If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19 AMP
Nicodemus (Greek, Nike, ‘victor’ + Demos, ‘people’; thus means victory of the or over people) was an interesting character in John’s Gospel. He’s only mentioned three times in this one Book, but all are directly related to Jesus.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ John 3
Nicodemus, the Pharisee, came to visit Jesus at night, hidden by darkness and it would have been very dark! My mother lived in the city, Belfast, before she married and came to live on a small farm in the Irish countryside. She told about standing at the top of a hill on the road where she lived and not a single light was visible. We may not appreciate how dark the nights were when Jesus walked in Israel, but Nicodemus came in darkness to speak with Him.
Nicodemus, unlike many Pharisees, acknowledged that Jesus had come from God. He saw the miracles and believed, but the religious establishment of that day were bound by the Law and refused to accept he was the Messiah (the ones who had the greatest head knowledge, didn’t see who was standing before them). Jesus sought to lift the conversation to a higher plane, telling Nicodemus that all had to be, ‘born again’ to see the Kingdom of God. He implied the manner of His death, ‘so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life’. God works in the lives of believers today to free us from earthly attachments and turn our attention towards His realm.
Nicodemus next tried to defend Jesus before His arrest and trial before the fixed religious court. John 7:50
The last time we read of Nicodemus was after the Lord’s death John 19:39 Joseph of Arimathea asked for the Lord’s body and together they honoured Jesus’ body in death as it certainly wasn’t in life. Both the Religious and the secular (Roman) authorities condemned Jesus but God gave Him life. The disciples and other followers never touched Jesus’ body in death, but they did after His resurrection. Joseph and Nicodemus (the Pharisee), secret believers laid the Lord’s body to rest. The man who’d spoken with Jesus in the dark of night came back with spices and linen to take care of His body. I wonder if they knew it wasn’t the end, but a new beginning?
As we approach Easter and celebrate the Lord’s death and victorious resurrection, we should remember that our own lives here are passing and we’re destined to live eternally in another realm, our true home. Paul’s quote in 1 Corinthians 15 emphasises that our faith is not just for this time or realm but it will take us to be with the Lord always.
God bless and keep you today.