Midweek Lent 2
March 23, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: John 19:38-42

“NICODEMUS”

John 19:38-42 (NIV) “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. 39 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. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 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. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

People watching. That’s what we’ve been doing for our Wednesday services in Lent. We’ve been watching the people who played a part in the Passion History of our Lord. Today’s person is Nicodemus. As you heard in the reading, the part he played came at the end of Jesus’ passion when it came time for Jesus’ body to be buried. In truth the story of Nicodemus began well before the day of Jesus’ death. If you recall, Jesus began His public ministry as Savior at age 30 and then for 3 years preached and taught and did miracles and ministered as He prepared to lay down His life on the cross. At some point early on in this public ministry of Jesus we are told this in John 3.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 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.” This is why Nicodemus was called the “Night Disciple.” He was a Pharisee and not just any Pharisee. He was a member of the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin. His words are very revealing and I believe will be used as testimony on the Last Day against the Pharisees and teachers of the law who continued to reject Jesus. He said, “We know you are a teacher who has come from God.” We know. That makes the rejection willful. It’s a horrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God whose Son you have rejected. Woe to them!
Back to Nicodemus. The Night Disciple came to Jesus at night. Can you guess why? He was afraid. Perhaps he was afraid that his buddies on the Sanhedrin would see him and treat him differently or mock him for going to Jesus. Perhaps he was afraid that the people would see him going to Jesus and give credit then to Jesus’ words. Clearly he did not want to be seen with Jesus. But he did want to hear what Jesus had to say about how to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus told him. And the night disciple sneaked away, back to his regular life.
The word of God Jesus spoke was not without effect. The next time we see Nicodemus is perhaps a couple of years later. Jesus has been preaching and teaching as only the true Messiah can. He was doing the miracles only the Son of God can do. The Pharisees and teachers of the law who know, who know, that Jesus has come from God, are getting more and more upset with Jesus and His popularity with the people. They have heard the people are actually thinking Jesus must be the Messiah. They send temple soldiers to arrest Him. The soldiers come back empty handed. When questioned as to why they respond they have never heard anyone like Jesus before. As expected the chief priests and teachers of the law are very upset. They mock the soldiers. “Have you become his followers too?” Nicodemus speaks up.
“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” Point of order. Nicodemus did not exactly give Jesus a ringing endorsement does he? He seizes on protocol, constitution, the law as a way to defend Jesus without defending Jesus. But at least he spoke up, kind of. And what did he get for it? Mockery too!
Scripture is silent about Nicodemus until the words of our text. Jesus has died. Who will bury Him? Bold Peter who will never deny? James and John who want to sit at Jesus right and left in His glory? No, it’s Nicodemus. The one who comes to Jesus at night. The one who’s not quite strong enough to stand up, stand up for Jesus.
Now, what can we learn from this? Can you relate to Nicodemus at all? Do you think of times when sin has been happening but you sat in its midst and kept quiet? Then later you think about it and kick yourself, ashamed that you didn’t have the guts to speak up. Or maybe it’s that conversation about religion and everyone is talking about God and how there’s only one God and all religions are just different ways to get to that God and you couldn’t quite get yourself to confess Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus as the way to heaven. If that’s you, take heart. Look at what the Lord did in time with Nicodemus. He built him up and strengthened him to be a bold disciple. He’ll do it with you too. Keep listening to Jesus in His word. Be patient. Cheer up. There will be more opportunities for you to speak up in service to your Savior.
And remember as we are looking at the people of the Passion we must remember to keep our focus on the Person of the Passion, to keep our eyes fixed on Him on Jesus. What a beautiful Savior. That bruised reed, that weak disciple He does not despise. In fact it is to Nicodemus that Jesus spoke probably the most famous passage of Scripture. You know it. It’s the Gospel in a nutshell. John 3:16. Say it with me. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Nicodemus heard that Gospel. It took root in his heart. God loved him. God gave Jesus for him. He would have eternal life. He would serve that Savior.
God loves you too. He gave Jesus for you too. You believe. You will have eternal life. You get to serve that Savior. Whether you feel more like the weak silent Nicodemus or the bold burying Nicodemus who gave to serve you too are included in God’s Gospel promise. And so are your brothers and sisters. You see, we don’t just do people watching with the people of the Passion. We watch each other too. When you see a brother or a sister who seems to be a night disciple, one who exhibits weakness in one area of sanctification or another, let’s not despise them or mock them or look down on them but as Jesus did, give ‘em the Gospel. The Gospel is God’s power to save and God’s power to change us. It reminds me of a t-shirt I have seen several times. It pleads, “Be patient with me. God’s not finished with me yet!” How true. Amen.