Nicodemus
April 16, 2021
Nicodemus was a Jewish ruling council during the apostasy era, who had special interest in the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while none of the Pharisees neither desired nor accepted his sermon. His story is narrated in Holy Church throughout the week after the seventh Sunday; named after him. A Priest narrates story of Nicodemus and the lesson of rebirth he learned from our Lord Jesus Christ as follows:
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” He was impressed with the signs that Jesus performed in Jerusalem.
Lord Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:1-8)
The phrase ‘born of water’ is a reference to baptism, either that of John the Baptist, or Christian baptism. It describes our Christian baptism which unites us with the Holy Spirit. Within this wonderful sacrament, we become children of God. Nicodemus desired to be a child of God and so he became more of his disciples. He believed in the Words of Lord Jesus, to born again through baptism.
Nicodemus come to Lord Jesus at night preferring the night time in fear of spotted by the Jews; as he was a scholar and member of the Jewish ruling council. It is for he shall not be despised by the Jews with their question, “Does he teach us without learning?” He came to our Lord to learn about learning the gospel to the perfect knowledge of the gospel and understood that he was a salvation of the gospel.
The other reason was probably to get enough time to converse with the Lord and ask Him whatever questions he might have had.
The only disciples who took risk of ridiculing the Romans and persecution of the Jewish religious council and follow the Lord Jesus Christ till the end of His crustification were Nicodemus and Joseph. They came to collect and bury the body of Lord Jesus with their own will. It is here that we witness the word Nicodemus received from Lord Jesus in privately bearing public fruit.
Nicodemus bared fruit after our Lord Jesus Christ dying on the Cross, for he got a chance to bury His body. He and Joseph had lived as secret disciples of the Lord and thus buried His body together.
The story of Nicodemus edifies the value of Humility. He held a high position in the Jewish nation. He was highly educated, possessed talents and was honored member of the national council. Though rich, educated and honored, he had been especially attracted by the humble Nazarene, our Lord Jesus. He did not talk with Him about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation.
Like Nicodemus, we need to seek Lord Jesus and learn His Holy Gospel for we need be redeemed. Secular life may bring the contentment of which we seem to seek on earth; but only God can give us eternal life. The word of Lord Jesus has the power to alter human beings, releasing us from every hold of egotism, pessimism, criticism and worldly mindsets.
Thus, let us not brag about the wealth, knowledge and success that God, Himself granted, but praise Him for His every bequest. Let us learn from the life Nicodemus, inquiring about the rebirth for eternity.