The Rest of the Story, and you.

10 hours ago

4 min read

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2bc7032b/the-rest-of-the-story-and-you-john-no11

Walking through the limestone alleys and corridors of the Old City of Jerusalem at night, the shadows and dark corners are at once enchanting and also mysterious. And I can't help but wonder, where did Nicodemus find Jesus that night so long ago?

Nicodemus goes at night, because he probably would be stripped of his position in the Sanhedrin if he is seen in the company of this rabbi from Nazareth. But knowing the Law and the prophets like the back of his hand, Nicodemus takes the risk, believing Jesus just might be the long-awaited Messiah. In order to know, he will not take anyone else's word for it, but must have an encounter with Jesus himself.

Soon in the conversation, Jesus cuts right to it--telling the wealthy Jewish teacher and Pharisee that he must experience a spiritual rebirth in order to go to Heaven; that is, he had to be born again, and then Jesus says these well known words:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3.16-17

Knowing the priority the Jewish leader places on upholding the Law, including the added man-made oral laws, Jesus draws a distinction in what believing in Him looks like: Whoever believes in him is not condemned.1 John 3.18a

Jesus is expressing in a face-to-face conversation with Nicodemus the reason He has laid aside his royal robes and come to earth; it is the reason he will suffer, the reason he will go to the cross. Jesus has counted the cost of what he will endure for one such man on this night. I am sure Jesus looks long in Nicodemus’ eyes and explains, ‘There is no other way, so I said I would come--why, the very reason I am present with you tonight, Nicodemus. Can you understand? It is my Father’s plan that all may live eternally with him--and that, by believing in me, but he forces it on no man. It is a free gift.’ [Right here, I think Jesus looks long in Nicodemus’ eyes - O, Jesus' eyes... I cannot wait to look into them. Hmmmm...]

Friend, you must not just keep reading along - not just keep listening without stopping to think for a moment of the magnitude of what you are reading. New life is being offered to Nicodemus ... aye, not just to him, but to you. To be born again is to be made new, to be transformed - no thing, no other one, no religion makes such an offer.

Check the historical record. Jesus is who he professes to be--the only Son of God sent to save the world...that's you, that's me. When we see and believe, we are set free, and Jesus takes upon himself our judgment. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 3.18b

Understand - this is not religion. This is not a denomination. This is not the

'if I am good enough',

'if I do more good things than bad',

'if I perform enough mitzvahs or say enough Hail Marys',

then I will be acceptable to God.

This is not the Good Works gospel...no, no, this is the sacrificial love of the Savior -- the very essence of hope. Jesus comes with an offer to transform from the inside--changing our hearts, souls, and minds--so that even our past is redeemed.

Since I was a young girl, I have enjoyed live radio--from Jim Rome's sports talk, 'have a take' and 'the Jungle' to Paul Harvey and 'the rest of the story.' So what is the rest of the story about Nicodemus? What happened after this clandestine meeting?

Two more times, John speaks of the man--and by all indications, it appears that Nicodemus' heart was tender toward Jesus. In John 7, as Jesus' influence with the people was growing, the Pharisees wanted to arrest him, but one among them said, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”4 That man? Nicodemus. He risked the scrutiny and harsh judgment by his peers for speaking up for the Nazarene. I wonder if Jesus knew. Hmmm... perhaps it is why Jesus commented, "everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."5

And then, after Jesus' death on the cross, John writes that "Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.6 Nicodemus used his own resources (worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by today's standards) to see that Jesus' body was properly cared for at his death. Love? Loyalty? Both, I believe. And as for Nicodemus? Now you know the rest of the story.

Seeing myself in this story, most of my time with Jesus is private too, except for when I worship at church. I am challenged by Nicodemus, who he was, his willingness to risk for Jesus Christ. Do I risk the scorn of others to talk of my Jesus? And just how generous am I? hmmm.... and this from Nicodemus, who knew?

Listen: "The Lord Will Provide" - Passion, Landon Wolfe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Yx0RR6cN0&list=RDd7Yx0RR6cN0&start_radio=1

Worth giving it all - Jesus.

Christine

John, no.11