We have three scenes given us in the life of Nicodemus.
The first is his interview with Christ. How
he was awakened we do not know. It is of no consequence when and how it is
done, if it is the beginning of the great change. You say, 'I cannot go one
step towards Christ till I am born again and feel it.' That is a great mistake,
for although the Bible says you must be born again, it nowhere says that you
must feel that you are born again.
But Jesus further said, 'As Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up.' It is by looking to Christ that new life comes in. 'For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.'
Did you ever think that
these wondrous words, the most magnificent the world has ever heard, were all
spoken to one man, in a quiet room? If we were asked to whom was Christ likely
to say them, we should conjecture that He would gather together all the angels
to teach them another new song. But they were not spoken to angels! Or we
conjecture such an assembly as that at Mizpah, the Temple at Jerusalem when it
was full, and before the many thousands of Israel He would say -'Hear, O
Israel, God so loved the world!'
But no, brethren, He sat in a quiet room
in the village of in the chamber that Martha and Mary had fitted up for His
use, and there, alone with Nicodemus, He spoke these never-to-be-forgotten
words, which have been more used than any others in the Bible. He did not
grudge to say His best things to the poor hungering soul beside Him. He did not
grudge to lift His golden vessel filled with living water to the lips of this
Pharisee. Is it not good news for you and me? Take them all to yourself; empty
if you can that vessel into your own soul. You are welcome to all it contains.
The words sank into the soul of Nicodemus as he went away. I can suppose
with what solemn feelings he bade the Master farewell, and walked over the
shoulder of the Mount of Olives in the calm still moonlight, thinking deeply on
all he had heard.
In the second scene we can see Nicodemus
going about his ordinary business, for a man does not need to leave his work to
follow Christ. He must take Christ with him; and religion does not make a man
selfish. It rather makes him want to give away all he can.
I can imagine
Nicodemus next day, observing Christ walking with His disciples, going forward
and saying to John, 'I was with your Master last night.'
'I thought so,'
said John. 'We heard some rumour of it at Bethany this morning.'
'I heard
him say strange things. Does He ever say such things to any one else? Did you
ever hear Him say that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son?'
At once John treasured up the words, and when he was writing his
Gospel the Holy Ghost said to him, 'Take care, John, that you do not forget
these words.' See how joy flows from one heart to another. Nicodemus having
received the love of God was the means of communicating it to others.
It
was the great day of the feast. The Sanhedrin or Seventy Elders, seeing the
crowds and Jesus speaking to them, ordered officers to go and fetch Him into
their presence. Nicodemus was present but did not interfere. He thought it
would be another famous opportunity of hearing Him. By and by the door
opened—the officers entered with awe-struck faces, but without Christ,
exclaiming, 'Never man spake like this Man.'
'Are ye also deceived? Have
any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on Him?' And they went on to curse
the crowd who listened and the One who taught. Then Nicodemus could not be
silent any longer. He burned to speak for the Master he loved. Rising up calmly
he said, 'Does our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he
doeth?' And as he looked around fearlessly, prepared to defend Christ, he was
met with a storm of sneers and contempt. 'Art thou also of Galilee? Search and
look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet!' Thus, like men in a passion, they
made a blunder historically.
I have a strong conviction that this was the
hour of the conversion of Joseph of Arimathea. I can suppose Joseph touching
Nicodemus and saying, 'I would like to speak with you about this Jesus of
Nazareth. Come home with me and tell me more about Him.' And so I would say
that it is a good thing sometimes to be laughed at. Young followers of the
Lamb—take encouragement from this, and remember that a little touch of
persecution will do you no harm.
In the third scene we find Nicodemus at the
Cross. He came out of his hiding-place. He could not bear that his Master
should hang on a Cross. When Jesus was condemned Nicodemus was not present in
the Council. He was journeying, perhaps. But see how he has been growing.
Compare his first coming to Christ with this his last. Then full of
fear, now bold and courageous. I am not sure that Joseph did not call on
him, on his coming back to Jerusalem, on the day of the Crucifixion, to say, 'I
have a new tomb where I would fain bury our Master. Will you help me?'
Nicodemus had evidently intended something of the kind, for he had brought a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.
Look at the
scene. As the two good men stood by the Cross, what would pass through the mind
of Nicodemus? Would it not be this: 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.'
How reverently and
lovingly they two handle that body! What a funeral! only two mourners, but many
spectators, for all the angels in heaven were looking on. It was the burial of
the King of kings. Dr. Mason of New York was once at the funeral of a young
man, and he thought the pall—bearers were going a little too fast. He went
forward, and touching them softly, he said, 'Walk softly; you are carrying a
temple of the Holy Ghost.' If that could be said of a follower of Christ, what
of the blessed Master Himself?
Nicodemus is hazarding his life as well as
his reputation. He is lavishing his wealth on Christ. Christ's dying love has
filled his heart. He counts it an honour to roll the stone to the
sepulchre-door, as the angel did to roll it back.
Learn like Nicodemus to
confess a Christ that died.
Men preach the imitation of Christ, but it is
the death of Christ that brings life to the soul. Woe to the sinner who tries
to get to heaven by simply imitating Christ. We must die, be crucified with
Christ, and then we shall rise with Him to life eternal.
Transcribed from Reminiscences of Andrew A.Bonar D.D.
first published
LONDON, HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27 Paternoster
Row
1895
HTML transcription files copyright © 2001-2006.
Jane Newble
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This sermon added 16 July 2001