Everything you wanted to know about Christianity at the Anglican Parish of the Otways Please join me each week for our reflections of sermons conducted during our church service. Plus, occasional splashes of humour and epiphanies! With much Love and Blessings Rev. Jenny Brandon |
Nicodemus is only referred to three times and only in John’s Gospel, but he is an interesting character. The first time Nicodemus appears in the gospel is in this passage, coming just after Jesus cleared the temple in Jerusalem. We are told that he was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin and was so impressed by the teaching and deeds of Jesus, it was clear to him that the hand of God was in them. So he came to Jesus at night to discuss matters of faith with him. Jesus and Nicodemus discussed faith long into the night about the meaning of being “born again”. Nicodemus explores the notion of being literally born again from one's mother's womb, butonly in order to exclude it, and to draw forth from Jesus the true meaning. By the time Nicodemus puts in his second appearance, opposition to Jesus has hardened. By now the Pharisees had made up their minds to kill him, and were ready to do so without even giving him a trial. But Nicodemus intervenes, declaring that Jesus should at least be given a fair hearing as the law demanded. (John 7:51). The third and last time Nicodemus appears is at the burial of Jesus. It was Nicodemus who provided the very expensive quantity of spices for his burial (John 19:39) So what can we deduce about Nicodemus from these three brief appearances. The first appearance shows us he was an intelligent, open minded man, a genuine seeker of the truth. The second appearance shows us he was a fair minded man, when he insisted that Jesus should not be condemned without a fair trial. The third appearance shows us that he was a very wealthy man, but also generous and compassionate. All these qualities we can admire and imitate, but what Nicodemus seems to have been unable to do until well after the resurrection was to come out and make a full and public declaration of faith in Jesus. It took him some time to develop the courage he needed to come out of the darkness and choose decisively for the light. Reflecting on Nicodemus should challenge us to come out from the shadows, and not to be ashamed or afraid to openly profess our faith in Jesus, and be ready to pay whatever price is required for doing so. Those who believe will not be lost, eternal life is theirs, but the challenge for us is not to simply believe, but to live according to that belief. May we find that courage and live lives
lit up by his grace, peace, love and freedom. The Lord Be with You! With Blessings Rev Jenny
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About the author
Rev. Jenny is an ordained Priest of the Anglican Diocese delivering services at Anglican Parish of the Otway churches every week. With great depth of knowledge and a spiritual practice that shows she walks her talk and has taken her to the far reaches of N.T. Australia working with indigenous youth and elders.
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May 2018
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