Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“... just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
“... just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
I once read somewhere that Nicodemus could be considered the Patron Saint of Seekers. In today's Gospel Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, who was a prominent Jewish teacher in the time of Jesus. Nicodemus had come to Jesus in the middle of the night to ask him questions.
Here he was - Nicodemus was supposed to have it all together as a big-time teacher, but after hearing what Jesus had to say, he probably stood there more confused than ever. He knew well the story Jesus referenced, of the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert that we read in this Sunday's first reading (NM 21:4b-9). Nicodemus knew that as the Israelites wandered the desert they started complaining and whining about their journey. As a result of their disobedience God sent deadly snakes into their camp. When the people cried out for mercy, God told Moses to put a figure of a snake on a pole and to hold it up. Whoever looked at that serpant would be helad. Not only did Nicodemus know this story - he probably taught other people about it, but what Jesus tells him must have left his head whirling: "...just as Moses lifted up the serpant in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." With our hind-sight bias, we know what Jesus meant: when people look with faith upon Jesus who has been "lifted up" (referring to both his crucifixion and resurrection), their judgment is averted and they are brought into life with God. But what must Nicodemus have thought? It was probably tempting to write off Jesus as a fanatic, but insted the seeker in Nicodemus sticks with Jesus. We see him show up in John's Gospel again in chapter seven, trying to protect and defend Jesus to the Pharisees, and then finally in chapter 19 after Jeus has died, helping Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus' body for burial.
Somewhere between the beginning of chapter three and the end of chapter 19, Nicodemus moves from being a seeker to being a believer. Yes, I think that I would agree, Nicodemus could be the Patron Saint of seekers.
You can find all the readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/091408.shtml
Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.
Here he was - Nicodemus was supposed to have it all together as a big-time teacher, but after hearing what Jesus had to say, he probably stood there more confused than ever. He knew well the story Jesus referenced, of the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert that we read in this Sunday's first reading (NM 21:4b-9). Nicodemus knew that as the Israelites wandered the desert they started complaining and whining about their journey. As a result of their disobedience God sent deadly snakes into their camp. When the people cried out for mercy, God told Moses to put a figure of a snake on a pole and to hold it up. Whoever looked at that serpant would be helad. Not only did Nicodemus know this story - he probably taught other people about it, but what Jesus tells him must have left his head whirling: "...just as Moses lifted up the serpant in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." With our hind-sight bias, we know what Jesus meant: when people look with faith upon Jesus who has been "lifted up" (referring to both his crucifixion and resurrection), their judgment is averted and they are brought into life with God. But what must Nicodemus have thought? It was probably tempting to write off Jesus as a fanatic, but insted the seeker in Nicodemus sticks with Jesus. We see him show up in John's Gospel again in chapter seven, trying to protect and defend Jesus to the Pharisees, and then finally in chapter 19 after Jeus has died, helping Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus' body for burial.
Somewhere between the beginning of chapter three and the end of chapter 19, Nicodemus moves from being a seeker to being a believer. Yes, I think that I would agree, Nicodemus could be the Patron Saint of seekers.
You can find all the readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/091408.shtml
Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.
Yes, Dawn, he went from a seeker to a believer. He became 'born again' as mentioned in the same chapter. Where Jesus says 'you must be born again' - he says that twice.
ReplyDeleteBut you know that...