Manchaca UMC

Week 5- “ He came to Jesus by night.” (John 3:2)

When we first meet Nicodemus, he is called a “leader of the Jews” (v1). Jesus called him “Israel’s teacher” (v 10). He comes to talk with Jesus perhaps out of curiosity - could this be the Messiah?However he comes “at night” perhaps out of fear that other Jewish leaders may find out that he is with Jesus. His conversation with Jesus is filled with double meanings and much misunderstanding on the part of Nicodemus. When Jesus talks about being born “from above” he interprets the Greek phrase to be being born “again” to literally coming back out of his mother’s womb. So he comes off looking scared and somewhat foolish.

But perhaps we’ve misjudged Nicodemus. One thing we know is that in Jewish thinking the day actually begins after sunset (from Genesis where it says that “there was evening and there was morning- the first day” Genesis 1:5). So that by coming at night Nicodemus may indicate that he is ready for a new start in his life and theological journey. Evidence of this new day can be seen when we meet Nicodemus again in John 7:50-52. Here the Jewish council is plotting to arrest Jesus and Nicodemus challenges them because they are not following due process. They accuse him of being a traitor. The next and final time we meet Nicodemus is in John 19:48-52. Here he joins Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial. 

So in the two times that we have seen Nicodemus since his first meeting with Jesus, we see him standing up to Jewish leaders and later outing himself as a Jesus follower to Pilate. Nicodemus has made a long journey from curiosity to courage. And it is a costly courage because the amount of spices and myrrh that he uses on Jesus body is quite expensive – perhaps costing 100 times more than what Mary expended on Jesus in chapter 12. And we must add to this another cost as well. Since men do not anoint bodies for burial as that is seen as women’s work, Nicodemus has humbled himself. I admire Nicodemus for his journey of faith-all made possible by his hospitality and openness to Jesus as well as the hospitality of Jesus to him. All great journeys require relationship and hospitality. As you open yourself to conversation with a stranger, you never know where it might lead. Nicodemus’ journey took him to the tomb. My guess is that he would be one of the first to realize what it meant for that tomb to be found empty three days later. Apparently, Jesus journeyed with Nicodemus while Jesus was alive and he would continue leading Nicodemus even after his own death. Thanks be to God for our never ending journey with Jesus!

~David

Questions for reflection:

1. Nicodemus journeyed from curiosity to courage; how would you describe your journey with Jesus?
2. Have you met any surprising guides on your life journey?