“There was one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus…” John 3:1 // Nicodemus

Continuing our exploration of personages important to Lent, this week we’ll consider Nicodemus.

We first learn of Nicodemus in John 3:1-36.  This is the famous section of scripture that deals with the necessity of persons to be “born again” in order to achieve Salvation.  But that is not our focus today.

Today, we want to look at Nicodemus and his importance to the events surrounding Christ’s arrest, trial, crucifixion and death, and at what we might learn from his example.

Who was Nicodemus?

From the scripture referenced above, we know that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.  This means that not only did he identify with the Pharisee Sect, but that he was considered a leader in the sect.  He was a man of notoriety and influence.  He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, that body that was responsible for Jesus’ arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

Nicodemus and Jesus.

We also know that Nicodemus had become interested enough in Jesus to want to hear Jesus’ message directly from Him.  He could not yet be identified as a “disciple,” but he was clearly moving in that direction.  So, he, “…came to Jesus by night.”  [John 3:1]  In other words, he was drawn to Jesus and His message, but was not yet willing to disclose his interest (or belief) to others.  The nighttime meeting was surreptitious.

And we know that he was disposed to believe Jesus’ message, because he said, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.” [John 3:2]

This statement is important for two reasons.  First, because it provides an ‘independent’ verification of the miracles performed by Jesus.  A Pharisee would have every reason to doubt Jesus’ miraculous abilities.  But here we see a built-in skeptic admitting to Jesus’ authority.

Second, Nicodemus refers to Jesus as “Rabbi”, or “Teacher.”  As a Pharisee, Nicodemus would have been steeped in the Jewish Law, and an expert on its sayings and interpretations.  His referring to Jesus as Teacher indicates that Jesus was providing insights and meaning to that Law that Nicodemus had not considered.  Nicodemus obviously admired Jesus and acknowledged that He had much that He could teach him.

I think it also worth noting that Jesus was wiling to meet with this Pharisee at night.  Jesus was willing to meet anyone who wanted to know more at the person’s chosen time and place.  Just as He is willing still today to meet anyone “where they are” physically or spiritually.

Nicodemus protects Jesus.

The next time we encounter Nicodemus he is standing before the Sanhedrin.  [John 7:45-52]   The Sanhedrin (see Post 35, February 8, 2019) had sent people to arrest Jesus and bring Him to them for questioning and possible trial.  But those who had been sent returned empty-handed.  When asked, “…why haven’t you brought him,” the guards answered, “No one has ever spoken like this man.” [John 7:46]

At this point the members of the Sanhedrin begin to boil and ask, “Have any of the authorities come to believe him … This rabble … they are damned.” [John 7:48-50]

Nicodemus then stands and reminds the body of its own Law. He says, “…surely our Law does not allow us to pass judgement on anyone without first giving him a hearing…”  To which they reply, “…Go {look} into the matter …” [John 7:51-52].

Nicodemus has not declared his belief in or admiration of Jesus. But he has used the Sanhedrin’s own laws and practices to deflect their attention away from harming Jesus, at least temporarily.  The consensus of the body is still that Jesus is a rabble-rouser and potentially dangerous.  Nicodemus has bought some time for Jesus but not changed any minds concerning Him.

I think this interaction is interesting from a number of angles.  First, Nicodemus is still not ready to declare his belief in Jesus or His message.  He’s either still assessing his own feelings for and conclusions about Jesus, or he’s become a disciple, but is afraid of the consequences if he discloses this to the Sanhedrin.  Either way, Nicodemus is not ready to publicly declare his support to Jesus.  Something is holding him back.

Also, it is an indication of the level of importance that Nicodemus holds in the Sanhedrin that they heed his advice and commission him to look in the matter.  So, he clearly was a person of some stature.

His act does require courage and carries some risk.  It subjects him to scorn from the rest of the body.  They scoff at his suggestion that they hear Jesus out before concluding that He is not genuine, and thereby scoff at Nicodemus as well.  His action is likely to have reduced their opinion of him and had a damping effect on his reputation and authority among the body.  So, his cautious statement concerning Jesus probably was made at some personal cost.

Nicodemus at the Cross.

The last time we see Nicodemus is after Jesus’ death on the cross.  Joseph of Arimathea has gone to Pilate and asked if he could have Jesus’ body taken down and buried. [John 19:38-42] This required some courage on Joseph’s part because the normal Roman practice was to leave crucified bodies suspended on the cross until either the cross was needed again, or until the body was so degraded from decomposition and depredation by scavengers that it simply fell off.  They wanted passers by to see and know the full horror of crucifixion, and thereby be dissuaded from any activity that could expose them to the same fate.

