A secret disciple
Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds (John 19:39).
We all remember the story of Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night because he was afraid of his fellow Pharisees who rejected the Saviour. But the most important thing was that he did come to Jesus. He came respectfully and honestly. He recognised Jesus as someone who had come from God. He knew this was true because of the demonstration of the Lord’s power. Nicodemus was searching, and expected a quiet spiritual conversation. But the Lord immediately confronts him with his need to be born again. Nicodemus, for all his learning and genuine spiritual desire did not understand. And the Lord goes on to reveal Himself as the Saviour in the glorious words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
We next see Nicodemus in the Sanhedrin when the officers reported that they had failed to arrest Jesus. When they are asked why they were unable to complete their task, they replied, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46). How those words must have resonated in the heart of Nicodemus. He had heard the Saviour speak to him of new birth and the immensity of the love of God in Christ. When the group talked about the officers being deceived, he courageously tried to defend the Lord. His defence is dismissed by the sarcastic response, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has
arisen out of Galilee” (John 7:50-52). Nicodemus was learning the real character of the company he kept.
John records the words of the Lord Jesus on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Lord had spoken of being lifted up and how God’s love would be displayed by the sacrifice of His only Son. It was not Peter, James or John who came forward to take the body of the Lord Jesus and to lay in the tomb. No, it was secret disciples who saw the sacrifice of the Lord of glory and sought permission to bury Him. This was not the act of fearful men, but of those who were beginning to understand that the love of God casts out fear. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were not lowly fishermen from Galilee. They were highly respected rulers at the centre of the government of Israel. But that day they ceased to be secret disciples, and no longer cared for their reputations; they only wanted to respond to the Saviour who had died on the cross.
Nicodemus and his friend Joseph teach us about the transforming love of Christ. It alone can change us from fearful and secret disciples into fearless and bold disciples who identify ourselves with the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. And who, like Nicodemus, don’t come empty-handed but ready to sacrifice. May that same redeeming love move us in our lives to worship, follow and serve the Saviour.
