Seeking Understanding – January 25, 2026
Ezekiel 36:22-32, John 3:1-21
January 25, 2026
You’ve heard me say before that the Gospel of John is unique. It’s different from all the other Three Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Over the years, those have been referred to as the “Synoptic Gospels.” Maybe you’ve heard that term. “Synoptic” is a fancy word that simply means “They look like each other.”
But John is different. John tells stories the others don’t. He has a slightly different time line than the others. And he presents the stories of Jesus for their theological impact. He wants his readers to understand what was happening, instead of just telling them about the facts and events.
That’s what’s happening in our story for today. This is the famous story of Nicodemus. And it’s a story in which we find one of the most well-known Bible passages of all – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world.” And yes, John is the only one who gives us those words. In fact, he’s the only one who tells us about Nicodemus!
I love the timeline of this. After giving us his great Prologue in chapter one, John tells us that John the Baptist came on the scene. And he has a lot to say about him. First he tells us how John baptized Jesus. We looked at that story a couple of weeks ago. Then last week we read where John was telling his disciples about Jesus. “Behold, the Lamb of God!” he said. If you remember, in those two stories, John was try to tell the people that Jesus was even more important than he was. “One is coming,” he said, “who is greater than me.”
So, John the Baptist was a big part of this story for John. He would say more about John in the last part of chapter 3, which comes right after our reading for today. I’ll leave you to read that on your own. And I hope you will, because it helps with this whole understanding of telling the importance of Jesus. So, when you read it, try to do so with the understanding of the people of that time, people who were very much enamored with John the Baptist. Again, they saw him as a prophet!
So here today, we have this story of Nicodemus. And this is great, because after what has been happening, after the testimony from John the Baptist, and then Jesus’ first public miracle at the wedding in Cana, we now have this man who comes to Jesus by night, seeking understanding. Think about that. A lot has happened already, in quick succession. And Nicodemus was trying to understand what it was all about.
I think that’s an important thing for us to think about. We’ve talked before about the difference between “knowledge” and “wisdom.” We’ve recognized that we live in a society that honors knowledge and learning. But wisdom is very important in the Bible! Wisdom is the ability to “wisely” use our knowledge. And now I think we’re taking that one step further. Because now we’re talking about understanding. And sometimes that can be the most elusive of all!
Think about that. We can know a lot of things without understanding them, can’t we? We can even have wisdom about things without understanding them. Well here, Nicodemus was learning about Jesus. He was trying to be wise in his judgment. But he was having a hard time understanding what it was all about.
So, here he came to Jesus at night, and he was seeking understanding. And he was not alone! The first thing he says to Jesus is, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher come from God.” That’s “we” plural! So, he was relating to Jesus the discussion that was happening among the religious leadership! They were all talking about what was happening, but they didn’t understand what it all meant.
Well, Jesus throws a lot of things at Nicodemus. First, he answers his statement – his statement about Jesus being “a teacher come from God.” And by the way, that’s really more than just a statement, isn’t it? It’s more of a question. Or it begs a question. It’s a statement that needs acknowledgment. Nicodemus is asking, “Is that true?” “Are we right about that?” “Have you come from God?” And Jesus answers him saying, “Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of Heaven.”
Now, it’s almost as though he didn’t acknowledge what Nicodemus said. Isn’t it? “Are you a teacher come from God?” His answer. “Unless you are born anew you cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” There’s almost a disconnect there. And I have to think it had to be confusing for Nicodemus. And his response shows that. “How can a man enter his mother’s womb and be born again?” Now Nicodemus needs even more understanding, doesn’t he?
Well, if that’s not enough, Jesus steps it up even more. He says a person needs to be “born of water and the spirit” – as if that clarifies things, right? Then he relates that the wind and the Spirit. And those two words in the Greek language are very similar. “The wind blows where it wills,” he says, “and we don’t know where it comes from and where it’s going. So it is with those who are born of the Spirit.” What I think he’s saying here is that the heavenly things Nicodemus was wrestling with are difficult to understand. But he is recognizing that Nicodemus is trying to go deeper, but he’s struggling.
