A man of the Pharisees

Intrigue plagued his thoughts stealing his sleep. The Man had made a scene in the temple that day and His words pierced the soul. The images and words were on repeat in his mind. He couldn’t let them go. Who was this Man? He had to know.

Under cover of night, darting in dark places, he navigates the streets of the city. Everyone knows where the Man is staying. Word of His every move was the buzz of the time. A true viral sensation.

He has studied the Man. Not just the recent events that has caused the excitement, but he has studied the Man his whole life. He studied the prophets. He studied the lineage. He studied for knowing and recognizing when this Man showed up. Is this really the Man God? Is this really the Messiah?

Now 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, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless * God is with him.” John 3:1-2 (NASB)

Obviously! The words. The mannerisms. The nature of His very being indicated this was not just another man. God doesn’t hide. But He does desire to be sought out. Nicodemus sought out the Man that night. He was drawn to Him. He knew where to find Him. I wonder if he had heard of that night the shepherds still remember? It was a few decades ago, but history lingers in the mind with some stories.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night, And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:8-18 (NASB)

This was one of those stories you just don’t forget. It was another night under darkness but illuminated in a most unusual way. Angels. And lots of them. Worshiping. I wonder if the sheep stayed in place for the urgency of the shepherds seeking the Child.

Like the shepherds, Nicodemus was seeking to know the Messiah. He had prepared. He expected the advent. He didn’t necessarily expect it to unfold in his lifetime. But was this it? Is the Man Word made flesh?

The private conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus led to a proclamation for the ages. Try searching for the most common Bible verse. I will wait here while you do.

Better yet, let me help you.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

He gave Nicodemus the keys. The answer. The very gift of eternal life. Himself. But did Nicodemus accept?

Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:39-40 (NASB)

The weight of the spices didn’t compare to the weight of the moment. His studies of the prophets being fulfilled before his eyes. The press on his chest too great to bear. He had met the Messiah early in His ministry on land. He kept up with the events of those years. He followed from a distance. 

He had to close the gap. He had to draw close one last time. The earthly vessel that had wrapped the Messiah had to be wrapped and laid to rest. In his priestly garb, he approached the shredded Man bearing the finest spices he could locate. Healing spices. The wounds were abundant. So he helped lay Him in the tomb.

I wonder if Jesus’ words were on repeat again in his mind? I wonder if he was the first one to memorize John 3:16? I wonder if the very night the words were spoken to him, if he returned through dark streets to write the words under the light of a lamp. He didn’t forget them.

He returned to the Man. He returned to seek Him as He was laid to rest. 

I don’t know the rest of the story of Nicodemus. I am not a Bible scholar. But I do know there are lessons to be learned from the interactions recorded about him.

He was intrigued by the Man. It caused him to seek Him out when it was not acceptable for him to do so.

He questioned some stuff. What did it mean to be born again? Did he learn that to die to self and sin was to be born of the Spirit believing the One True Son?

He was a seeker. He wanted more of what he had studied his whole life. He wanted more of the Messiah.

He took action. When, again inappropriate for his position, the messy task of picking up the slaughtered Lamb needed to be done, he was there. Even His closest followers weren’t on scene for this task. Their worlds had been shaken and they were left with wobbly knees. But not Nicodemus.

I don’t know but the Father does. I want to think Nicodemus believed. I want to think Nicodemus believed the Christmas story. That he believed the story told for all of time of the Savior of the world coming as a Child, born of a virgin, ransom for all sinners, all people, Redeemer. Messiah.