NAMED, BUT UNKNOWN - NICODEMUS

Most Bible students know about Nicodemus. His story is told in the third chapter of John’s Gospel. “A man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews … came to (Jesus) at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him’ ” (John 3:1-2).

After his hyper-religious cohorts had retired one evening, Nicodemus snuck through the dark streets unnoticed, arriving at the home where Jesus was staying. He didn’t want to be seen fraternizing with this nontraditional Rabbi.

His colleagues, the Levitical lawyers and Pharisees, openly opposed Jesus. After all, Jesus had been guilty of disrupting commerce in the temple (John 2:14-16). Some had heard Jesus make the ridiculous assertion that if the temple was destroyed, He could rebuild it in three days (John 2:19). The most damning evidence against Jesus was His blasphemous claim of a familial relationship with Almighty God. In referring to Jerusalem’s temple, He had called it “My Father’s house” (John 2:16). Huh!

But Nicodemus had heard too many reports concerning Jesus’ miraculous works. The lame walked. The blind saw. The lepers were cleansed. The sick were healed. The demon-possessed were set free. So, in the dim light of evening, Nicodemus asked, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

Nicodemus wanted to know… Who are you? Jesus didn’t answer the question directly … “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). In other words: “Nicodemus, if you want to know me, you must turn away from your self-righteousness, becoming like a humble new-born.” But, Nicodemus inquired, “Can (a grown man) enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? … How can these things be?” (John 3:4, 9).

Don’t miss this… Jesus explained that the work of salvation was already being accomplished. Like the bronze serpent was lifted high, so Jesus would be lifted up… on a cross (John 3:14-15; Numbers 21:4-9). “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).

We’re given one more glimpse at his story. On another dark night, Nicodemus came to Jesus, but his time he came to Jesus openly, boldly, so that all could see. “Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:39-40).

Was Nicodemus born again? I believe so!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).