It is the second Sunday in Lent. Today’s Bach cantata is “Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding” (There is something defiant and fainthearted):

Today’s Gospel reading is John 3:1-17:

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The text of today’s piece is available here. It contains these words:

I consider, truly downcast,
that Nicodemus not by day,
but at night dared to go to Jesus.
The sun had to stand still for Joshua so long,
enough for the victory to be completed;
yet here Nicodemus wishes: o that I saw it setting!

Your otherwise bright and beloved brilliance
should be shrouded in clouds for me;
since I will question the Master,
I am frightened by the daylight.
No human can work miracles,
for his great power and his being
appears to be divinely chosen,
thus God’s spirit must rest upon him.

Then do not marvel, o Master,
that I question You at night!
I fear that by day
my weakness could not withstand it.
Yet I comfort myself that You will take up and claim
my heart and spirit for life,
since everyone, if only they believe in You, shall not be lost.

Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.