By Night & By Day

John 19:³⁹ “Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.” (MSG].

Remember, we said previously that the Book of John is John taking us on a journey. Even as we study daily, we will make frequent references to the previous day’s study. Yesterday, we learned that Nicodemus’ coming to Jesus at night was not an act of cowardice. Night time was when the Rabbis met to exchange and explain scriptures after spending the day discipling their students. The second reason we know that Nicodemus was not a coward is that a coward will not step up to claim the body of Jesus, a convicted criminal. In John 19:38-39 [please read], we see that it was Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea that went to claim the body of Jesus.

Where was Peter? Why didn’t even John that wrote this Book go to claim the body of Jesus? Jesus’ family were at the cross, why did they not go to claim Jesus’ body? It is because it was a dangerous thing to claim the body of a convicted criminal; they begin to investigate you immediately. When Jesus was alive, these people were flocking around Him. When He died, everybody turned their backs except Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and the women. That is why Jesus showed up to the women first. Peter and all the other disciples turned their backs. I can imagine Peter saying, ‘Boys, I am going back to fishing. This Jesus thing is not happening.’ But Nicodemus went to claim the body of Jesus; at that time, no coward could do that.

So, when you read of Nicodemus, do not see a coward anymore because a person that can stand by you even after death is not a hypocrite or a coward. In fact, that is a true friend. When people are dead, they cannot pay you back or do you any favours. Your real friends are the people that can still stand by you when you are helpless. People that are bold enough to stand by you when you have no strength, those are your real friends. Unfortunately, in the world, the people that can stand by them when they have no strength are the people they oppress when they have a lot of money. They try to impress the people that would not care when they have no strength.

A classic example would be a man that has a lot of money, abandons all his friends and family, and goes to town. He becomes a ‘popular-jingo’ with people that do not care about him. Only for him to get sick and need care, and it is only the same family that he abandoned that is around him to be with him and help him. Unfortunately, there are men even now that are down to zero and all they are waiting for is to make money so that they can oppress the people that are standing with them when they have nothing. Does that even make sense? John 3:^2 “After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Nicodemus was bold enough to come, he was not sent like the people in John 1.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, infuse me with fresh hunger for seeking God in His Word, hunger that births great courage in me. Help me ask the right questions, in Jesus Name. Amen!