Nicodemus is mentioned three times in the bible, all three in the book of John. The most popular story about Nicodemus is told in John 3:1-21 where he asks of Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (NIV)

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a religious leader and he was a member of the Jewish council - the same Jewish council that convicted and crucified Jesus Christ. Prior to those events, he set up a private meeting with Jesus to speak with him personally. Nicodemus met with Jesus at night, perhaps because he feared what the other Pharisees would think of his speaking with Jesus. This meeting is the setting for the story told in John chapter 3, verses 1-21.

Nicodemus was an educated teacher and leader, and asked Jesus very practical questions. Jesus responded by explaining that ‘no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’ - and proceeded to explain what it meant to be born again.

This story ends in verse 21 when Jesus concludes his explanation, but we know that it had a major impact on Nicodemus… as he spoke up for Jesus as a member of the Jewish council when the religious leaders attempted to arrest him (John 7:50-52).

Jesus often spoke against the Pharisees and the religious leaders of that time. But when Nicodemus came to him, he sat down with him and explained the kingdom of God to him in great detail. I think this is a beautiful story and a perfect example of how kind and giving that Jesus is when you seek him.

I can only imagine the degree of the risk that Nicodemus was taking in meeting with Jesus… and the impression that it left on him. We get a small glimpse of that later in the book of John when we read the story of Jesus’ burial:

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 20:38-42 (NIV)

Joseph of Arimathea was also a member of the Jewish council, like Nicodemus, and they were both secret followers of Jesus. They risked their reputations and came out of hiding to provide for Jesus’ burial.

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