A stand-off with the second person of the Godhead.
by Mike Stavlund
Gospel Reading: John 3:1-17
For Sunday, June 3, 2012: Year B—Trinity Sunday
This is an ideal scenario for Jesus’ foundering PR program-- a bona fide member of the opposition, coming humbly and deferentially to Jesus.
Granted, it is a visit cloaked in darkness, but that is understandable given the extenuating circumstances. Besides, this highly esteemed Jewish leader gives Jesus high praise.
Ease up, Jesus!
And what does Jesus do? Besides being cryptic to the point of obtuseness, he goes into full debate mode, adding in some naked shame for good measure. When poor Nicodemus finally cries ‘Uncle!’ and admits he’s in over his head, Jesus piles it on all the more: “Aren’t you a teacher of Israel? How can you not understand these things?”
Jesus is on such a tear that we’re a little surprised he doesn’t place a dunce cap on Nicodemus and make him sit in the corner.
Getting to the Payoff
Though it is uncomfortable to read, John’s narrative section does provide a great lead-in for the verse that will become fabled in story and song (and in body paint at football games): the famous John 3:16. Which is a great recitation of God’s love, to be sure.
In Trinitarian terms, it clearly identifies Jesus as the messenger of God’s love. Which raises the unsettling question: Then why does Jesus seem to have so little of that love?
Following that, we find an equally clarifying Trinitarian statement about the work of the Spirit. Who comes not to condemn, but to save the world. So what’s up with the second person of the Trinity? The Spirit doesn’t condemn, but Jesus sure seems to. Why is he so harsh?
Again,…
...where is the love?
John’s Jesus offers lots of wonderful esoteric teaching about truth and love, but from the perspective of basic interpersonal effectiveness, he seems to be a jerk about it. This creates a level of cognitive dissonance, at the very least. Perhaps I’m more of a Synoptics guy, but I wish we had a little more of the Sermon on the Mount ethos in John’s gospel.
What is Jesus’s beef with his interlocutor? Is it something about Nicodemus, or his tribe, or his approach? Or is John just setting up a classic debate scene for his gospel? Is Nicodemus a smart-ass or a sycophant? Or does he simply say too much? After all, we know how cranky Jesus gets when someone starts poking around his Messianic Secret.
The Hardest Question
What does it take to get on Jesus’ good side? We cling to John 3:16, and we hope for the salvation of the Spirit, and we wait for the Johannine mansions in heaven, but the person who has promised all of it to us seemed more than a little destabilizing and disorienting.
How sure can we be that we’re not as clueless and pitiful as poor old Nicodemus? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Stavlund writes from a 5-car pile-up at the intersection of his Christian faith and real life. A husband of over 15 years and a father of 4 children, he lives with his wife and 3 daughters in a small house outside Washington, DC. He’s a part of an innovative emergence Christian community called Common Table, a co-conspirator with the Relational Tithe, and a proud part of the collective called Emergent Village. He blogs at MikeStavlund.com, and his first book, "Force of Will", will be published by Baker in the Spring of 2013.
