Nic at Night (Nic Gets Tebowed)

A senator came to Jesus at night. You can find this story in the New Testament Gospels, John's, in chapter three. Nicodemus ... let's call him Nic - it's easier to spell ... comes to talk to Jesus. Now, by this time in his public life Jesus has managed to tick off a few people. He was pretty radical and stood up to the corruption, religious distortions and abuse of the leadership of the day. You see, Roman occupation aside, the Israeli government was religious, kind of like most Muslim countries today. The leaders are the purveyors of the religious system, albeit in this case, their laws are encased in and under the scrutiny of Roman governance, i.e., they are allowed to control the people as long as it doesn't conflict with Roman law.

So, anyway, Senator Nic comes to see Jesus. I call him a senator because that's my best shot at a parallel position in our American government system. He's a member of the "ruling council." Nic comes to see Jesus at night. That's significant. He seems to come representing some of his compatriots in the council ... but only some. His nocturnal visit is secretive. He's keeping this rendezvous from others' knowledge, but his opening line indicates that he probably volunteered to represent a group of curious leaders who are a part of the larger group. The larger group is likely ticked off and maybe even threatened by now by Jesus' public statements and actions. Temple merchants had been selling their trinkets in the temple. Jesus came by and cleaned their clocks, drawing the ire of the leaders, who undoubtedly benefited from this flea market. He was unhappy that they had turned what was supposed to be a spiritual, God-focused place into something mercenary and profit-oriented.

If you'll pardon a little rabbit trail here ... This bunch in the temple sounds like some church buildings we've recently visited during their Sunday morning gigs. It's my observation that, when the "church" -- which in New Testament scriptural terms is not a building, but a group of people who follow Jesus -- when that church becomes more focused on its building and programs than on its commission to reach and serve people, something goes haywire. It may take some time because these churches take on an inertia that seems never ending, and people love inertia, especially of the religious kind. The more talented its ruling council, the more talent to perpetuate the machine, the longer they hang on. It may take time before the wires go hay, but it is inevitable. They may continue to exist and God loves people, so he puts up with a lot of our foolishness, but eventually, the focus on keeping the machinery running rather than on what God is all about among us drags people down. The monster has to be fed and the people have to feed it. If there aren't enough people to feed it, we have to figure out more gimmicks, more "ministries," more whatever to draw more people into the fold who can help us feed the machine. "After all, if we can't keep the thing running, we can't do what we were called to do in the first place, can we?" So, the energy is directed toward upping the budget. That's abackwards. And, I think I just lost some readers of this blog.

Okay, back to the Nic at Night story. Nic comes to Jesus under cover of darkness because a number of his ruling comrades wouldn't like it. His opening line is "WE know you are a teacher  who has come from God. For no one can perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." To which Jesus replies, "Why thank you!! Thank you for noticing. Yes, I am from God and I was hoping you could figure that out because of my amazing feats. You guys are perceptive. Would you like for me to come speak at your next conference? I'd like to show you how I do these things. In fact, I think I could teach YOU how YOU could do these things, and even greater things! What'dya says, boys?"

Okay, so I read between the lines. I did... right? You're correct! NO, I misread between the lines. Notice. Nic doesn't ask a question, although it's probably implied: "So, tell us Jesus, ARE you from God?" He doesn't say that, but that's probably what his cronies wanted Nic to pick his brains about. I can hear the conversation in back corner of the Jerusalem Boar Head Tavern. "He's GOT to be from God, right?  [sip] No one can do these things if they're not, right?! We need to find out more. [sip, sip] Where's he headed with all this miracle stuff?", says the short guy. And, one guy says, "[sip] If he draws too much attention to himself, Uncle Rome isn't gonna like it. In fact, we may lose our [sip] jobs. [gulp]" Then the chap by the wall says, "But what if he IS from God? Shouldn't we be following him? or at least paying more attention to what he says?" Then, Nic says, "Okay, guys, I'll go. He's really got me curious. I gotta tell ya though, I think he's the real article." And, they bump their mugs together, "Agreed! [sip, gulp, gulp]

