Monday, January 20, 2014

Monday, January 20, 2014

John 2:23 - 3:15

The scripture reading for today is John’s story of the debate between Nicodemus and Jesus.

When we first meet Nicodemus, he is one of the members of Jerusalem's ruling religious body.  He is a good Jew; a leader of the synagogue; a knowledgeable and intelligent man. He represents authority and the dominant culture in first century Judaism. 

Nicodemus has heard of this itinerate rabbi, Jesus, and his reputation as a great teacher. So Nicodemus seeks him out to have a discussion and ask some questions. He probably suspects his time will not be wasted. And he is right. 

I’ve always liked the expression “Ask two Jews, get three opinions.” In the Jewish tradition there is a time-honoured liturgical emphasis on debate, asking questions, openness, and entertaining many opinions. The Talmud is full of different questions and opinions being tried, compared and tested. Both Nicodemus and Jesus, being good Jews, would be well versed and very comfortable in this valued and traditional form of intellectual debate.

The debates are not about winning or about trying to fix, change or convert each other. Rather they are about increasing learning, ideas and understanding.

Sure enough, Jesus and Nicodemus enjoy a lively theological discussion about scripture, the kingdom of God, and about being ‘born from above.’ Neither one wins or loses. And they don’t ever quite agree - two Jews, three opinions. 

But this is not the last we hear of Nicodemus. We meet him again twice more in John’s gospel

The next time is in chapter 7 when Nicodemus is in the Temple with a group of rulers who are awaiting the return of the Temple police who have been sent to the courtyard to arrest Jesus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus’ defense by challenging the interpreters of the Law.

Then it is not until chapter 19, after Jesus has died, that Nicodemus shows up for the last time. We are told that two people come forward to claim Jesus’ body. One is Joseph of Arimathea, who boldly asks Pilate for the body of Jesus and offers his own tomb for the burial. The other is Jesus’ sparring partner, Nicodemus. It is he who comes to honour and show his respect for Jesus by bringing the spices to anoint the body – a task traditionally carried out by family or close friends.  

oo0oo

This is the time of year that the Church marks a ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ in an attempt to promote unity, ecumenical dialogue, and discussion within the Christian Church. However, ecumenism is about promoting greater cooperation and improved communication not only among Christians but among other religions and people of faith.

I have the privilege of serving as the minister at Westminster United Church in Waterloo, which shares space at “the Cedars,” with Temple Shalom, a reform Jewish congregation. This ecumenical and inter-faith relationship is unique in all of Canada. It is something both congregations are proud of and work hard to sustain. It involves mutual respect and flexibility. It involves getting in each other’s way and then trying to figure out how to make things right.  It involves cooperation, an openness to talking with each other, and respecting each other’s opinions and values. If you ask 2 Jews plus 2 Christians, you get perhaps 8 opinions, maybe 12. Are we divided? No, just different.

So in this ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ may we also share this model of doing things together, coexisting, and getting to know each other as good neighbours. It is not about trying to fix or change each other. Nor is it about trying to dumb down our own faith traditions so as not to offend the other. It is an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and different-ness, as well as what we have in common.

(Rev.) Mary Savage

Westminster United Church, Waterloo