Nicodemus

NICODEMUS

Scripture references:
John 3; 7:50; 19:39

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NICODEMUS’S LIFE AND TIMES

We know little of Nicodemus other than that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of Judaism and its highest court. Nicodemus would have been influential and wealthy and close to those who became Jesus’ most vicious enemies. In view of the group of which he was a part, his relationship with Jesus was truly fascinating.

EXPLORING NICODEMUS’S RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

Nicodemus’s night visit to Jesus(John 3). Relatively early in Jesus’ ministry, Nicodemus visited Christ privately and at night. Many have speculated that the visit took place at night because Nicodemus was unwilling to be seen with Christ for fear of his companions. However, he may well have come at night because Jesus was so surrounded by crowds during the day that no private meeting was possible.

Nicodemus began the meeting with a confession: “We know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). This admission is striking, for the “we” indicates that the religious leaders privately recognized that Christ spoke with divine authority, although they publicly tried to undermine His mission!

Christ quickly shifted the focus of the conversation to the issue of rebirth: a person must be “born again” even to see the kingdom of God. The saying either puzzled Nicodemus, or he attempted to dismiss it. Christ rebuked him. As a ruler of Israel, he must be familiar with Jeremiah’s new covenant teaching and God’s promise to give His people a new heart and character. Jesus had come into the world as a gift of God’s love, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

John tells us nothing more of the interview or of Nicodemus’s reaction. John does mention this ruler of the Jews two additional times in his Gospel.

Nicodemus took Jesus’ part in a council meeting(John 7:50). As Jesus continued to preach and heal, people everywhere began to wonder if He were the Messiah. Jesus’ impact on the people was so great that the Pharisees and chief priests sent officers to take him. But Jesus continued to speak in public, and the officers returned without Jesus, offering as their reason, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46). The Pharisees angrily responded, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?” They were certain that not one of their members would take Jesus’ part.

Nicodemus, identified in the text as “one of them,” timidly raised a legal question: “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51). Nicodemus certainly did not confess that he had himself gone to hear Jesus to find out what he was doing! Nor did Nicodemus confess any belief in Christ. And, after the rebuke of his companions, Nicodemus remained silent.

Nicodemus provided spices for Jesus’ burial(John 19:39). After the crucifixion, Nicod-emus provided expensive spices with which to anoint Jesus’ body. The hundred pounds of spices mentioned by John would have cost a fortune. Did Nicodemus act out of love for Christ, or was he trying to assuage his own feelings of guilt for remaining so long a secret adherent of Jesus?

In any case, Nicodemus’s expensive gift would not have gone unnoticed. By his gift, Nicodemus took a stand with the crucified Messiah: a stand he may have believed was too late—at least until after resurrection morning.

NICODEMUS: AN EXAMPLE FOR TODAY

Nicodemus teaches us several important lessons.

•     Nicodemus warns us that our choice of associates is important. Nicodemus was a member of a prestigious group, and his position was important to him. Even though he knew Jesus was a teacher sent by God, he was unwilling to follow Jesus openly for fear of his peers.

•     Nicodemus’s experience alerts us to an important warning sign. When any group of which we are a part refuses to do what group members themselves know is right, it’s time to part company with that group! Our membership in it is not as important as the cost of moral compromise.

•     Nicodemus reminds us that there may be many secret believers among our friends and coworkers. When we openly express our faith, we encourage such persons more boldly and freely to confess their faith as well.

•     Nicodemus shows us that while late is better than never, early is best. During Jesus’ life, the active hostility of Nicodemus’s peers had silenced him, but regret caused Nicodemus to display his allegiance after Christ’s death. What Nicodemus did was bold, but it would have been more to Nicodemus’s credit if he had taken a stand while Jesus was still living.

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