p. 5 | Nicodemus by Mrs. Edith B. Goodrich

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 22, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 33.

Nicodemus

By Mrs. Edith B. Goodrich

When night had drawn her curtains about a sleeping world, And all was hushed on hill, and lake, and lea, 'Twas then that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, Went forth to meet the Lord in secrecy.

Chorus

O grand, impartial message inscribed on sacred page! 'Tis just as much a truth to-day as then, Position wins no favors from Christ, the King of Kings; "Ye must," said He, "ye must be born again!"

Afraid to meet the censure of bitter Pharisee By seeking open counsel in the day, Yet longing to unburden his anxious, troubled heart, To meet the Lord by night he stole away.

With eagerness, yet trembling, he sought the secret spot Where Jesus oft retired to pray and rest, And there, before the Master, in that strange hour of night, Unfolded all that lay upon his breast.

He deemed that his position might influence the Lord To favor him, a ruler of the Jew; To make salvation easy—to point some special way; But Jesus read His questioner through and through.

Tho cultured was His caller, the Master did not shrink From speaking truth that in his soul would ring; He showed one common pathway—one road for all the world, For pauper, peasant, Pharisee, or king!

As Nicodemus listened, he felt the forceful power Of all the words the Saviour spoke to him; He hid them in his bosom, and pondered on them much, While walking homeward through the shadows dim.

And when the great Sanhedrin those officers despatched To seize the Galilean ere His hour, 'Twas Nicodemus questioned, "To rashly judge a man Before his trial—hath our law such power?"

'Twas Nicodemus, also, who, after Jesus' death, Brought spices to anoint Him, very rare; And I believe hereafter, in that fair world made new, We'll meet this noble ruler over there.

Meadow Glade, Washington.