NICODEMUS


A. "THERE WAS A MAN OF THE PHARISEES, NAMED NICODEMUS, A RULER OF THE JEWS. THE SAME CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT AND SAID UNTO HIM, RABBI, WE KNOW THAT THOU ART A TEACHER COME FROM GOD; FOR NO MAN CAN DO THESE MIRACLES THAT THOU DOEST, EXCEPT GOD BE WITH HIM" - JOHN 3:1-2
  1. The words of Nicodemus are most revealing:
    1. They show that blind prejudice had not kept him from observing the work of Christ; he saw and accepted the good deeds of Christ as indicated clearly that God was with Him
    2. Also, his observations created a desire to learn more of Christ's teaching
  2. "The same came by night":
    1. Some think that he was afraid of the other members of the Sanhedrin that they would expel him if he patronized Christ openly
    2. Others think that he was extremely busy and so was Christ during the day, and so he used the quiet hours of the night to visit Jesus
    3. Whatever his reasons were, he did the right thing to come to Jesus, be it day or night
B. JOHN SPEAKS OF THREE SPECIFIC INSTANCES WHEN NICODEMUS MADE SPECIAL CONNECTIONS WITH THE MESSIAH
  1. He came to Jesus for special information:
    1. That shows that his mind was not closed to truth; other examples: There were certain Greeks who came to see Jesus - John 12:20-21; the Bereans, too, were eager to learn more of the truth - Acts 17:10-11
    2. His puzzlement about the new birth indicated that what Christ said about the new birth was altogether new to him - I Cor. 2:14-15
  2. He spoke for Christ - John 7:45-52:
    1. He pointed his fellow Pharisees to their own law as to why they must not be hasty to condemn Jesus without a hearing
    2. His defense of the right of Christ has temporary good effects - John 7:50-53
  3. He honored Christ: - John 19:39-40:
    1. He anointed Christ for his burial - a little late - Mary Magdalene did it while the Lord was alive
    2. This last act by Nicodemus showed that he was one of our Lord's secret disciples; he just did not have the courage to confess the Lord openly
C. NOTE A FEW VERY PRECIOUS OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE OF NICODEMUS
  1. His attitude toward Christ and his teaching revealed clearly:
    1. That not all rulers of the Jews had closed minds for new light; he surely showed that he was willing to hear Christ's teaching
    2. This is one great blessing that we must never reject; always have an open mind for facts and truth, regardless by whom they come
  2. His puzzlement about the new birth:
    1. Though he was a master in Israel, well educated, he was totally uninformed about the need of regeneration - the new birth
    2. This shows that the new birth is not a theory learned from books; it is an experience of the heart which surpasses theoretical knowledge, valuable as that may be
  3. One gathers from our Lord's private conversation with Nicodemus:
    1. That Jesus uttered some of the greatest gospel truths to individuals; Example: Jesus spoke of the true worshippers to one woman, the Samaritan. Said He, "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth" - John 4:23-29
    2. In this instance He unfolds the need of being born again to one lonely ruler of the Jews; a truth that is the very foundation of all other Bible truths - John 3:3-9
  4. This proves to me that salvation is personal:
    1. We are saved as individuals, regardless of what the multitude might think or do; Examples: the parables of the lost sheep; the lost coin - Luke 15:1-10
    2. We must, therefore, never deal collectively with people when we labor for them; we must work with them as individuals; I believe that Nicodemus will be in the kingdom, in spite of his silence at the trial of our Lord. I sincerely believe that the truths Christ revealed to him on that night changed his life and his hope.


Design © John Bryant 2011