It is worth noting that Nicodemus never actually confessed faith in Y’shua Jesus as Lord. Not during this conversation with Jesus, nor later. However, there is no doubt that he was impacted by Y’shua, as he used his authority as a member of the Sanhedrin to protect Y’shua. The question then arises for some of us. Can one be Y’shua’s secret disciple? I would say no, but one realizes that God’s ways are not our own. The jury is out. But Today’s Holy Nougat might offer some perspective.
John 7:50-51 AMP
[50] Nicodemus (the one who came to Jesus before and was one of them) asked,
[51] “Does our Law convict someone without first giving him a hearing and finding out what he is [accused of] doing?”
Chief Defender
Again, Y’shua managed to offend the Pharisees. This time, there was talk about killing Him (see verses 19, 25, 45 – 47). As they schemed, the question arose among the Pharisees whether there was any leader among the Pharisee who believed in Y’shua. Shouldn’t that be Nicodemus’ shining moment, his chance to confess faith in Y’shua? It is up to us to decide whether he actually did that.
Self-Check
When caught in a space where faith in Y’shua is ridiculed or unaccepted, do we keep silent (self-preservation), or do we seek opportunities to do so?
Application
Some would argue that Nicodemus’ defence of Jesus leaned toward lukewarm and that he failed to actually acknowledge faith in Him. That’s what the facts tell us. Those facts would suggest that the night visit was an attempt at a clandestine meeting, and not just that he was meeting Y’shua after work. Yet, one could argue that whether or not it was a declaration of faith, Nicodemus’ statement ‘saved’ Y’shua from arrest and death.
This was not entirely true, as the wider text revealed that Y’shua’s time had not yet come for Him to be delivered unto death. But Nicodemus would not have known this. His action could thus be seen as an effort to prevent Y’shua’s arrest. It would make his speech expedient, albeit noncommittal.
Had we been in a similar position, what would we decide? Confession at that point would not really have benefited Nicodemus or Y’shua. Not from where Nicodemus could see. But his failure to speak could be read as an act of denial.
Nevertheless, God didn’t condemn Nicodemus, at least not in that moment. Nicodemus was gifted with another opportunity to declare himself. The challenge with taking that stance (believing we’ll have time to correct our missed opportunity) is that no one truly knows when our opportunities will end. That’s why Jesus urged us to work while it’s day (see John 9). Straddling the fence could be costly.
Point to Ponder
Expedience is important. Knowing that we believe in the Triune God, more so. Let’s not restrict ourselves to the role of secret disciples. Rather, let us choose to be publicly known as Y’shua’s.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
