…..’

What might God say to you when you ‘go anyway’?

Lord Jesus,

Thank You that I can be honest with You.

You don’t send me away, yet I sometimes take myself away.

Help me come to You, and let You share all that I am carrying.

Thank You for wanting to share it.

Amen

Mary’s Memo: Go to Jesus