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The Desire of Ages
a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into
obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew
in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself.
Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say
with Christ, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God.”
Psalm 40:8
.
In the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded the plan of sal-
vation, and His mission to the world. In none of His subsequent
discourses did He explain so fully, step by step, the work necessary
to be done in the hearts of all who would inherit the kingdom of
heaven. At the very beginning of His ministry He opened the truth to
a member of the Sanhedrin, to the mind that was most receptive, and
to an appointed teacher of the people. But the leaders of Israel did not
welcome the light. Nicodemus hid the truth in his heart, and for three
years there was little apparent fruit.
But Jesus was acquainted with the soil into which He cast the
seed. The words spoken at night to one listener in the lonely mountain
were not lost. For a time Nicodemus did not publicly acknowledge
Christ, but he watched His life, and pondered His teachings. In the
Sanhedrin council he repeatedly thwarted the schemes of the priests to
destroy Him. When at last Jesus was lifted up on the cross, Nicodemus
remembered the teaching upon Olivet: “As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
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The light from that secret interview illumined the cross upon Calvary,
and Nicodemus saw in Jesus the world’s Redeemer.
After the Lord’s ascension, when the disciples were scattered by
persecution, Nicodemus came boldly to the front. He employed his
wealth in sustaining the infant church that the Jews had expected to
be blotted out at the death of Christ. In the time of peril he who had
been so cautious and questioning was firm as a rock, encouraging the
faith of the disciples, and furnishing means to carry forward the work
of the gospel. He was scorned and persecuted by those who had paid
him reverence in other days. He became poor in this world’s goods;
yet he faltered not in the faith which had its beginning in that night
conference with Jesus.
Nicodemus related to John the story of that interview, and by his
pen it was recorded for the instruction of millions. The truths there
taught are as important today as they were on that solemn night in the