Up All Night

Reflection: I’m sure we've all known the uncomfortable feeling of not being able to fall asleep.  Our minds race, our hearts pound, and all we want to do is close our eyes and start dreaming.  But alas, we remain awake and restless in the dark of night.  This can be caused by worries or stress or fright; it could be something we’ve said or thought we should have said or something that we still just might!  

Or maybe we find we’re wrestling with the deep questions of life and faith; questions like “why” or “why me?” or “how can these things be?”  Questions that perhaps we are too busy in the light of day to give them much thought, so instead they play in our minds as the dark of night settles in around us. 

In our Gospel reading this week (week three in our series on the Gospel of John), we meet Nicodemus – a Pharisee.  He can’t seem to get to sleep so he goes to see Jesus “at night” – with deep questions and seeking clarity about who Jesus might be.  He says: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.”  (He thinks this must be true in order for Jesus to do the things he can do.)

Jesus answers him, saying in order to truly see and understand me and the One who sent me, one must be “born again."  (I’m thinking this answer did not help Nicodemus get to sleep!  He replies: “How can these things be?”)  

There is much to discover in Jesus’ answer for you and for me and all who believe in Jesus Christ.  Much for all who wrestle in the dark – and come to the One who is the light which shines in the darkness, and which the darkness cannot overcome.