IN THE NICK OF TIME?

“One of their own number, Nicodemus (the man who had come to Him), spoke up to say, ‘Since when does our law condemn any man without first hearing him and knowing the facts?’ ” –John 7:50-51

In John’s Gospel, Nicodemus is introduced as “a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin” who came to Jesus at night (Jn 3:1-2). Later, Nicodemus is referred to more briefly and discreetly as “the man who had come to [Jesus]” (Jn 7:50). After Jesus’ death, Nicodemus came to bury Jesus and is again referred to as “the man who had first come to Jesus at night” (Jn 19:39).

The bad news about Nicodemus was that he was a coward. He was silenced by the taunts of the Pharisees (see Jn 7:52). He was not at Jesus’ cross but came “afterward” with Joseph of Arimathea to take away the dead body of Jesus (Jn 19:38-39). John may have been including Nicodemus when he said: “There were many, even among the Sanhedrin, who believed in Him; but they refused to admit it because of the Pharisees, for fear they might be ejected from the synagogue. They preferred the praise of men to the glory of God” (Jn 12:42-43).

The good news about Nicodemus was that he probably eventually did come to Jesus and was begotten from above by water and the Spirit and thereby entered God’s kingdom (Jn 3:3, 5). Nicodemus’ extravagance in providing a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes with which to bury Jesus, a huge quantity worthy of royalty, may be an indication not only of Nicodemus’ guilt but also of his conversion (Jn 19:39).

Be a Nicodemus. Give your life totally to Jesus. Don’t be a Nicodemus. Give your life to Jesus right now.

PRAYER: Jesus, I come to You by night and by day. I come to You always.

PROMISE: “O Lord, my God, in You I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me.” –Ps 7:2

PRAISE: Tom’s parents never cease praying in confidence for their son’s return to the Faith of his childhood.