Our summer series at church has been on encountering Jesus. It was my turn to preach on Sunday, so for those that are interested here is my talk. The passage was John 3 1:21…
We have been looking at
People encountering Jesus. This week we see Nicodemus, a member of the
Sanhedrin, coming to see Jesus at night.
People encountering Jesus. This week we see Nicodemus, a member of the
Sanhedrin, coming to see Jesus at night.
Read
passage: John 3:1-21
passage: John 3:1-21
There is
so much in this passage, one could talk for hours on the various things covered
here, but we are looking at encountering Jesus and here is a man encountering
Jesus. It’s interesting that the dictionary says that an encounter is a
meeting, often unexpected, often brief. I always think an encounter is also
something memorable, not just a meeting, but a happening that stays with you. All
of which we could say about Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus. Nicodemus appears just
3 times in the bible and this is his first mention. But across these brief
mentions we see how he is changed by his encounter with Christ.
so much in this passage, one could talk for hours on the various things covered
here, but we are looking at encountering Jesus and here is a man encountering
Jesus. It’s interesting that the dictionary says that an encounter is a
meeting, often unexpected, often brief. I always think an encounter is also
something memorable, not just a meeting, but a happening that stays with you. All
of which we could say about Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus. Nicodemus appears just
3 times in the bible and this is his first mention. But across these brief
mentions we see how he is changed by his encounter with Christ.
So who
is he? Obviously important enough to be mentioned but not enough o appear
outside Johns gospel or mentioned more than a few times.
is he? Obviously important enough to be mentioned but not enough o appear
outside Johns gospel or mentioned more than a few times.
The
passage tells us he is a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, The Sanhedrin. Which
is basically a political and religious ruling body for the Jews, largely made
up of the Pharisees and Saduccees. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, They were known
for very strict adherence to and were hugely knowledgable on mosaic law. They
believed in the coming of a messiah (unlike the sadducees)
passage tells us he is a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, The Sanhedrin. Which
is basically a political and religious ruling body for the Jews, largely made
up of the Pharisees and Saduccees. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, They were known
for very strict adherence to and were hugely knowledgable on mosaic law. They
believed in the coming of a messiah (unlike the sadducees)
Pharisees
were mostly mentioned negatively in the bible! Often we see Jesus berating them for their hypocrisy.
were mostly mentioned negatively in the bible! Often we see Jesus berating them for their hypocrisy.
So often
when pharisees are mentioned we automatically view them in a negative light and
yet here is one of them coming to see Jesus and clearly being changed by what
he finds. What we do know is that they believed in God and protected their religion
vehemently. Some in more destructive ways than others. Nicodemus is not the
only Pharisee to visit Jesus but he is the only one mentioned who seems to do
so with humility and real curiosity, not just to try and catch him out.
when pharisees are mentioned we automatically view them in a negative light and
yet here is one of them coming to see Jesus and clearly being changed by what
he finds. What we do know is that they believed in God and protected their religion
vehemently. Some in more destructive ways than others. Nicodemus is not the
only Pharisee to visit Jesus but he is the only one mentioned who seems to do
so with humility and real curiosity, not just to try and catch him out.
So we
don’t know much about Nicodemus for sure, there are various theories and
accounts of what have been him, but according to the bible we just see him
these 3 times.
don’t know much about Nicodemus for sure, there are various theories and
accounts of what have been him, but according to the bible we just see him
these 3 times.
For
Nicodemus, part of his knowledge of scripture would be the expectation of a
coming messiah. So is this actually what he suspects when he goes to see Jesus?
There is so much unsaid here – for example why did he go at night ? Often
people suggest it was because he did not want to be seen – for Pharisees
external behaviour and appearance very important (Jesus picks them up on
this…). For him to go and actually speak to Jesus in the way he does would have
been a very big deal, when the council was so openly angry with Jesus. But
Nicodemus clearly saw something in Jesus that they didn’t. Some think this is cowardly coming at
night but I think the opposite, that it would have taken great courage to come
and visit him, at night or whenever.. But he knew there was something different
about this man. He comes to Jesus. He doesn’t wait until he’s in the temple, or
nearby, he actively chooses to go to him.
He treats him with respect, unlike the other times we see Pharisees talking
to Jesus, He calls him Rabbi (teacher) he recognises something within this man.
And of course he says: we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no
one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him’…
Nicodemus, part of his knowledge of scripture would be the expectation of a
coming messiah. So is this actually what he suspects when he goes to see Jesus?
