I have really been thinking about Nicodemus these past few days. I have really begun to identify with him. If you go to John chapter three you can read about Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night. Nicodemus was of the religious sect, the Pharisees, and he was a member of the Sanhedrin court. He had been taught the scriptures and had studied them. He lived what he believed to be a holy life. He had always believed and had put his faith in God. He believed the promises of God. He was probably seen as a faithful man. Yet, when presented with what he thought was impossible, he asked, "How can these things be?" Nicodemus appeared to be truly seeking for truth and he wanted to believe. He had questions and sought out Jesus for answers. He had the privilege of hearing Jesus say the very words we love in John 3:16. We do not get to read much more about Nicodemus, but we can find that he boldly urged the leaders not to take innocent blood and to give Jesus a fair trial in John chapter 7. We also find that he loveingly helped Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus' body down from the cross and place it in the tomb. He was probably a wealthy man and provided the costly myrrh for the burial. Nicodemus took the message of Jesus to heart and became a follower of Jesus. What he did for Jesus took courage and went against the Pharisee traditions. He loved Jesus enough to seek him and to follow him.
I think about many of us who have been raised in church. We have been taught the Word, studied the word and participated in worship. We have read the Bible and sought after what we know to be right. But, like Nicodemus, I want to know what is possible through Christ. As I read the promises to the church and the believers for the last days, I ask, "How can these things be?" I want to believe and see what Jesus promised. Yet, this world is appearing to become more Godless by the day. That too, was prophesied in the Bible.
Peter stood on the Day of Pentecost and spoke these words in Acts chapter 2: 16-21
16 But this
is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And
on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew
wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and
vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord
come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
He was speaking of what we are promised today. Mark 16:17 speaks of the signs that will follow them that believe. I believe we should be seeing the signs following us as well for today, yet my flesh struggles to truly believe we can see that happen. I ask: what am I still missing when it comes to faith? Nicodemus went to Jesus with questions. He sought answers and appears to have taken the words of Jesus to heart. I can go to Jesus as well with my questions. He has all the answers, I only need to listen, and put faith into action. I may have been raised in church, but that does not mean I know all I need to know. I need to seek Jesus just as Nicodemus sought Jesus. When Jesus promised the comforter, that promise came to pass. We have the Spirit of God to lead us. We can take to heart the promises found in the Word of God. We need to have the courage and boldness of Nicodemus to seek Jesus, stand for Jesus, and love Jesus above whatever this world offers. We can stand boldly for Christ and he will stand with us. As Hebrews 13:6 says, So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. I want to boldly stand for speak up in faith knowing I have a Savior who has given me power over the enemy. I have promises that miracles are within the realm of possibility. That revival in the last days is a possibility. That what appears to be hopeless, can come to life! We know a God who created all things by the power of His Word. What have we to fear and what have we to doubt? Come boldly to him with your fears and questions, He will respond and as the disciples asked, Lord, increase my faith. (Luke 17:5) I don't want to just continue in what has always been done as the traditions of the current church, I want to boldly follow God in whatever direction he plans to take me. Nicodemus recognized that the traditions were not enough, but that Jesus held the answers. May we seek Jesus and find out what he really wants us to do. May we be bold and full of courage in the face of adversity and may we stand for Christ like never before.
