Nic’s stubbornness Ruins a Promising Professional Career...
The story of Nic and Jesus could have read something like this, ‘Nicodemus, a promising young Pharisee, spent two years of his professional career defending the integrity of Jesus’ God-man claims. To Nic Jesus was God. To Nic’s peers, Jesus was nothing more than a fake and blasphemer (John 7:41- 43). Yesterday, Jesus was crucified. Nic’s ‘Savior of the Jews’, and some say the world, was swiftly hammered to a cross after a short trial. Late in the day a centurion pronounced Jesus ‘passed away’.
Some have suggested that Nic would have been better off believing and supporting the heretic and murder Barabbas. At least Barabbas is now out of jail and gathering new supporters. Nic’s God is dead and buried and his fellow disciples are hiding like field mice in long grass. Now Nic is without of a job and without a cause to defend. Nic’s national times ‘could have’ read something like this on Saturday, if the Jesus story did in fact end on that ‘fateful’ Friday afternoon.
John the disciple of Jesus, makes mention of Nicodemus three times in his gospel. We are told that Nic’s first encounter with Jesus was under the protection and secrecy of darkness. We’re not told whether or not Nic believed in Jesus’ Son of God claims. But we do know that not so long after Nic’s first one-on-one with Jesus, Nic stood up in front of his powerful, religious friends and defended Jesus’ God claims. From then on Nic’s career was always at risk and slipping away. Nic was branded a ‘secret’ disciple of the Nazarene, John 7:41-53.
The third time John records Nic is at Jesus’ death, John 19:39. In this encounter, Nic isn’t look on from a distance like many others did that day. Nic steps out from darkness’ cover. Nic’s actions make it clear that he believed Jesus was God’s Son. Nic is no longer a lurking lone figure. He stands up to his peer, fears and demons. Nic isn’t alone, his friend Joseph of Arimarthea is right alongside him. Nic has a brother in Christ who has also decided to make his private belief public.
Was Nic’s faith shattered like the body he held? Perhaps this was the case. We don’t’ know. But we know that Nic loved Jesus deeply and faithfully enough to care for him on his dying day. He wanted to be there for Jesus when it was too much for others to bear. Nic’s eyes and hands were the last to gaze and touch the Lord’s cold body. Nic would have left the tomb with the smell of death on his hands.
Nic would have made a decision much earlier in the day to ‘prepare the 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes for the Lord’s burial, ‘just in case Jesus did die’. Jesus did die. Nic didn’t run. Nic made sure that he’s beloved Lord was buried with dignity and honor.
And then there was the third day….’oh John, why didn’t you pen just one more Christ encounter in Nic’s life...’ I can only imagine in my heart and mind that Nic’s face was on of the ‘500 brothers’ who met the resurrected Lord in his glorified body, 1 Corin 15.9. I can see the joy and intensity on Nic’s face when he first beholds his Lord’s resurrected body! I imagine the scent of death on Nic’s hands is washed with new life as he embraces Jesus, the God-man.
Perhaps the national paper Headline would read on Monday morning, ‘Nic and Joe turn professional embalmers’. The first time Nicodemus and Joseph wrap a dead body people say ‘the body rose up from the grave’. Nic and Joe have been inundated with calls on the Monday asking them to wrap their dying relatives!
Was Nic’s faith shattered like the body he held? Perhaps this was the case. We don’t’ know. But we know that Nic loved Jesus deeply and faithfully enough to care for him on his dying day. He wanted to be there for Jesus when it was too much for others to bear. Nic’s eyes and hands were the last to gaze and touch the Lord’s cold body. Nic would have left the tomb with the smell of death on his hands.
Nic would have made a decision much earlier in the day to ‘prepare the 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes for the Lord’s burial, ‘just in case Jesus did die’. Jesus did die. Nic didn’t run. Nic made sure that he’s beloved Lord was buried with dignity and honor.
And then there was the third day….’oh John, why didn’t you pen just one more Christ encounter in Nic’s life...’ I can only imagine in my heart and mind that Nic’s face was on of the ‘500 brothers’ who met the resurrected Lord in his glorified body, 1 Corin 15.9. I can see the joy and intensity on Nic’s face when he first beholds his Lord’s resurrected body! I imagine the scent of death on Nic’s hands is washed with new life as he embraces Jesus, the God-man.
Perhaps the national paper Headline would read on Monday morning, ‘Nic and Joe turn professional embalmers’. The first time Nicodemus and Joseph wrap a dead body people say ‘the body rose up from the grave’. Nic and Joe have been inundated with calls on the Monday asking them to wrap their dying relatives!
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