Sunday October 24, 2004
Chapter 3
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:”
(John 3:1)
The man named Nicodemus appears only on three occasions in the New Testament, but these three reveal a most remarkable character. In a way, he has become a "type" of all those who come to Christ for salvation.
First, we see here in John chapter three Nicodemus as an interested inquirer:
“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 3:2)
Similarly, those who come to Christ today must come with an open mind and heart, willing to take the time to learn of Christ and of their own need of salvation. The Lord told Nicodemus of his need of regeneration and then of God's gift of eternal life to those who would receive Christ and His sacrificial death.
Second, despite Nicodemus saying in John 3:9: "How can these things be?" We next see him as the confessing convert:
“ Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) ‘ Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?’” (John 7:50-51)
This was perhaps a weak defense, he did not come right out and say, "I believe in Him and I think you are doing Him an injustice." But the result was that he was indeed defending the Lord Jesus in the midst of his own peers as they were seeking to arrest and kill Him.
Third, we see Nicodemus as a devoted disciple:
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
(John 19:39)
The scripture record is silent in regards to Nicodemus after this, but it is quite certain that there were consequences for his actions here, By doing this he openly identified with the Lord Jesus, and defiantly went against the other Jewish leaders. It is not beyond possibility that this cost him his life.
Note the progression here:
1. Coming to Jesus BY NIGHT. Possibly out of fear of his fellow Jews.
2. A mild defense of Christ before his peers.
3. Openly identifying with the Lord Jesus, even if his life was at stake.
Now, what can we say of ourselves? Are we a 1, 2 or 3?
Chapter 3
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:”
(John 3:1)
The man named Nicodemus appears only on three occasions in the New Testament, but these three reveal a most remarkable character. In a way, he has become a "type" of all those who come to Christ for salvation.
First, we see here in John chapter three Nicodemus as an interested inquirer:
“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 3:2)
Similarly, those who come to Christ today must come with an open mind and heart, willing to take the time to learn of Christ and of their own need of salvation. The Lord told Nicodemus of his need of regeneration and then of God's gift of eternal life to those who would receive Christ and His sacrificial death.
Second, despite Nicodemus saying in John 3:9: "How can these things be?" We next see him as the confessing convert:
“ Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) ‘ Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?’” (John 7:50-51)
This was perhaps a weak defense, he did not come right out and say, "I believe in Him and I think you are doing Him an injustice." But the result was that he was indeed defending the Lord Jesus in the midst of his own peers as they were seeking to arrest and kill Him.
Third, we see Nicodemus as a devoted disciple:
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
(John 19:39)
The scripture record is silent in regards to Nicodemus after this, but it is quite certain that there were consequences for his actions here, By doing this he openly identified with the Lord Jesus, and defiantly went against the other Jewish leaders. It is not beyond possibility that this cost him his life.
Note the progression here:
1. Coming to Jesus BY NIGHT. Possibly out of fear of his fellow Jews.
2. A mild defense of Christ before his peers.
3. Openly identifying with the Lord Jesus, even if his life was at stake.
Now, what can we say of ourselves? Are we a 1, 2 or 3?