Nicodemus Comes to Christ
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conviction that this man was the one described by the prophets. If he
was indeed the Christ, then this was an eventful epoch in the history
of the world and especially of the Jewish nation.
During the entire day after Christ had cleansed the desecrated
courts of the temple, he was healing the sick and relieving the afflicted.
Nicodemus had seen with what pitying compassion he had received
and ministered unto the poor and the oppressed. With the demeanor of
a loving father toward his suffering children, he had wrought cures and
removed sorrow. No suppliant was sent unrelieved from his presence.
Mothers were made glad by the restoration of their babes to health,
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and voices of thanksgiving had taken the place of weeping and moans
of pain. All day, Jesus had instructed the restless, curious people,
reasoning with the scribes, and silencing the caviling of the haughty
rulers by the wisdom of his words. Nicodemus, after seeing and
hearing these wonderful things, and after searching the prophecies that
pointed to Jesus as the looked-for Messiah, dared not disbelieve that
he was sent of God.
When night came on, Jesus, pale with the weariness of his long-
continued labors, sought for retirement and repose in the Mount of
Olives. Here Nicodemus found him and desired a conference. This
man was rich and honored of the Jews. He was famous throughout
Jerusalem for his wealth, his learning and benevolence, and especially
for his liberal offerings to the temple to carry out its sacred services.
He was also one of the prominent members of the national council.
Yet when he came into the presence of Jesus, a strange agitation and
timidity assailed him, which he essayed to conceal beneath an air of
composure and dignity.
He endeavored to appear as if it were an act of condescension
on the part of a learned ruler, to seek, uninvited, an audience with a
young stranger at that unseasonable hour of night. He began with a
conciliating address, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come
from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except
God be with him.” But instead of acknowledging this complimentary
salutation, Jesus bent his calm and searching eye upon the speaker, as
if reading his very soul; then, with a sweet and solemn voice, he spoke
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and revealed the true condition of Nicodemus. “Verily, verily I say
unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.”