Nicodemus, Rabbi 3 August

"He came by night, quiet as the hunter on the stalk,
the moon for light, his cloak a moving shadow while he walked,"

So goes the song from Bob Ayala. It has always gripped my imagination, seeing the image of Nicodemus, slipping though the night, not wanting to be seen, but wanting more, maybe needing to meet with Jesus to know what was the truth about this Nazarene Rabbi.

When he talks with Jesus, he is told that "no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above".  Now these days we are familiar with being "born again", but imagine what it was like for this leader of Israel.  Jesus might as well told him he needed green skin or required backwards knees to "see the kingdom of God." Being born a second time made about that much sense to someone when hearing it for the first time.

But Nicodemus did not let it drop, but continued his exploration of Jesus' word and ministry.  We see him defending Jesus in the Sanhedrin and joining Joseph of Arimathaea to gather up and bury Him after the crucifixion.

O God, Who led the learned scholar and judge Nicodemus to seek for wisdom from the mouth of Your Son Jesus Christ, give to all persons, both scholars and others, minds that are open and hearts that are ready to hear the good news of salvation, not rejecting out of hand what seems strange or unfamiliar in it, but carefully studying to understand it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.

Comments

[Joshua Ligan]

Is St. Nicodemus (is he a saint or blessed?) commemorated in the book, Lesser Feasts and Fasts? If it isn't, I'm surprised nobody has proposed it at General Convention. Tsk tsk.

[Jeff]

The Nicodemus story is one of my favorite Gospel stories. Thanks for posting about it.