Someone Has To Go First
Nicodemus might have been really good at helping to grow churches.
The story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus under the cover of night... full of curiosity and wonder... is one of my favorites. You’ll find it in John 3. (I really loved this sermon I shared about it.)
I know I’m not alone in loving this story. There are a lot of polite Christians who like the story because...
a) Jesus is a strong teacher
b) It includes the famous “God so loved the world...” line
c) It includes lots of beautiful language, and
d) I think there’s a snarky way to interpret the story that makes some believers feel holier-than-thou.
(That’s not how I read it).
I love the Nicodemus story for a very different reason.
I think Nicodemus is the hero.
Jesus is cool too, obviously.
But Nicodemus takes a huge, courageous risk.
Nicodemus risks scandal. Nicodemus risks awkward confrontation. Nicodemus risks being in the wrong place with the wrong person asking the wrong questions.
Nicodemus risks going first.
And that matters a lot.
For faith to flourish, someone has to risk going first.
And in the same way, for churches and ministries to grow, someone has to risk going first.
Growth requires the holy discomfort of taking that risk.
But it’s hard to go first.
Comfort is heavy.
Not going first is like a cozy weighted blanket.
Not going first has extra gravity.
Not going first keeps us quietly and safely away from each other.
Nicodemus breaks through the heavy gravity of his world.
He, a Pharisee and religious leader whose in-group was probably gossiping and whispering “Keep away from that rabblerouser,” sneaks through the night to risk going first.
He takes the risk.
There are people in your community (and mine) that we assume aren’t looking for church, don’t want sacred relationship, or are a definite “no” if we asked them to coffee.
There are folks we know of who might intimidate us or confound us or befuddle us.
There are people who are actually just waiting for someone to risk the holy discomfort of going first.
You know what’s easier for me? Easier than going first?
Hoping they’ll find the website.
Hoping they’ll show up to an event.
Hoping they’ll love a mass email.
Hoping they’ll Google one of our keywords.
Hoping they’ll text me.
Hoping they’ll respond to an advertisement.
Hoping they’ll hear about us through “word of mouth.”
Hoping I won’t have to go first.
But someone has to go first. And my neighbors deserve my courage.
God, help me to crawl out from my comfortable weighted blanket... sturdy my heart and steady my voice... send me out in the world. Be with me as I go first.