An Encounter with Jesus

John 3:1-17:

An encounter with Jesus can have radical results. This morning we read the story about a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews and a learned man. His encounter with Jesus probably left him with his head spinning. In the first place, Nicodemus was very nervous about being seen with Jesus so he arranged to come to Jesus at night. He knew that Jesus was a 'someone', but I suspect he could not bring himself to accept that Jesus was the promised Son of Man, God's son. His curiosity about Jesus had to be satisfied. Second, the answers that Jesus provides to Nicodemus' interpellation were out of the ordinary to say the least. Nicodemus simply approached Jesus to say that the things Jesus did, could not be done apart from the presence of God. In answer Jesus said to Nicodemus "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above". This answer set Nicodemus and Jesus off on their discussion about being born a second time from a mother's womb, and the birth of water and spirit that Jesus proposed to Nicodemus. To aggravate Nicodemus' spinning head Jesus went on to talk about the wind blowing from and to unknown places. The dialogue around ascending into heaven, after having descended from heaven must surley have shaken Nicodemus. Then Jesus went on to talk about Moses and the serpent lifted up in the wilderness. Poor Nicodemus! How his head must have ached after that encounter.

Have you encountered Jesus? Did your encounter with Jesus ressemble that of Nicodemus in any way? Have you encountered Jesus once, twice, many times? If you have not met Jesus may I suggest that you take some steps towards making that possible. If you have met Jesus, it may be time to meet him again. In keeping with the theme of journey in Lent that Sharon introduced, I would like to underline the importance of journeying to a place to meet with Jesus.

We have in this morning's gospel the story of Nicodemus' journey into the night to meet Jesus. You will remember from the Ash Wednesday scriptures that Jesus himself journeyed into the wilderness to be with God. Moses journeyed up a mountain to encounter God in a bush that burned and yet was not consumed by the flames. There are many stories of men and women who journeyed in the desert, to an island and other unusual places to encounter God. One such place, that is an inspiration to me, is called Lindesfarne. Lindesfarne is the largest of a group of islands off the northeastern coast of Great Britain. The island got its name "from the words lindis, the name of the expanse of tidewater one must cross to reach it, and fahren, which means a recess or place of retreat." Saints Aidan and Cuthbert, as well as many other Christians carried the light of the gospel to England from Lindesfarne from about 635 to 875 A.D. It was then that the Danes invaded Lindesfarne, destroying the tiny thatched church that had been built, and killing many of the island's inhabitants. Since that time the island has also come to be "known as 'Holy Island', holy to the memory of those devoted courageous saints of God." A Norman church was built on the island in the 11th century. This ancient church is now in ruins, but it still attracts pilgrims who keep Holy Island's memory alive.

I am a firm believer in the importance of having a place of withdrawal for quiet reflection, a place to meet Jesus. We "need periods of withdrawal from time to time far removed from the turmoil, pressure, and hurry of the world, to get our bearings straight in silence, and to hear God speak to our special need." Lindesfarne is the ideal place for such a retreat. Although the island is only physically cut off from the mainland twice each day at high tide for a few hours, it disconnects and connects with predictable regularity.

While we cannot all afford to up and find an island in the middle of nowhere to observe our lenten journey, we can do something about it. I thoroughly enjoy walking in the wilderness until I come to an isolated knoll, or a blown over tree. I can sit there for hours waiting on God, communing with the beautiful nature around me, talking to Jesus like he is right there with me, because he is! There are spots around a lake that I like to paddle to in my canoe where I just rock on the water and listen, pray, sing and watch for signs of God being there to meet my need. When I want to, I can visit those places without physically going to them. Lent is a time to journey, in reality or in spirit to such places. Very like Nicodemus we can encounter Jesus and come away changed and transformed. We may not experience re-entering our mother's womb and being born a second time. We may not engage God, or Jesus in a dialogue of questions and answers, and obscure sayings. But, I know this. I have come away from my Holy Island totally changed, elated, reassured of Jesus love for me. Even this morning we can make our trip to communion as though we are going to a Holy Island. With those few steps and brief moments apart we can experience a special and unique encounter with God. We can enjoy a pilgrimage, and retreat and yet be totally accessible to the world in which we live. We will go away from this place nourished and blessed by Jesus presence here.