There is so much unsaid here – for example why did he go at night ? Often
people suggest it was because he did not want to be seen – for Pharisees
external behaviour and appearance very important (Jesus picks them up on
this…). For him to go and actually speak to Jesus in the way he does would have
been a very big deal, when the council was so openly angry with Jesus. But
Nicodemus clearly saw something in Jesus that they didn’t. Some think this is cowardly coming at
night but I think the opposite, that it would have taken great courage to come
and visit him, at night or whenever.. But he knew there was something different
about this man. He comes to Jesus. He doesn’t wait until he’s in the temple, or
nearby, he actively chooses to go to him.
He treats him with respect, unlike the other times we see Pharisees talking
to Jesus, He calls him Rabbi (teacher) he recognises something within this man.
And of course he says: we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no
one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him’…
An
aside: (interesting isn’t it how he says ‘we know..’ we – how is he referring
to? Its clearly not the council! Were there others with him not mentioned? Perhaps
Joseph of Arimathea who we see with him later? Or are there others who he
represents..? anyway… we cannot know..
aside: (interesting isn’t it how he says ‘we know..’ we – how is he referring
to? Its clearly not the council! Were there others with him not mentioned? Perhaps
Joseph of Arimathea who we see with him later? Or are there others who he
represents..? anyway… we cannot know..
The
thing about Nicodemus is that like so many, he is seeking something, seeking
the messiah, that’s what his religion is all about, he is seeking answers, and he recognises
something in Jesus, but he’s not sure what that is, he can’t understand. And
yet he humbles himself, this man, in a great position of power and influence in
his community and in the council and comes to this stranger who has appeared
almost from nowhere and made a big impression. He goes to him with all his
questions.
thing about Nicodemus is that like so many, he is seeking something, seeking
the messiah, that’s what his religion is all about, he is seeking answers, and he recognises
something in Jesus, but he’s not sure what that is, he can’t understand. And
yet he humbles himself, this man, in a great position of power and influence in
his community and in the council and comes to this stranger who has appeared
almost from nowhere and made a big impression. He goes to him with all his
questions.
In some
ways he reminds me of me, if I’m not sure about something or I want to know
more I seek out someone knowledgable and ask questions of them actually a pain in
the backside I think sometimes! Get an answer and then ask more, or dispute it
– and that’s exactly what Nicodemus wants I think. He’s not being difficult, or
rude he just wants to know more!
He hears what Jesus says and doesn’t understand – he says ‘but how can
that be..?!’ v9.
ways he reminds me of me, if I’m not sure about something or I want to know
more I seek out someone knowledgable and ask questions of them actually a pain in
the backside I think sometimes! Get an answer and then ask more, or dispute it
– and that’s exactly what Nicodemus wants I think. He’s not being difficult, or
rude he just wants to know more!
He hears what Jesus says and doesn’t understand – he says ‘but how can
that be..?!’ v9.
And in
vs 10 – as Jesus points out, this is a man who should have all the answers, he
is an expert in the law, he is probably someone who others would seek out with
their questions and here he is, completely humbled, being chastised by Jesus, a
lowly carpenter from the countryside! It’s hard to actually understand the
enormity of what is going on here. But Nicodemus allows this, he is hungry for
the truth.
vs 10 – as Jesus points out, this is a man who should have all the answers, he
is an expert in the law, he is probably someone who others would seek out with
their questions and here he is, completely humbled, being chastised by Jesus, a
lowly carpenter from the countryside! It’s hard to actually understand the
enormity of what is going on here. But Nicodemus allows this, he is hungry for
the truth.
And yet
despite chastising him – ‘you, are Israel teacher, how do you not understand
this…’. Jesus clearly has compassion for this man because his tone changes and
reveals to Nicodemus the very essence of the gospel, one of the if not the most
often quoted lines in the bible: vs 16: for God so loved the world… and he goes
on.. he almost offers Nicodemus a challenge doesn’t he? Its your choice, its
there for you, if you want it, if you can take it, the truth is there, eternal
life is there for you.
despite chastising him – ‘you, are Israel teacher, how do you not understand
this…’. Jesus clearly has compassion for this man because his tone changes and
reveals to Nicodemus the very essence of the gospel, one of the if not the most
often quoted lines in the bible: vs 16: for God so loved the world… and he goes
on.. he almost offers Nicodemus a challenge doesn’t he? Its your choice, its
there for you, if you want it, if you can take it, the truth is there, eternal
life is there for you.
