Timid yet still standing

Based on John 7:43-52

One of the most interesting character in the drama of Jesus life was Nicodemus who was a Pharisee the one who visited Jesus secretively in the night). Nicodemus was a well respected teacher who came to Jesus out of curiosity. Jesus taught him about the need to be born again. We read his story back in John 3. We didn't hear his response back in John 3 but John brings him back for us again thus developing an interesting theme and character study. In the seventh chapter of John people were still wondering and speculating about Jesus. The leading Pharisees on the council had already made up there mind and sent guards to bring Jesus to them. Of course they could not take him because if was not yet his time. Their failure only made the Pharisees more mad especially when the guards added, "No man ever spoke like this man."

Defending Jesus wasn't exactly a popular thing to do but in his own way Nicodemus, who sought out Jesus at night, does offer a bold response. Nicodemus didn't exactly admit to believing Jesus but he did put forth a cautious opinion saying to the rest, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" I'm sure Nicodemus met with more then one frown and piercing glare. You see the Pharisees didn't really care about making a proper judgement they just wanted to get rid of Jesus. As I said it wasn't exactly a statement of faith but his boldness and Johns inclusion of this account acknowledges that timid Nicodemus was starting to come to faith.

No Nicodemus never becomes a major player in the drama of Jesus life but we do meet him yet again following Jesus death. It is Nicodemus who comes with Joseph of Arimathea to take down Jesus body from the cross and take him to the grave. It is Nicodumus who anointed his body with a mixture of myrrh and aloes about seventy five pounds. (John 19:39) This was a costly gesture both in money but also in terms of his reputation as a Pharisee.

We don't know much more about Nicodemus but my guess is that he was among the religious leaders who later became apart of the new movement of believers in Jesus and he probably helped to spread the news so that others came to faith in Christ as well. He was also probably the one responsible for giving so much details to the gospel writers so they could record events that otherwise they would not have been present to witness and later record.

God greatly used this timid man who first sought out Jesus at night away from the crowds and there would be no mistaking his allegiance when he helped to take Jesus down from the cross.

I pray that each one of us would grow in our faith and boldness regarding our witness. I pray that when the opportunity arises that we will stand up and let people know what we believe about Jesus. It may not be popular but our stance might mean salvation to many and our stand might bring great advancement to the gospel.

How will you respond when God calls you to stand up for him?