My last reflection was about Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. It is appropriate now to speak of Nicodemus the Defender of Jesus.
Nicodemus appears only in John’s Gospel and only three times. He is a Pharisee, a member the Council of chief priests, elders, and scribes. During Jesus’ three years of public ministry, Nicodemus is there among the crowds. He hears Jesus proclaiming the coming of God’s kingdom. Nicodemus sees many of Jesus’ healings and deeds of power.
The Pharisees condemn Jesus when he heals on the Sabbath. They continually contest and argue against his teaching on the Torah. Jesus calls them hypocrites! “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”
Yet, Nicodemus, a righteous Jew, is drawn to this young Rabbi from Nazareth.
It is Passover. Nicodemus is in the Temple Court when Jesus is teaching there. Nicodemus sees Jesus chase out the moneychangers, overturn their tables; scatter their coins; drive cattle and sheep out of the temple precincts. He hears from the crowd many believe that Jesus could be the Messiah.
On the last day of the festival, at night, in secret, Nicodemus comes to talk to Jesus. He makes reference to what Jesus said and did in the temple. I have seen signs of God’s power in you. I have heard you’re teaching. “I believe you are the Messiah, The Son of God.”
Jesus tells Nicodemus: “You have not yet seen because you have not yet been born from above. Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”
Nicodemus sees now only dimly. Soon he will with clear vision and burgeoning faith see in Jesus the kingdom of God in its fullness.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (old evangelical hymn)
It is the time of The Festival of Booths, the great annual pilgrimage when the Jewish people gather together in Jerusalem to remember God's provision in the Wilderness and to look ahead to the promised Messianic age. Nicodemus, of course, is here as a member of the Great Council.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem secretly on the last day of the festival because the Chief priest and members of the Council are seeking to arrest him. Jesus knows they are plotting to kill him.
Jesus goes to the temple court and begins to teach. The crowd’s reaction is astonishment.: “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” “Isn’t this the one they are trying to kill, yet, he speaks openly.” “Do the authorities really know he is the Messiah?” “We know where this man comes from. No one knows where the Messiah will come from.”
Jesus tells them my teaching comes from God, my Father. “So, if my teaching is from God, why are you trying to kill me? “You know me, and you know where I am from.” Many in the crowd believed him but some wanted to arrest him.
Nicodemus and the Council convening in the temple hear Jesus. They hear the crowd’s muttering. The High Priest sends the temple police to arrest Jesus. The police confused by divisions in the crowd, return without arresting him.
Nicodemus, secretly a disciple of Jesus, reminds the Council there must be a hearing according to Jewish law. Jesus must be brought before the Council, charges of blasphemy made supported by three witnesses before a decision to arrest Jesus and judgement made against him.
Friday evening at Golgotha, Jesus is crucified and dead. Nicodemus is there with Joseph of Arimathea. Both members of the Sanhedrin have come to believe righteousness comes not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Messiah. Joseph boldly goes to Pilot, asks and gets permission to take Jesus’ body away for burial.
Nicodemus brings spices for anointing. He and Joseph take Jesus down from the cross. The women who were there at the foot of the cross prepare Jesus’ body for burial. They bring Jesus’ body to a man-made burial cave in a nearby garden. The burial was undertaken quickly, "for the Sabbath was drawing on."
Nicodemus made a long journey to believing Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, The Son of God. “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”
So different from Paul’s explosive, singular flash of blinding light; “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”
Yet so similar! For both, a journey from bitter enmity and persecution to love and faith; for Nicodemus, a slow walk of longing and inspiration; for Paul, an immediate flash of light, of faith!
I wonder how and when did I come to believe Jesus Messiah, Son of God and my brother. Hard to pin down! Certainly not a flash of light; but a slow longing, I think; a life full of fits and starts, falling and rising, falling and rising, again and again. Thank God for the grace of faith! I know Jesus turned and continues turning my life “upside down.”
Is this typical of what we all go through on our journey of faith? Longing for the Holy Spirit to uphold us, fill our hearts with faith, hope and agape love? The ways we express our longing are so diverse. But they have one thing in common: they are a direct response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who “searches our depths” and “searches the depths of God.” It is the depths our hearts long for most.
We cannot see the depths of God in the dimming light of the world, we need another light. We need Jesus. In His Light, we see God.
“Wise Nicodemus saw such light. As made him know his God by night.
Most blest believer he! Who in that land of darkness and blind eyes
Thy long-expected healing wings could see, When Thou didst rise!
And, what can never more be done, did at midnight speak with the Sun!”
