Devotional 3-22-08

Please read John 19:38-42

The Bible is full of examples of God’s will being fulfilled by unlikely candidates. Think about it. A prince of Egypt led the Israelites out of captivity. An unwed teen became the mother of the Savior of the world. A persecutor of Christians carried the gospel message to the ends of the earth. The list goes on and on.

Consider the case of Nicodemus. Nicodemus is only mentioned in the Gospel of John, and only in three brief encounters. He came with Joseph of Arimathea bearing spices to help prepare the body of Jesus for burial. I can imagine Nicodemus, as he and Joseph were preparing Jesus’ body, thinking about how he came to know Jesus. I imagine that as a Pharisee, Nicodemus was concerned about this Jesus he was hearing about, who was stirring up crowds, healing, and casting out demons. Nicodemus and the other Pharisees were following Jesus to catch him in some violation of the law. Nicodemus witnessed the miracles and heard the sermons of Jesus. I wonder when his contempt for Jesus abated. Which miracle, or sign, or sermon “got to” Nicodemus? When was the hour he first believed?

We’ll never know. But we know something happened that changed Nicodemus. He went to visit Jesus—in the night, so he wouldn’t be seen. He had a conversation with Jesus that confused him—something about being born again. And it was to Nicodemus that Jesus spoke the words that have become the most familiar bible verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

When we meet Jesus face to face, transformation is inevitable. This was true for Nicodemus. Later he would defend Jesus among those Jewish leaders who would convict him without a trial. But after Jesus’ death on the cross, it became evident that Nicodemus’ transformation was complete.

I can hear Nicodemus rehearsing in his mind the earlier conversation with Jesus. And I can picture Nicodemus considering where he had been, and where he now was. From gathering evidence to convict a rabble-rouser to gathering myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus according to Jewish burial customs.

During his night visit with Jesus, Nicodemus had been confused by Jesus’ statement about being born again. That night, with Joseph of Arimathea, with the myrrh and the aloes and the strips of linen…I imagine that Nicodemus got it.

Dear God, we thank you for loving the world so much that all we have to do is believe, and live. Thank you for your transforming grace. Amen.

Jeff Taylor