Encounter: People Jesus Met, Then and Now预览

Nicodemus' Encounter

John tells us that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He was a respected and admired figure in the community, and we are told that he came to Jesus at night.

There are several possible reasons for this. Was he trying to protect his reputation, ensuring that his fellow Pharisees did not know he wanted to speak with Jesus? Or was it out of respect—choosing not to question Jesus publicly, which could have undermined Him?

Either way, it is clear that Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and sought a private conversation with him.

Nicodemus was a seeker. He did not simply 'toe the party line' or remain loyal to his tribe. He wanted to learn more about Jesus and the message He was sharing.

During their conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

He explains that what is required is total transformation—a rebirth. It is not a matter of tweaking one’s behaviour or following a few extra rules. Nicodemus is told he must start over entirely.

The truth Jesus shares is costly. To see the Kingdom, one must undergo a complete transformation. One must be willing to begin again.

Nicodemus had much to lose. He had come to Jesus under the cover of night, hoping his peers would not find out. Yet Jesus tells him he must be willing to let it all go. He must be prepared to start anew.

The conclusion of their conversation is not recorded. Presumably, this was a difficult truth to accept. Nicodemus does not express a change of heart at that moment, and we can only assume he was not yet ready.

Fitting in and 'toeing the party line' is a challenge many of us will face at some point in life. Whether trying to stay in the ‘in crowd' at school, keeping up with the Joneses, or aligning our political views with those around us, we often find ourselves in situations that test our loyalties.

Heather Tomlinson, a young journalist in the UK, found herself questioning the worldview and ideology she had embraced. She describes it as a secular and liberal perspective that divided the world into “goodies and baddies.”

She said: “The goodies were the downtrodden, the political, the left-wing, and the baddies were the rich and the uncaring. I very much saw people in those terms.”

She had a growing sense that something in her life was missing, and she knew it was spiritual. She explored a number of different expressions before starting to read the Gospels. This unlocked something for her. She could really see that if we followed the words of Jesus, it could be the answer to restoring the pain and brokenness in the world.

Watch Heather's Encounter

Breaking away from your tribe to explore the words and message of Jesus can be difficult. It can feel costly and may even damage your reputation.

Interestingly, the story of Nicodemus does not end with his late-night conversation with Jesus. When the stakes are at their highest, Nicodemus appears again in John 19:38-42. At the very moment when it is most dangerous to step forward and align with Jesus—when the disciples had fled and denied their connection to Him—Nicodemus is mentioned by name.

Alongside Joseph of Arimathea, another secret follower of Jesus, Nicodemus comes forward to take Jesus’s body down from the cross. After Jesus had been tortured, humiliated, and killed by his own people, Nicodemus stepped out of the shadows and publicly aligned himself with Him.

With generosity and tenderness, he prepares Jesus’ body for burial.

It seems that, given time to reflect, Nicodemus did decide that he wanted to be born again. He was willing to surrender the respect and admiration he had earned for the sake of Jesus.

Application

How do you respond to Jesus’ invitation to be ‘born again’? Does it feel costly, or is this a next step that you need to take?