Devotions from The Dock - Day 3: Nicodemus

(Continuing some reflections from Youth Devotions and Communion at Florida Family CFO camp last month...)

The purpose of our discussion on the third day of the week, was to go a little deeper into the story behind one particular, well-known verse. I’ll start this post the same way I began the lesson that morning with the teenagers…

Which verse in the Bible do you think is the most popular to quote, or at least the most well known?

Who said it?

Who was He talking to?

After the first question, there were several good answers provided, but the consensus of the group settled on John 3:16. (I’ve said before, this was a smart bunch of kids!) Of course, I had to follow it up with the question, “Where is that verse found?” After a few seconds of looks of confusion, they realized I was just seeing if they really were awake that early in the morning!

The second question was trickier. Their initial answer was John. A logical and reasonable choice. But then, they zeroed in on the fact that, no, it was indeed Jesus who spoke the words, “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.” (John 3:16 NIV) As I remember, someone recalled that it was written in red letters in their Bible, “so it must have been Jesus”.

The third question is where it got really challenging. No one could recall that it was Nicodemus to whom Jesus was speaking. Now, I don’t say this is as an indictment to those young people at all, rather, I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of church-goers (let alone those who don’t typically don’t go to church, yet are familiar with the verse), would not be able to answer that question correctly, either.

The focus was then – and will be now – on who Nicodemus was, the way in which he came to meet with Jesus and the impact that conversation no doubt had on Nicodemus’s life.

Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council and a Pharisee. Not someone who would have wanted to be seen conversing with Jesus. This is why Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night – when no one could see him – to ask him several questions and, I think, find out for himself who Jesus really was. The first half of the third chapter of John details their conversation. At times, Nicodemus is very confused, like when Jesus explains how we must be “born again” and he tries to understand that concept in a very literal way. It was toward the latter part of the conversation that Jesus spoke the now famous words, quoted above.

I think the last few verses of the account, though, are even more compelling. John 3:16 was the first sentence in His summary to Nicodemus. But the last couple of sentences are a rich combination of theology and practicality that deserve their own discussion:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:19-21 NIV)

Wow. Do you think Nicodemus took it personally when Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed”? Do you think that’s why he had to come see him at night – in the dark – because he thought his deeds wouldn’t be exposed? And which deeds? Those Jesus would find objectionable… Or perhaps those his fellow Pharisees would find such, like speaking to Jesus!

But what of this last sentence? This idea of coming into the light, so that people will see God at work? Do you think Nicodemus took that part to heart? I think so. Just four chapters later in John’s Gospel (John 7:45-52 NIV), the Pharisees were upset that the guards had not arrested Jesus as they had been sent to do. Nicodemus, however, came to Jesus’ defense. This was very risky on his part and was met with disdain from the other Pharisees. I believe this is evidence, though, of Nicodemus beginning to “come into the light”.

Now, fast forward another 12 chapters. Jesus has been crucified. When His body had been taken down from the cross, who do you think came to take it to provide a proper burial? One, or more, of the disciples you would think, wouldn’t you? But, no. It was Joseph of Arimathea and, wait for it… Nicodemus! Both secret followers of Jesus at this point. Both men whom we know very little about. They were the ones who provided everything that Jesus needed to be properly buried. And this was not a small matter as the Jewish customs called for very specific spices and linen to be used. (See John 19:38-42 NIV)

It would seem that Jesus had quite the impact on these two men. Those that spent the previous three years ministering with Jesus, what happened to them after the crucifixion? We learn of that in other parts of scripture, but in the immediate timeframe after Jesus died, they were not present. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, however, had decided to come out of darkness, and enter into the light. They believed Jesus' words and acted accordingly, regardless of any potential consequences. We would do well to do the same.

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.

Thank you so much for reading these posts. If they are meaningful to you and speak to you in any way, I would love to know! Please feel free to make a comment below, or on the social media platform where you may have come across the link.

Many Blessings to All of You!