Holy Cross Day, 2025
NUMBERS 21:4B-9; PSALM 98:1-6; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-24; JOHN 3:13-17
how can these things be?
It’s not immediately easy to see, just from our small portion of John’s Gospel today—but there’s an element of surprise at play today. What we hear today is just a small part of a long conversation, a conversation that Jesus has with a man called Nicodemus.
Nicodemus has heard about Jesus, and has looked for Jesus, and he finds Jesus and talks to Jesus. And Jesus explains a number of things to Nicodemus about new life in God’s Spirit, and Nicodemus finds himself somewhere in between being amazed and not quite getting it; Nicodemus is astonished, Nicodemus is surprised at what Jesus is saying, and says to Jesus, about this new life in the Spirit: “how can these things be?” And what we hear today is Jesus’s response to Nicodemus saying “how can these things be?” How exactly is it that the Spirit gives us new life?
This is what Jesus says, in part: “the Son of Man [must] be lifted up,” that is, Jesus is to be crucified; and Jesus says that whoever trusts in the crucified one, that person will learn how to live. Jesus says that this sort of self-offering on the cross is a gift of love; and that through this offering of God in Christ on the cross, the whole world will be made well.
Nicodemus may be astonished and surprised at what Jesus says about new life in God’s Spirit: “how can these things be?” But Jesus’s answer is just as astonishing, just as surprising, because what Jesus says is that God will act, in Christ and the cross, in another new and surprising way: through his own death, we are offered life.“How can these things be?”
This is partly what Paul is getting at when he speaks of the cross: that the cross is astonishing, that the cross is surprising. ‘The cross is the way of life? How can this be?’ ‘Well,’ says Paul, ‘it’s confusing to some, and foolishness to others, but nevertheless, “we proclaim Christ crucified[.]” And that “to those who are the called [that is, to those who trust in the God who offers himself to us in this way, the way of the cross], … Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Nicodemus has a bit of a bad reputation, at least for some. For some, he’s an example of someone who just doesn’t get it. But I don’t want to give Nicodemus such a hard time. Because to say that Nicodemus is a man of insufficient faith is to misunderstand something of what John is telling us in his Gospel. John’s Gospel tells stories about all sorts of people encountering Jesus in all sorts of ways, much the way we too are all sorts of people encountering Jesus in all sorts of ways. And that astonishment and surprise are perfectly appropriate both to a God who acts in new and surprising ways in history, and a god who brings us into astonishing and surprising futures.
And so when we are presented with astonishing and surprising possible futures, as those who are seeking out Jesus, and as those responding to an invitation into Christ’s way of life by the Spirit, it seems to me quite appropriate to say “how can these things be?” Because sometimes it all does seem a bit bonkers.
I can tell you honestly that surprise and astonishment are ok, or at least I hope they are, because I am regularly weirded out by all this. I am surprised to be here. Not all of you were around a few years ago when St. John’s was searching for a new rector. I was, sitting right there most Sundays, and each Sunday we prayed about the search, praying that God would move the heart of the right person, and that God would call that person to come forward and apply.
I prayed that prayer too, except I added a little part of my own. I prayed that it wouldn’t be my heart that God would choose move. I did not really want this job! I thought I had far better ways to spend my time. But I was wrong, and so here I am. Honestly surprised and truly astonished that I am here as your rector. Surprised and astonished that I am still here as your rector. Because this is far from an easy job. But I love you, I love this city and its people, so here I am.
And I know some of you feel the same way. Some of you are surprised to be an Anglican, some of you are surprised to be Christian. Some of you are surprised to be our of bed and to find yourselves here on a Sunday morning or tuning in online. Because so often not easy. I imagine we will be surprised and astonished over the next months as we look more closely at where God is calling us as a church. And if we respond faithfully, God will call us according to the cross that gives life; and we will be astonished, and we will be surprised. “God is calling us to do what? How can these things be?”!
It’s not easy, it won’t be easy; it’s the way of the cross. And yet if it’s the way of the cross, then for John it is nevertheless the way of a Spirit-filled life. ‘The way of the cross is the way of life?’ “How can these things be?” It’s confusing, it’s foolishness. But nevertheless, it is our proclamation and the story we tell. That Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
I’ll end by saying two things. It’s intentionally hard to answer the question “how can these things be?” How is it that the Spirit leads us into life? How is it that this life is cross-shaped and found in Jesus? It’s difficult to answer, in words, why it is that we proclaim Christ crucified, and how it is that Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The most appropriate way to answer this question, “how can these things be?” is to turn to another part of John’s Gospel, and to say what Jesus says to his first disciples when they begin to ask other questions: “come and see.” Come and spend time with Jesus in prayer and thanksgiving. Come and hang out this week with the people Jesus loves.“Come and rejoice in the mystery of our redemption,” as the Collect puts it. Sing hymns of praise, and make a joyful noise unto the Lord; and come to this altar where the Spirit hovers and the angels join us in our adoration, where we celebrate the cross of Christ that is the way of life.
How can these things be?
Come, and see.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.
As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.