2nd week in Easter, Tuesday – 21st April 2020 — Gospel: John 3, 7b-15
Need for an openness to Jesus
The dialogue between the two teachers, one who came from God (3,2) and the teacher of Israel (3,10) sets up the dichotomy between understanding and misunderstanding. The reality is that only one teacher has accurate understanding; Jesus is the teacher with the spiritual quality because he comes from God. Nicodemus comes in the night and belongs to the darkness. He attempts to ride the fence of neutrality with his question, “How can these things be?” It is the exact question of the day that can never be answered. Nicodemus’ earthly questioning provides opportunity for Jesus to teach about heavenly things, including God’s loving plan for the world and the role of the Son of Man in that plan. Just as Moses pointed out the signs and wonders of God to the Israelites after the Exodus by “lifting up” the serpent, so must the Son of Man be “lifted up” to bring this promise to fulfillment. Metaphorically Jesus points to his coming crucifixion as a new sign of the power of God to forge relationship. In fact Jesus challenges Nicodemus to move beyond comfort and religious preconceptions into a new relationship with God the Father through openness to the Son. Understanding of Jesus comes only as gift. Just as God gave the Son out of love for the world, so the Spirit will initiate belief and lead one into the kingdom of God (3,5).
