“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night” (John 3:1-2 ESV).
Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus at night. Perhaps he wanted a private conference and night time was the only time Jesus wasn’t surrounded by crowds. Or perhaps it was because he didn’t want prying eyes from his sect to see him talking with the Galilean. Whatever the reason, this member of the Sanhedrin came to Jesus humbly and willing to listen, although he didn’t fully understand all of Christ’s teaching. One of the greatest verses in the Bible was given in this conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus, as the Lord taught him of God’s love, God’s Son, faith and eternal life (see John 3:16).
In contrast to the Samaritan woman in John 4, to whom Jesus so gently revealed Himself, He was much harder on old Nic, saying, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?” (John 3:10). But Jesus knew what was inside the human heart. And He revealed Himself in a way that was appropriate to the hearer.
John is the only one of the four gospels that wrote of Nicodemus. John mentions him on three occasions. There is the dialogue at night in John 3, Nicodemus urging his fellow members of the Sanhedrin to first hear Jesus themselves before judging Him (John 7:50-51), and his helping Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Christ’s body for burial after the crucifixion (John 19:39-42).
Nicodemus may have started out with Jesus by the dark of night, but he came out into the light of day at the end. I think John included these stories in his gospel because old Nic ultimately believed in Jesus.
Have you declared your faith in the light of day?
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to boldly declare our faith in the light of day. We don’t want to hide our light under a bushel basket. Strengthen us to let the light of the gospel shine from us like a beacon in the night. In Jesus’ name, amen.