From “The Night” BY HENRY VAUGHAN 1621–1695
Nicodemus appears only in John’s Gospel and only three times. He is a Pharisee, a member the Council of chief priests, elders, and scribes. During Jesus’ three years of public ministry, Nicodemus is there among the crowds. He hears Jesus proclaiming the coming of God’s kingdom. Nicodemus sees many of Jesus’ healings and deeds of power.
The Pharisees condemn Jesus when he heals on the Sabbath. They continually contest and argue against his teaching on the Torah. Jesus calls them hypocrites! “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”
Yet, Nicodemus, a righteous Jew, is drawn to this young Rabbi from Nazareth.
It is Passover. Nicodemus is in the Temple Court when Jesus is teaching there. Nicodemus sees Jesus chase out the moneychangers, overturn their tables; scatter their coins; drive cattle and sheep out of the temple precincts. He hears from the crowd many believe that Jesus could be the Messiah.
On the last day of the festival, at night, in secret, Nicodemus comes to talk to Jesus. He makes reference to what Jesus said and did in the temple. I have seen signs of God’s power in you. I have heard you’re teaching. “I believe you are the Messiah, The Son of God.”
Jesus tells Nicodemus: “You have not yet seen because you have not yet been born from above. Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”
Nicodemus sees now only dimly. Soon he will with clear vision and burgeoning faith see in Jesus the kingdom of God in its fullness.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (old evangelical hymn)
It is the time of The Festival of Booths, the great annual pilgrimage when the Jewish people gather together in Jerusalem to remember God's provision in the Wilderness and to look ahead to the promised Messianic age. Nicodemus, of course, is here as a member of the Great Council.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem secretly on the last day of the festival because the Chief priest and members of the Council are seeking to arrest him. Jesus knows they are plotting to kill him.
Jesus goes to the temple court and begins to teach. The crowd’s reaction is astonishment.: “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” “Isn’t this the one they are trying to kill, yet, he speaks openly.” “Do the authorities really know he is the Messiah?” “We know where this man comes from. No one knows where the Messiah will come from.”
Jesus tells them my teaching comes from God, my Father. “So, if my teaching is from God, why are you trying to kill me? “You know me, and you know where I am from.” Many in the crowd believed him but some wanted to arrest him.
Nicodemus and the Council convening in the temple hear Jesus. They hear the crowd’s muttering. The High Priest sends the temple police to arrest Jesus. The police confused by divisions in the crowd, return without arresting him.
Nicodemus, secretly a disciple of Jesus, reminds the Council there must be a hearing according to Jewish law. Jesus must be brought before the Council, charges of blasphemy made supported by three witnesses before a decision to arrest Jesus and judgement made against him.
Friday evening at Golgotha, Jesus is crucified and dead. Nicodemus is there with Joseph of Arimathea. Both members of the Sanhedrin have come to believe righteousness comes not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Messiah. Joseph boldly goes to Pilot, asks and gets permission to take Jesus’ body away for burial.
Nicodemus brings spices for anointing. He and Joseph take Jesus down from the cross. The women who were there at the foot of the cross prepare Jesus’ body for burial. They bring Jesus’ body to a man-made burial cave in a nearby garden. The burial was undertaken quickly, "for the Sabbath was drawing on."
Nicodemus made a long journey to believing Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, The Son of God. “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”
So different from Paul’s explosive, singular flash of blinding light; “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”
Yet so similar! For both, a journey from bitter enmity and persecution to love and faith; for Nicodemus, a slow walk of longing and inspiration; for Paul, an immediate flash of light, of faith!
I wonder how and when did I come to believe Jesus Messiah, Son of God and my brother. Hard to pin down! Certainly not a flash of light; but a slow longing, I think; a life full of fits and starts, falling and rising, falling and rising, again and again. Thank God for the grace of faith! I know Jesus turned and continues turning my life “upside down.”
Is this typical of what we all go through on our journey of faith? Longing for the Holy Spirit to uphold us, fill our hearts with faith, hope and agape love? The ways we express our longing are so diverse. But they have one thing in common: they are a direct response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who “searches our depths” and “searches the depths of God.” It is the depths our hearts long for most.
We cannot see the depths of God in the dimming light of the world, we need another light. We need Jesus. In His Light, we see God.
“Wise Nicodemus saw such light. As made him know his God by night.
Most blest believer he! Who in that land of darkness and blind eyes
Thy long-expected healing wings could see, When Thou didst rise!
And, what can never more be done, did at midnight speak with the Sun!”
From “The Night” BY HENRY VAUGHAN 1621–1695
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