The Journey Continues
Coming to Jesus
Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them (religious leaders in the Sanhedrin), asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee?”
– John 7:50-52
We’ve Never Been Here Before
We are in very strange and difficult times. Each day that passes brings another round of news that feels less than heartening.
Our son lives in Salt Lake City. He called us two days ago in the early morning to tell us they had just had a significant earthquake with a series of aftershocks.
Our daughter lives in California where the entire state has been put on virtual lockdown due to COVID-19 precautions. And we are moving quickly in that same direction.
As a number of you have acknowledged in a variety of ways: We’ve never been here before.
We Have Been Here Before
Life is hard enough without the added pressures of societal unrest, health insecurities, and what feels like the world falling in around us.
But, in fact, we have been here before. At least, our world has. Our spiritual ancestors have. Even older members of our families can share memories of living in and through the Depression and World War II when for several years, the world really did appear to be collapsing.
The Bible and Troubled Times
Therefore, I’d like to remind us again of how the Bible speaks to us most profoundly in troubled times. Through much of our online efforts, we have been “doing less more deeply.”
Through these devotionals I have been sharing with you each day, we have been looking carefully at the life and spiritual quest of a biblical character named Nicodemus.
Today we continue, but now moving on from the third chapter to John 7 and John 19. For while Nicodemus appears to drop from the scene in chapter 3, his reappearance in the latter two chapters adds vital clues to his spiritual journey, and to ours.
Nicodemus and Troubled Times
His times were troubled. Life among these Jewish leaders was highly unsettled according to the Gospel stories.
In John, we sense increased discomfort. Key leaders are ready to do away with Jesus without a trial. And while Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus in John 3 has no apparent resolution, the Gospel story artfully reintroduces him in this seventh chapter (above).
In this passage, charges are being manufactured, an arrest is pending. Nicodemus speaks up. Justice is a key principle in Judaism. And justice is about to be violated.
Nicodemus says, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing does it?”
His defense provokes a sharp response: “Surely you are not also from Galilee?” the religious leaders shout. In other words: “Are you one of his followers, too?”
A troublesome charge – and one to which Nicodemus gives no response – is he or isn’t he? We are left to wonder. His decision has serious consequences. What happens to this man?
Nicodemus’ Final Mention
The final mention and the resolution of his journey finally come in chapter nineteen. It happens through a simple request following Jesus’ crucifixion.
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus and the owner of an unused garden tomb, goes to Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, to ask for Jesus’ body.
Now we hear: “Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh, and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds …” (John 19:39).
Is he a disciple or not? John doesn’t say overtly. But we can infer the outcome. This significant gift, a large bundle of heavy and extraordinarily expensive spices, would never have been worth the risk. The resulting controversy, alienation and ultimate danger to himself and his family would be too great – unless he was finally clear about his calling and discipleship.
What happens after this final mention we can only imagine. As with our own troubled times, the story continues. So may your journey be one of ongoing and lifegiving discovery. May you, like Nicodemus, display a curious faith, a growing faith, and a living faith.
We don’t know what tomorrow brings; but even as we are socially distant and increasingly isolated, we do know that we are in this together. And we know that following Jesus that offers the very essence of life and love and new potential for a better tomorrow. May it be so for your today!
Dr. David Jordan is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He is author of several books and regularly contributes to Baptist News Global.