So then, in a wonderful change, Jesus simplifies everything. And he gives Nicodemus these iconic words. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” And I think that makes perfect sense! I think he’s saying to Nicodemus, “Yes!” “Seek understanding!” “Try to understand the Spirit.” “But seek that understanding on the basis of a simple reality, and that is the reality that God loves you, and has sent you his son.” “That’s how you will understand me.” “That’s how you will know who I am.”
Isn’t that true for us? And isn’t that why that 16th verse has resonated with so many people throughout history? We need to know about Jesus, yes. But we also need to understand him, And the greatest understanding is found in those simple words. God loves you. That’s why Jesus came. Don’t overcomplicate it! And once again, it wasn’t because you deserved it. It wasn’t because you earned it. It was because God loves you. And you can reject God’s love. You can ignore it. You can think it can’t be possible, because you don’t deserve it. You can even push it away. But you cannot stop it! God loves you – whether you think so or not!
We don’t hear anything further from Nicodemus in this story. We don’t even have his reaction to what Jesus said. I kind of wish we did! And, of course, we don’t hear about him in any of the other Gospels! But I wonder… Did he get it? Did he understand? Did he acknowledge and respond to that simple love of God?
I also wonder if Nicodemus was remembering his Ezekiel that night. Ezekiel gave us these words from God. “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27) I’m sure he knew those words! And maybe they made more sense to him now!
We do hear about Nicodemus later. In chapter 7, the council was debating what should be done with this Jesus. And Nicodemus speaks up, and he reminds them of their own law. He says, “We do not judge a person without giving him a hearing.” Now, is that an acknowledgment of Jesus? Is it maybe even a defense? We know the council was divided over Jesus – some for and some against. Is it safe to say Nicodemus was one of the ones who were for him? I think so!
We hear about him one more time at the end of John’s Gospel. In chapter 19, we’re told that it was Nicodemus who brought the burial spices to anoint the body of Jesus. And he came there along with another member of the council, Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb. And isn’t it ironic, that, in the end, it was two of the members of the council that condemned him, who gave Jesus proper burial honors?
So Nicodemus reminds us that it’s possible to be faithful, knowledgeable, and even committed, but still be seeking understanding. And I think that’s a wise thing. It’s not a failure of faith. Sometimes it’s the beginning of a deeper faith!
We live in a world that values certainty. We like clear answers. We like “being right.” But Jesus doesn’t offer Nicodemus clear answers or simple explanations. At least not at first. I think he saw him as one who valued the “deep dive” into understanding. And that’s what Jesus offered him.
Maybe that’s where some of us find ourselves. I know I often find myself there! We know the stories. We know the doctrines. But we’re still seeking understanding. We’re still asking ourselves “What does this faith mean to me?” And that’s good! We should never stop asking that question!
The good news here, is that Jesus doesn’t turn Nicodemus away! He meets him where he is. He may not have said these same words to one of the common people. But he recognized Nicodemus as a man of “higher thought.” So he gave him higher thoughts! He recognized his uncertainty, and so he invited him to a higher level of understanding. And I believe Nicodemus went there!
So, in our lives, what can we take away from old Nick? I would say, like him, we need a willingness to be humble. We need to know that we don’t always have to be right. We need an honest faith, a faith that recognizes our flaws. That’s what we try to do in the upcoming season of Lent. And we need to have the courage to admit that we don’t understand. Because I believe those are the times God can best speak to us. And those are the times we are in the best place to listen.
Prayer
Eternal God, your love for us is beyond our comprehension. But whether we comprehend it or not, help us to see it as the source of all of your actions in the world and in our lives. And help us to live in your love. Help us to show your love to others, who may or may not have earned it or deserved it. Help us to love them simply because they are your children. Give us a mind that seeks understanding, and hearts that are open to hearing your voice and following your son, Jesus our Lord. For we pray in his name, Amen.