There’s nothing like night time with friends to bring on earnest conversation and attempts to deal with big questions. There’s even a name for it: bull session. In college and seminary I spent many late hours in conversation and often heated debate with fellow students, over what at the time we thought were life and death issues in literature, theology, philosophy, Biblical interpretation; and often, since we were young men and women during the tumultuous sixties, the discussions included politics and social action. Come morning, we were off to classes again, our great ideas and debates set aside for life back to normal, safely behind the confines of academic life, while others laid down their lives in Mississippi, Alabama, or Viet Nam. That can be the problem with bull sessions: A lot of talking, but not much action and rarely personal change or risk.

This brings us to Nicodemus. He was, John tells us, a Pharisee, and a leader among the Jewish people. Some commentators suggest that he went to talk to Jesus at night because he was afraid to be seen, since his buddies in the Pharisee party had so many issues with the controversial young preacher. Others say that his late night visit is more a symbol of his condition and the state of humanity: living in the darkness, though the light of the world was with them: Jesus. But I’m thinking maybe Nicodemus sneaked over for a bull session with Jesus late at night.

Maybe we’re something like Nicodemus, coming in from the dark of the world, struggling and concerned, without clear direction. But thank God we’re here in the presence of Jesus. Like Nicodemus in his dark night, we too know this Jesus and know that he comes from God, and so like Nicodemus we may begin this way: Sir, we know that God has sent you to teach us. Hey, Jesus, can we talk? Ah, how tempting to sneak in out of the world and turn Christian life and leadership into one long bull session—a lot of talk, not much action, and even less risk.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a lot to talk about. We face the practicalities of trying to be Christians and trying be the church here. It’s not easy. We even have some fears. These are truly hard times for many of us personally, and difficult times for our church and the Lutheran church in general. What does God want us to do? What of the building program, what about evangelism, stewardship, styles of worship; where are all our youth, why do so many of our new members disappear a few months after joining? Why doesn’t doing church the same old way we’ve always done it work anymore? We have a lot of questions and a lot of bright ideas.

For example, some church people are quite sure that it’s the old music that will strengthen the church while others insist it’s the contemporary music that will do the trick. Some church people argue that we need to replace the liturgy with praise services. Others say that liturgy done well will be the wave of the future. Most usually agrees that if we were all friendlier, that would bring in more people, it’s just that not everyone agrees on what constitutes friendliness. The problem is, like a late night bull session, most of what we discuss and propose doesn’t go anywhere.

Back to the gospel: If Nicodemus hoped for an intense bull session, and perhaps a bit of praise from Jesus the man of God, we need to notice that Jesus rudely confronted him with the real issue, deep spiritual issue, something that Nicodemus hadn’t even brought up, but what was surely deep in his heart—a longing for the reality of God in his life. The life of the Spirit, the real life, Jesus is saying to our lover of bull sessions, is not a matter of mere religion, enthusiasms, or strategic plans. No, it’s like this: You must be born from above before you can see God’s kingdom!

But not only must, but may and can! These are good news words to discouraged people. I’m thinking now of an old Peanuts comic in which Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "Discouraged again, eh, Charlie Brown? You know what your whole trouble is? The whole trouble with you is that you're you!" Charlie asks, "Well, what in the world can I do about that?" Lucy answers, "I don't pretend to be able to give advice...I merely point out the trouble!"

The trouble with us is that we are, like Adam and Eve, so human! We want things on our terms, not God’s. The trouble with us is always that we think we can achieve God’s will under our steam, according to our own ideas, when what Jesus is saying is the real thing we’re longing for, the new life and renewal, can only be received! The trouble with us is that we have a hard time believing that God is capable of running the church, let alone running the world. The only way out of this trouble we are is to receive a whole different viewpoint, a new basis for living.

A few decades ago, as part of a national evangelism emphasis American billboards and car bumpers had this stuck on them: "Christ is the answer." I saw it everywhere. There were jokes about it, (What is the question?!) and suggestions that it was too simple, too na•ve. But in fact, that is point of the gospel. Not, Jesus has the answers, as though he was only a rabbi dispensing wisdom for the same old world, but Jesus is the answer! Maybe at first not quite knowing what it all means, we look to his death on the Cross and say, Jesus is the answer! He’s the love of God come to earth to save us—and we need saving, not just better ideas! That admission is the beginning of every new phase of life. It’s a gift from God, not an achievement!

And so Jesus says, You must be born from above! The old time word for it is revival. Revival begins when we are brought to our knees and desperate enough to beg God to send the Holy Spirit among us so that the heavenly wind so spin things around and upside down that we realize, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we’re not in Kansas anymore! For when the Spirit blows into town, it’s a whole new life, caught up in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ!

You must be born from above! Did Nicodemus receive that second birth? We don’t know. Though he appears twice more in John’s gospel, the last time at the end of the day on Good Friday bringing spices to Jesus’ grave, it is never clear.

Just another bull session or a renewed life together? It is an open question, for Nicodemus, and for us. Amen.