A Night Visitor's Inquiry Series

We know Nicodemus was involved in the request made by a man named Joseph of Aramathea in requesting the body of Jesus for proper burial. (John 19:39)

Christian tradition has it that Nicodemus was baptized by Peter and John, suffered persecution from hostile Jews, lost his membership in the Sanhedrin, and was forced to leave Jerusalem because of his Christian faith.

SEEKING ANSWERS?

Nicodemus made his approach to Jesus by night. This tactic could be considered as an act of fear and cowardice.

This is the most popular opinion. Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed, to be seen with Christ, and therefore came in the night.

Whatever brought him under cover of darkness we do not know. But we do know that he came with questions?

Do you have questions you need to ask Jesus?

Are you, for some reason, being overly cautious about getting too close to Him?

Do you have troubling questions for or about Him and find yourself impatient for satisfying answers?

Remember, what I said earlier:

Your perspective on Jesus

will determine your approach to Him and…

will determine the questions you will ask him.

Intellectual approach, moral approach, aesthetic approach…these will ultimately fail you.

James 1:4

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn’t so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, "Did you ask a good question today?

"Asking good questions," Rabi said, "made me become a scientist."

Come asking questions like Nicodemus…

Jesus loves the hard questions…the sticky ones…

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked.

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

When the questions are answered deep in one’s hard they will risk anything to stand with the Lord.

Later at Christ’s trial he would boldly intercede for Him:

John 7:50-51

"Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"