Why was Nicodemus not chosen by Jesus to be one of the 12 Disciples? After the resurrection of Jesus, there were more disciples that were not part of the 'original' disciples, such as Mary Magdalen and Nicodemus, as the book of Acts portrays.
From our Biblical history, we know that the name, Nicodemus, was a Jewish name, but was Greek speaking. He was a ruler of the Jews, the Sanhedrin, known as the Chief Justice. The group was both political and religious in their everyday work . People have drawn pictures of what he might look like as an elderly man, with a long beard and bald!
So Nicodemus first comes to Jesus in the middle of the night and there are a few reasons why he chose to do that. First, to Nicodemus, Jesus was a peasant, he did not want to be seen in public with him as the people would ridicule him. Second, Nicodemus, wanted to have an depth conversation with Jesus, and this would be avoiding the crowds who wanted Jesus' attention. But Jesus would not allow the crowd to get in the way of answering his questions.
The conversation went like this, "Lord (Rabbi, teacher) I am coming to you because I am seeking an answer from somebody who knows God, like you do! You have demonstrated this by your miracles and your teachings which says to me, 'You are from Heaven." Nicodemus, knows all the answers from studying the Old Testament, but one thing that he does not know --- The Spirit of God! And now Jesus is going to give him the answer he has been looking for.
The rich young ruler had asked a similar question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" A simple question that could have been asked by Nicodemus and he could have been on his merry way. But Jesus knew the heart of Nicodemus, so he could receive the correct answer -- the truth!
Nicodemus had every thing too -- all the money, all the education, all of the power at the top of his career, Jesus now gives him what he really needed -- A NEW LIFE -- A NEW BIRTH -- A NEW SPIRIT-- A NEW CREATION! Jesus has the answer summed up in a few words from John 3:5, "Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Every one must be born of the water and the Spirit.
Jesus pointed out to Nicodemus, It is not about the miracles I do. It is not about the Jewish religion you were born into. It is not about your dedication to God. It is not about your integrity and honesty. Nicodemus, you still lack one thing -- YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! By believing in the only begotten Son!
Nicodemus, met Jesus in the darkness of the night and received his answer to his fears and doubts. Jesus met him there and will do the same for us when in our darkest days of fears and doubts. Nicodemus came out of the darkness when Jesus died as he helped by providing the myrrh and the aloes worth 100 pounds and then they gave Jesus a burial place with Joseph of Arimathaea.
There was a time when Jesus was being talked about among the Sanhedrin as they were making quick judgements about him. And then Nicodemus, says "we are not judge anyone until they listen to the person first." But the others disagreed with his answer and said "You do not know what you are talking about, because nothing good will come out of Galilee." (John 7:50-52)
Well, that was a costly statement for Nicodemus, because he now identifies himself with a follower of Jesus. What happens next, by what tradition says . He had defended Jesus at the trial, then expelled from the Sanhedrin, and dies a martyr's death, like the other apostles.
CONCLUSION: What questions do you have for Jesus, your Lord and Savior? You can ask Him at any time of the day or night. What is on your mind and heart, Jesus knows and will give you the correct answer. Nicodemus chose in spite of danger and the risk to come out of the darkness into the light of Jesus. WILL YOU DO THE SAME? Then be born of the water and the Spirit and receive the promise of eternal life. Amen.
Presented By Larry L. Vollink, Retired Chaplain/Pastor, Cedar Springs, Mich. (616) 655-4129 lawrenceV@comcast.net
