Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospels;
FIRST
TIME at John 3:2 during the night time at dark.
SECOND TIME at John
7:51 Nicodemus spoke up when the Pharisees were trying to find fault with
Christ: “Does our
law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
THIRD TIME at John 19:38 and 39 we find him assisting Joseph
of Arimathea in a proper burial of Jesus.
NOTE AT THE
BEGINNING ITSELF verse 1 of John 3 begins stating some important details
about Nicodemus. He was a PHARISEE. His name was NICODEMUS and that he was
presently a MEMBER OF THE RULING JEWISH COUNCIL.
CHRONOLOGICALLY
SPEAKING from viewpoint of time, at the first personal, one on one meeting, he acknowledges
Yahshua (Jesus) representing Yahweh God. He addresses him respectfully as RABBI
and says that Yahshua is surely a teacher come from God. John 3:3 The Second meeting, Nicodemus dares to Stand up &
Support Yahshua (Jesus) – John 19:38,
39. Third time he is more open and supportive by providing burial
assistance to Yahshua (Jesus).
Nicodemus was
indeed being careful.
He had his Status and Position at stake being a current
Jewish ruling council member. He surely did not want unnecessary attention, he
himself being, “Israel’s Teacher” – John
3:10.
Nicodemus was definitely monitoring the teachings and
miracles of this self confessed new teacher on the geographical scene of Israel
from a safe distance within a group.
John 3:2.
SAFE
CONCLUSION
And in the third encounter with Nicodemus, recorded in John 19:38 and 39, we find Nicodemus
assisting Joseph of Arimathea in a proper burial of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea
is described here as a secret disciple
of Jesus because he was afraid of the Jews. PLUS Nicodemus meeting Yahshua (Jesus) the first time at Night under
cover of the dark indicates that Nicodemus
was fearful or ashamed of something.
Nicodemus has fearfully come to
Jesus under cover of darkness.
So it is interesting that Yahshua (Jesus)
closes his conversation as a fitting climax by
contrasting darkness or night with light with him by saying: “Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light [which
Jesus is by his life and teachings] has come into the world, but men have loved
the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. For
whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light,
so that his works may not be reproved. But whoever does what is true comes to
the light, so that his works may be made manifest as having been done in
harmony with God.”—John 3:19-21.