But in this instance Pilate relented and granted Joseph’s request.  This wasn’t done out of any altruistic feeling on Pilate’s part.  He was, by all accounts, a hard man and would ordinarily have refused such a request.  But Pilate had not felt right about condemning Jesus, and he probably wanted Jesus’ body gone so that it could not be a reminder of what he’d done.  Of course, we cannot truly know his motivation, but I believe these inferences to be credible.

Nicodemus appears as he and Joseph are supervising Jesus’ removal from the cross.  They are about to place Jesus’ body into Joseph’s tomb, and Nicodemus has brought roughly 100 pounds of “myrrh and aloes” with which to treat Jesus’ body before it is buried.

This last appearance by Nicodemus is most significant.  First, because to touch a dead body would render Nicodemus ritually unclean, and the Sabbath was fast approaching (it would begin at sundown).  His participation in the Sabbath could have been compromised by his unclean condition, which, particularly for a Pharisee, would have been most distasteful.

Second, to publicly handle Jesus’ body in such a way would have removed all doubt as to his reverence for and opinion of Jesus.  To participate in the preparation of a body for burial was not something one did unless one held the dead person in high esteem.  Nicodemus’ attendance and his participation in the application of spices and linens to Jesus’ body would be a clear sign of veneration and support.  Nicodemus could never again have equivocated concerning his opinion of Jesus, or his belief in His message.  This act could well have resulted in his expulsion from the Sanhedrin and alienation from the leaders of Jewish society.

From this point there would be no turning back for Nicodemus.  He would forever more be seen as a supporter and follower of Jesus.  The societal and political consequences could have been catastrophic for him.

But none of that mattered to him any longer.  He’d observed Jesus’ Passion and was sufficiently moved to so declare his admiration and support of Jesus, no matter the cost.

And speaking of cost, 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes was very expensive.  The spices were rare and used only sparingly by common people.  A quantity such as Nicodemus brought to Jesus declared that he considered Jesus to have been worthy of a “king’s ransom.”  It would again declare his fondness and admiration for Jesus, the man, the King.

Afterward.

We don’t know what subsequently happened to Nicodemus.  He is not mentioned again in scripture.  There are some apocryphal writings that speak of him or claim his name as their author.  But these are of dubious origin and questionable authority.  Some early Church traditions held that both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were martyred, but we have no credible evidence of that.  So, we really don’t know what happened to them after their final act of kindness to our Lord.  I hope they lived long lives and became leaders in the early church, but we’ll never really know.

We do know that Nicodemus and Joseph were venerated by the early Church and granted the status of Saints sometime before 1508 A.D.  The are included in the Cannon of Saints by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and a few others which recognize the elevation of persons to sainthood.  The Protestant Tradition does not recognize sainthood but continues to honor both men for their courage and service to Jesus.

Lessons?

So, what can we today take away from this story of Nicodemus?

We too can equivocate in the face of public pressure.  Nicodemus didn’t publicly identify with Jesus until after His death.  We don’t’ have conclusive evidence, but his prior association with and clear admiration for Jesus could have been kept secret because Nicodemus feared the potential societal and political repercussions that could result if his belief in Jesus became public.

Today, many of us hide our Christian beliefs, or moderate our support for Christianity out of similar concern.  To often when we find ourselves in situations where our testimony for Christ or our Christian Values could make a difference, but we hold back or refuse to engage in debate because of fear of what others might think of us.

But like Nicodemus we too will, at some point, have to declare our allegiance to Jesus.  Life has a way of extracting our true feelings and putting those on display.  If we’ve not already been there most of us will encounter a situation where further diffraction or dissemination will no longer be possible.  We will have to choose.  We will have to either support Christ and His message, or like Peter before us, deny Him.

Nicodemus realized after Jesus’ death that he could no longer deny his reverence for and appreciation of Jesus.  So, he took a stand and brought a king’s ransom of spices with which to honor Him.  He made his public declaration.  Do we have the courage to do the same?

Being a Christian still requires a degree of personal courage.  Society and other religions compete for our allegiance.  Ostracization or even discrimination can be the result of our declaration as Christians.  Let’s pray that we also, like Nicodemus, can find the courage to not just declare our Christianity but also spread the word.  We cannot allow the world to hush us, nor should we accept denigration for our beliefs.  We owe such public declaration to ourselves, our fellow man, and our Lord.

Nicodemus’ Testimony was not in what he said.  His Testimony was in his actions.  Just as ours is.

God’s Blessings on you All.

Richard

March 22, 2019