Nicodemus is known for his late night
meeting with Jesus which led to the famous discourse on the new birth.
Everything in Scripture is there for a
reason. First the fact that he is named is significant. Nicodemus and Joseph of
Arimathea are the only members of the Sanhedrin named, other than Caiaphas and
Annas but that is because they were the High Priest and his father-in-law, and
their names needed to be recorded as a matter of historical record.
“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,” John 3:1, 2a
It is generally understood that the
reason for this clandestine meeting was that he was afraid or cautious about
being associated with Jesus or interested in His teaching. But the further
mentions of Nicodemus in John’s gospel always say that this was he who (at
first) came to Jesus by night.
“Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said
to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him
and knows what he is doing?’” John 7:50, 51
“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear
of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and
Pilate gave him permission. So
he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus,
who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the
body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom
of the Jews is to bury.” John 19:38-40
I think it is written this way to show
the contrast with him at the beginning and end of Jesus’ ministry. Also, even
if he was fearful at first, later he is bolder, appealing for Jesus to be
treated fairly, and then after the crucifixion, he isn’t ashamed to be
associated with Him, and does the great kindness of caring for His body in
burial. I think this shows a change in Nicodemus and I believe he was a true
follower of Jesus in the end.
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