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Nicodemus Comes to Jesus at Night
This chapter is based on John 3:1-17.
Nicodemus, a highly educated and honored member of the na-
tional council, had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus. Though
rich and well-read, he had been strangely attracted by the humble
Nazarene. The lessons from the Savior’s lips had greatly impressed
him, and he wanted to learn more.
Christ’s use of His authority in cleansing the temple had ignited
the hatred of the priests and rulers. They felt they should not tolerate
such boldness from an obscure Galilean. But not all agreed about
putting an end to His work. Some feared to oppose One whom the
Spirit of God so evidently moved. They knew that the Jews were
subjects of a heathen nation because they had stubbornly rejected
God’s reproofs. They feared that in plotting against Jesus the priests
and rulers were following in the steps of their ancestors and would
bring fresh disasters on the nation. Nicodemus shared these feelings.
In the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus advised caution and moderation. He
urged that if Jesus really carried authority from God, it would be
dangerous to reject His warnings. The priests did not dare to ignore
this counsel.
Nicodemus had anxiously studied the prophecies relating to the
Messiah. The more he searched, the stronger was his conviction that
Jesus was the One who was to come. He had been distressed by how
the priests had profaned the temple. He witnessed Jesus driving out
the buyers and the sellers. He saw the Savior healing the sick, and
he saw their looks of joy and heard their words of praise. He could
not doubt that Jesus of Nazareth was the One sent from God.
He greatly wanted to talk with Jesus, but he was unwilling to go
to Him openly. If the Sanhedrin heard about this visit, they would
scorn and denounce him. He decided to try for a secret meeting. By
special inquiry, he learned where the Savior went for the night on
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