A Johannine Pattern - This passage encompasses two
stories-Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus and a soliloquy in which Jesus continues
the conversation but without the presence or further comment by Nicodemus. This pattern
will continue throughout John’s Gospel-a central event that is followed by dialogue
that continues on the topic. In such cases it is sometimes difficult to know when the
dialogue is Jesus speaking or that of the Johannine writer.
Jesus and Nicodemus - Note how the writer postures Nicodemus
vis-à-vis Jesus: both negative and positive images emerge. On the plus side, Nicodemus
takes the initiative to seek Jesus out and he makes a theological claim about Jesus that
connects him / his work with God. No entrapment here. But on the other hand we are also
privy to a significant detail-nux, "night." In John’s gospel night implies
away from God’s presence (9:4, 11:10, 13:30). The later dialogue section confirms
this negative use of nux. [1]
The Dialogue - If Nicodemus begins the conversation with "we
know," then Jesus builds on that beginning in verse 11 literally, "what we know
we say . . ." Notice also the shift from the first person "I" to first
person plural, "we." Jesus’ words in the dialogue section are words of
witness-we know, we see, we speak, we testify. Behind Jesus’ "we" stand
John the Baptist and the first disciples who have already borne witness to what they have
seen. Jesus speaks for all those who have testified to this point in the Gospel narrative.
[2]
Try walking through the story of
Jesus and Nicodemus, but through the perspective of Nicodemus. What is the immediate and
long-term impact that Jesus’ could have on him?
Think of images of "night" as a way to enter the text; brainstorm the image:
"a dark and stormy night," being in the dark about something, quiet, reflective,
no intrusions, can hear myself think, etc.
See one of several homilies in the DPS
archives based upon this passage.
Tell a story about an adoption of a child that you experienced or that a friend of
yours experienced.
Move into the text-and draw on the transferable concept of "adoption" that
Paul also speaks about.
Connections-applications-learning curves can be drawn from your conversation with
ancient text and contemporary situation.
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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page
548.
[2] Ibid, page 554.