When Nic "asks" the question, Jesus doesn't bite. He redirects the conversation immediately. It isn't about the miracles. "I'm glad I've gotten your attention, but I didn't do all those healings for you. I did them for those who needed the healing. They hurt, I heal." (More in between the lines reading.) No, Jesus knows what these leaders are after, but doesn't talk about the miracles. He gets to the point. The point of his existence, the whole point of his arrival among us, the goal of his life. "Jesus, are you from God?" "Nicodemus, neither you nor anyone else will ever see this God you're asking about and his kingdom, his space, unless you are born from above, born again." Forget the miracles. You're on the wrong page. It's about new birth.

To which Nic replies, "Huh?" A little more eloquently than that, but the same effect. "How can a man be born when he is old." Surely, you're not talking about the Benjamin Button syndrome? "Surely he cannot enter his mother's womb a second time!" !! ... !! ... !! (Nic's eyebrows). Jesus clarifies - or tries. "Here's the truth: no one can enter the realm of God's existence, his kingdom, unless he is not only born once, but he must be born again ... Of The Spirit." We're talking about spiritual things, things beyond what you can see, like the blowing of the wind, a natural phenomenon. To which Nic again replies, "Huh?"

Jesus essentially chides him. "So, you're a man of the cloth. You're a teacher of spiritual things?! Give me a break. You can't see what I'm talking about?!" Notice where he now goes with this. Remember how Nic opened up this tete-a-tete? "WE know..." Jesus does him one better. "I'll tell you what's true. I'll tell you what's important to know here and now," in essence. "WE speak of what WE know, and WE testify to what WE have seen, but still you people do not accept OUR testimony" (my emphasis, obviously). Two things about this. One, the all hot-and-bothered senatorial wizards have had this marvelous revelation. "This guy must be from God!" Duh! Nico comes as their rep and lays this sanctimonious admission on Jesus. "Aren't we the cat's meow? Look what WE know." Jesus seems to rub this in. "Let me tell you what WE know, and what WE KNOW is true, apparently the very thing you people have been so totally dense about. I try to explain it to you with down to earth language ... the wind blows, you know. You still don't get it, do you?" Yes, he is from God. He's been with God, he IS with God and, (we eventually discover) he is God (a totally different topic for another time). "You want to know about God, about his realm, his "space," his way of doing things, these "heavenly" things. Jesus says point blank, "I've been there, I am there, and you can be there. Stop trying to wrap your mind around this. Open the eyes of your heart!"

The other observation is about who the "we" is. I think it's pretty clear in context that he is referring to his Father, the Spirit, the "Godhead" as theologians like to call it. Basically, he's saying my "we" trumps your "we." "We have seen what is real, the essence of reality, and that's what I'm talking about." Jesus now answers Nic's question and puts it in prophetic terms. Nic asks, "How can this new birth thing be?" Jesus predicts his death as the "Son of Man" and says in plain words that the new birth takes place when you see the significance of his death and believe in that significance, that there are personal implications at stake. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (yes, Tebow's favorite verse). You believe that he did that so that you can enter this realm of God, this kingdom, this "heaven," really that you actually believe in Him, and you will have eternal life. Pretty simple, yet so difficult for so many to believe.

There's a bit more to this Nic at Night story, but that's the meat of it. The really cool part about Nic comes later in John's account of Jesus' life. We see Nicodemus take a bit of a stand for Jesus when his cronies are getting ready to pounce on Jesus. He asks them to slow down before judging him too quickly (chapter 7). Not much more is said, but we do know his comrades don't listen and go as far as insulting Nicodemus. Later, at the end of the Gospel of John, after the death of Jesus, Nicodemus gives a huge hint that he has crossed over into belief. He shows up with a friend and claims the body of Jesus to bury it. This time in broad daylight.