And the
same challenge is there for all of us…
same challenge is there for all of us…
We don’t
always get it do we, like Nicodemus, no matter how strong your faith, sometimes
there’s things we just don’t get, don’t understand. No matter how good our
biblical knowledge, our intelligence, or our position in life, our standing in
society if you like. Still, there is always the great mysteries of faith. Nicodemus,
even after all this we cannot be sure that he gets it right away can we? We
don’t see in this passage what his immediate response would be to Jesus’
challenge.
always get it do we, like Nicodemus, no matter how strong your faith, sometimes
there’s things we just don’t get, don’t understand. No matter how good our
biblical knowledge, our intelligence, or our position in life, our standing in
society if you like. Still, there is always the great mysteries of faith. Nicodemus,
even after all this we cannot be sure that he gets it right away can we? We
don’t see in this passage what his immediate response would be to Jesus’
challenge.
But the
next time we see him is in John 7.
next time we see him is in John 7.
Jesus
has been speaking in the temple courts and the chief priests are getting
angrier by the minute and want to arrest him:
has been speaking in the temple courts and the chief priests are getting
angrier by the minute and want to arrest him:
45 Finally
the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked
them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked
them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “No one
ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean
he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?
49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a
curse on them.”
he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?
49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a
curse on them.”
50 Nicodemus,
who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does
our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been
doing?”
who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does
our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been
doing?”
So they
ask has any of us believed in him, no of course not, but then Nicodemus speaks
up in his defence. He says,
exactly what he has done – can we condemn him without first hearing him… he is
clearly a man on integrity.
ask has any of us believed in him, no of course not, but then Nicodemus speaks
up in his defence. He says,
exactly what he has done – can we condemn him without first hearing him… he is
clearly a man on integrity.
Whatever
happened during that meeting with Jesus and his subsequent reflection on that
has given him the courage to speak out in front of his peers and elders.
Something has changed in him.
happened during that meeting with Jesus and his subsequent reflection on that
has given him the courage to speak out in front of his peers and elders.
Something has changed in him.
How
interesting that the last thing we see Jesus saying to him is:
interesting that the last thing we see Jesus saying to him is:
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not
come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have
done has been done in the sight of God.
come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have
done has been done in the sight of God.
When Nicodemus
first meets him it is at night, in the dark and yet here he is coming out into
the light, revealing himself and standing in defence of Jesus.
first meets him it is at night, in the dark and yet here he is coming out into
the light, revealing himself and standing in defence of Jesus.
And then finally..
we see him after Jesus’ death, very
publically helping Joseph of arimethea with the body, and providing spices and
myrhh to embalm the body.
publically helping Joseph of arimethea with the body, and providing spices and
myrhh to embalm the body.
John
19:38
19:38
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea
asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he
came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the
man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of
myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[e] 40 Taking
Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.
This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he
came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the
man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of
myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[e] 40 Taking
Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.
This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
It’s
interesting I think that Nicodemus journey in these passages is actually a
classic example of someone seeking God. First they have an experience of seeing
others talking, acting on their beliefs, they are interested. Then there are the questions and the courage
to come forward to actually ask them. a step into the light if you like, and at
last, the final step, openly accepting the Lord. Perhaps not fully
understanding but choosing to make a stand, put a stake in the ground and
publically make a declaration.
interesting I think that Nicodemus journey in these passages is actually a
classic example of someone seeking God. First they have an experience of seeing
others talking, acting on their beliefs, they are interested. Then there are the questions and the courage
to come forward to actually ask them. a step into the light if you like, and at
last, the final step, openly accepting the Lord. Perhaps not fully
understanding but choosing to make a stand, put a stake in the ground and
publically make a declaration.
I love
this story because it just shows, wow, if Nicodemus could do it, in his
position of standing and authority, risking all he had, the respect he had, etc
then can’t we all?
this story because it just shows, wow, if Nicodemus could do it, in his
position of standing and authority, risking all he had, the respect he had, etc
then can’t we all?
Maybe some
of you today are a bit like Nicodemus, are you still seeking/ are you still
asking questions? Not quite stood up and said, ok this is the way I am going to
go…
of you today are a bit like Nicodemus, are you still seeking/ are you still
asking questions? Not quite stood up and said, ok this is the way I am going to
go…
Nicodemus was a scholar. he went to go and to understand the
doctrine Jesus was teaching, seeking real answers to his questions. Instead he
got what he didn’t understand.
doctrine Jesus was teaching, seeking real answers to his questions. Instead he
got what he didn’t understand.
But that’s often what its
like for all us, we can have a great knowledge of the bible like Nicodemus. We
can observe laws or ways of living, but that is not encountering the one who
came here for all of us. We need to experience him to encounter him, to know
him, to allow our lives to be transformed..
like for all us, we can have a great knowledge of the bible like Nicodemus. We
can observe laws or ways of living, but that is not encountering the one who
came here for all of us. We need to experience him to encounter him, to know
him, to allow our lives to be transformed..
