Two Lessons from the Life of Nicodemus

Night or Day?

Jesus continues to this day to have many people seeking Him hoping to find what they’re looking for. Many of these people are quite willing to do so in the dark. At night. When it’s safe. Is that you? You cannot deny He is the Christ, but you want that relationship on your terms; when being a follower doesn’t do damage to your reputation or career or standing in your circles.

Ever spoken up for Him in the Sanhedrins of your life? Ever identified yourself as a Jesus follower when to do so may cost you? I want you to see in Nicodemus what happens when you are born again of the Spirit. In the daytime. With all Jerusalem watching. Your clothes stained with Jesus’ blood. Night or day, friend? A genuine faith encounter with Jesus changes us. It’s the difference between night and day.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

It’s wonderful to think about this story from Jesus’ perspective. That night, there was a  knock at the door. He heard the sound of Nicodemus saying, “May I see Jesus?” As Jesus sat there, did He know that this self-righteous aristocrat would one day defend Him to the ruling party? Did He know that He would show up carrying a lavish gift for His burial? Did He know that the hands of the one before Him would take His body off the cross? Wrap His body with the very grave clothes through which His resurrected body would pass? Be the last hands to touch His body in the grave? Did He know that this Nicodemus, so filled with self-importance, would someday humble himself and be born again?

Of course He did. It is not just the leper and the adulterer and the tax collector that Jesus receives; He receives the spiritually pompous as well. He loves us, too. He sees what we will be when we get over ourselves; when we are born of the Spirit. I am sure we have the physically infirm here. We have the financially poor here. But if there is a category we overflow in here, it is the spiritually proud. I’ll stand in the front of that line. This is why I love the story of Nicodemus. It tells me that Jesus loves me too.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

© Steve DeWitt. You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author, (2) any modifications are clearly marked, (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction, (4) you include Bethel’s website address (www.bethelweb.org) on the copied resource.

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