JOHN 3:1-2 
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
He came to Jesus by night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God;
for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”
Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He is a leader among the Judean Elite and Jesus is the enemy. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus’ teachings challenge the most powerful in the Jewish Temple system and if those who hear and follow Jesus grow in numbers their religious and political system will be at risk. They could lose everything.
And yet Jesus’ teachings, his ministry of love and healing has drawn Nicodemus to him. I wonder how many others like Nicodemus sought out Jesus under the cover of darkness; curious, suspicious, fearful and yet longing for more, longing for wholeness and healing. How often do we wait for the cover of darkness to seek healing or reconciliation? There is a certain comfort to the anonymity that night time brings. Have you ever sat in the dark with someone and felt safer asking hard questions or sharing your deepest self?
Jesus didn’t seem surprised or annoyed at his night time visitor, in fact he immediately engages Nicodemus, ready to answer his questions, to meet his needs. What are your night time prayers to God?
May you seek God in the night time,
May God welcome you graciously and lovingly,
May your fears and suspicions abate and may you have the courage to reveal your whole-self,
May you know that even under the cover of darkness God is with you.
AMEN
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