In our human understanding
we cannot begin to comprehend all that Jesus is, all that he did and does, but
we don’t have to, we just have to accept him as the one we want to follow and
he will begin to open our eyes.
we cannot begin to comprehend all that Jesus is, all that he did and does, but
we don’t have to, we just have to accept him as the one we want to follow and
he will begin to open our eyes.
But
there are so many things that stop us completely doing that aren’t there? Life,
busyness, fear…
there are so many things that stop us completely doing that aren’t there? Life,
busyness, fear…
Have you
ever known you were going to meet someone well known, or respected or someone
you admire? How did you feel before hand? In advance there is much preparation.
There’s great excitement, but also
fear and anxiety – what will I say to them, what will they be like, will I make
an idiot of myself? What will I look like in front of others there…? And
encountering Jesus for some of us is like that. There’s a great story in one of
the alpha talk about a young guy who has been doing alpha and is really excited
about Jesus but he’s worried what his friends and family will think. So he goes
to speak to his pastor and confesses his worries and says, if I give my life to
God, do I have to tell anyone, and
the pastor says no of course not, that’s up to you. So he goes home, goes into
a quiet room and prays and gives his life to Jesus. And afterwards he is so
excited he just runs into another room and tells all his friends/family I just
have my life to Jesus! The one thing he was concerned about in the first place.
Because in the moment of encountering Jesus all his fears were gone. He had met
the king.
ever known you were going to meet someone well known, or respected or someone
you admire? How did you feel before hand? In advance there is much preparation.
There’s great excitement, but also
fear and anxiety – what will I say to them, what will they be like, will I make
an idiot of myself? What will I look like in front of others there…? And
encountering Jesus for some of us is like that. There’s a great story in one of
the alpha talk about a young guy who has been doing alpha and is really excited
about Jesus but he’s worried what his friends and family will think. So he goes
to speak to his pastor and confesses his worries and says, if I give my life to
God, do I have to tell anyone, and
the pastor says no of course not, that’s up to you. So he goes home, goes into
a quiet room and prays and gives his life to Jesus. And afterwards he is so
excited he just runs into another room and tells all his friends/family I just
have my life to Jesus! The one thing he was concerned about in the first place.
Because in the moment of encountering Jesus all his fears were gone. He had met
the king.
That’s
what its like encountering Jesus. Unknown, scary, exciting, life changing,
challenging, joyful, yes sometimes painful, a huge rollercoaster ride, but its
like nothing else on this earth.
what its like encountering Jesus. Unknown, scary, exciting, life changing,
challenging, joyful, yes sometimes painful, a huge rollercoaster ride, but its
like nothing else on this earth.
And we
can encounter him every day. Not just the first time when we give our lives,
but every day if we want to, in the opportunities he gives us, in reading his
word, in others around us, its all there for us. That’s what I want, what I
seek, not just an experience, a one off encounter, but a daily truth, a daily
meeting with my King that informs my whole life.
can encounter him every day. Not just the first time when we give our lives,
but every day if we want to, in the opportunities he gives us, in reading his
word, in others around us, its all there for us. That’s what I want, what I
seek, not just an experience, a one off encounter, but a daily truth, a daily
meeting with my King that informs my whole life.
Can you
imagine what life would be like if every person who called themselves a
Christian opened themselves daily to an encounter with the king. Yes it would
be scary, there would be challenges of course, for some of us the very thought
of speaking to someone about our faith or praying with a stranger would turn us
cold, but we don’t need to fear, because if we just trust in him, all will be
well. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we were all open to that daily encounter? Imagine for a moment how that would
impact us, people around us, society. Wow, I long for that – that is the
kingdom of God, coming on earth…
imagine what life would be like if every person who called themselves a
Christian opened themselves daily to an encounter with the king. Yes it would
be scary, there would be challenges of course, for some of us the very thought
of speaking to someone about our faith or praying with a stranger would turn us
cold, but we don’t need to fear, because if we just trust in him, all will be
well. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we were all open to that daily encounter? Imagine for a moment how that would
impact us, people around us, society. Wow, I long for that – that is the
kingdom of God, coming on earth…
So I
think some of us maybe are still a little like Nicodemus – got some questions
but are we going to keep asking or are we going to step into the encounter? I
think there’s also some of us who maybe have been Christians for a while but
feel they haven’t really encountered Jesus for a while. And I really want to
pray for you…
think some of us maybe are still a little like Nicodemus – got some questions
but are we going to keep asking or are we going to step into the encounter? I
think there’s also some of us who maybe have been Christians for a while but
feel they haven’t really encountered Jesus for a while. And I really want to
pray for you…
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