Sunday Worship
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday of Lent, also the day for Church Action on Poverty. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Beauty for Brokenness"
Today's Gospel
John 3:1-17 Nicodemus visits Jesus
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 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.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Reflection
Today we reflect on the visitation of Nicodemus with Jesus.
Many argue that it is one of the most important stories in the Gospel, because of the important teaching about being ‘born again’ and ‘being born of the Spirit’. It highlights the concept of spiritual transformation which is fundamental to Christian faith and salvation. And as Nicodemus illustrates, it is not immediately easy to understand.
This passage also reminds us of the unconditional love that God has for us in the that much loved and often quoted passage [John3:16]. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
But I want today to think about Nicodemus and who he was. Moreover, to reflect on his transformational journey which is often overlooked.
Nicodemus is only mentioned in John’s account of the Gospel but is clearly significant. He is mentioned three times in John’s Gospel. However, we do not always join the dots and see how Nicodemus’ journey of faith, and confidence and his recognition of Jesus as the Son of Man develops throughout John’s narrative. We will see how, each time Nicodemus is mentioned, his faith and his support for Jesus is growing as he is transformed by the Holy Spirit.
We start with the first encounter in the reading above. We know that Nicodemus is a pharisee and a senior one at that because he is member of the Jewish ruling council, (the Sanhedrin). He would therefore be a learned and respected member of the Jewish community and also a man of influence and status.
It is reasonable to assume that not only has Nicodemus heard accounts of Jesus’ teaching and healing, he has also witnessed these first hand. He acknowledges that Jesus is seen as a ‘teacher who has come from God’. Yet he chooses to visit Jesus by night.
He is clearly more than a little curious about who Jesus actually is and he obviously wants to know more albeit he is also cautious, because he is aware that many of his fellow pharisees see Jesus as a nuisance and a threat. Hence the reason why he visits at night under the cover of darkness. In this first encounter, Nicodemus is open minded about Jesus and his teaching and is also open to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, even though he has not yet fully grasped what Jesus is saying.
We next encounter Nicodemus in [John 7:50-52]. By this time, Jesus is really becoming a thorn in the side of the Jewish religious establishment. So much so that the Pharisees have issued arrest warrants for Him and sent the temple police out to arrest him on sight. It is now that Nicodemus finds the confidence to challenge the other religious leaders and question their decision to arrest Him. He argues that Jesus should be given a fair hearing, and in doing so, Nicodemus is berated for defending Jesus and is accused of being led astray by a false prophet.
The final mention of Nicodemus by John is at the Cross. It is poignant event where Nicodemus helps Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus’ body down from the Cross, to lovingly prepare His body with spices, and wrap it linen according to the burial custom of the Jews. [John 19:39-40].
For me this completes Nicodemus’ transformation, from cautiously curious enquirer to someone who, despite the obvious danger, is willingly to publicly align himself with our Lord and Saviour. He now fully appreciates the message that Jesus shared with him on that first night.
We don’t all get an epiphany moment where we are instantly enlightened. We don’t fully understand the divine mystery of God. But if, like Nicodemus, we are open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and we are willing to listen to and read what Jesus teaches, he will lead us on our journey of transformation of faith and fulfil His promise that we will have eternal life. Paul
