Coming at Night Is Better Than Not Coming at All
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." John 3:1, 2, RSV.
Here is another person impressed by the "signs" and miracles that Jesus had been performing. Jesus could have cautiously viewed Nicodemus as one more of that crowd fascinated with the possibilities they glimpsed in His wonder-working power and authority.
But Jesus, who "knew what was in man" (John 2:25), recognized that in Nicodemus He had found one who was a true seeker after God, not one merely attracted by the "bright lights" of His ministry.
But Jesus had to look below the surface to perceive that. After all, here was a person of a different class from the masses of those who generally followed Him. On the surface we know several things about Nicodemus. First, He was a Pharisee, one of that elite group of some 6,000 individuals who had dedicated their lives to being right with God through keeping the law in all of its thousands of details. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were a "religious aristocracy." They were people with pedigree.
Not only was that pedigree religious; it also was political and social. John describes Nicodemus as a "ruler of the Jews," meaning that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, that select group of 71 men that functioned as the highest governing power of the nation under Roman rule. Beyond that, he was rich, as demonstrated by the gift he later provided for Jesus' burial.
It was that prestigious individual who sought Jesus at night. Too often we fault the man for sneaking about in the dark, as if he were ashamed to be seen with Jesus. But the wonder is that, with his background, he came at all. Only a miracle of grace enabled Nicodemus to overcome his prejudices and his upbringing and the views of his class even to approach Jesus. Never forget, it is better to come to Jesus at night than not at all.
Here we have an individual of conviction and courage. And that Jesus who reads human hearts honored those characteristics.
Father in heaven, help me this day to break out of the mold of the world around me. Help me to have the courage of Nicodemus that I might receive the blessing of Nicodemus.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." John 3:1, 2, RSV.
Here is another person impressed by the "signs" and miracles that Jesus had been performing. Jesus could have cautiously viewed Nicodemus as one more of that crowd fascinated with the possibilities they glimpsed in His wonder-working power and authority.
But Jesus, who "knew what was in man" (John 2:25), recognized that in Nicodemus He had found one who was a true seeker after God, not one merely attracted by the "bright lights" of His ministry.
But Jesus had to look below the surface to perceive that. After all, here was a person of a different class from the masses of those who generally followed Him. On the surface we know several things about Nicodemus. First, He was a Pharisee, one of that elite group of some 6,000 individuals who had dedicated their lives to being right with God through keeping the law in all of its thousands of details. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were a "religious aristocracy." They were people with pedigree.
Not only was that pedigree religious; it also was political and social. John describes Nicodemus as a "ruler of the Jews," meaning that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, that select group of 71 men that functioned as the highest governing power of the nation under Roman rule. Beyond that, he was rich, as demonstrated by the gift he later provided for Jesus' burial.
It was that prestigious individual who sought Jesus at night. Too often we fault the man for sneaking about in the dark, as if he were ashamed to be seen with Jesus. But the wonder is that, with his background, he came at all. Only a miracle of grace enabled Nicodemus to overcome his prejudices and his upbringing and the views of his class even to approach Jesus. Never forget, it is better to come to Jesus at night than not at all.
Here we have an individual of conviction and courage. And that Jesus who reads human hearts honored those characteristics.
Father in heaven, help me this day to break out of the mold of the world around me. Help me to have the courage of Nicodemus that I might receive the blessing of Nicodemus.
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