Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
The verse names the speaker as Nicodemus, the ruler and teacher who had come to Jesus by night, yet who was himself one of the Pharisees and rulers gathered against Jesus. When the officers sent to arrest Jesus returned without him, Nicodemus stood up in that council to insist that their law does not condemn anyone without first hearing him and learning what he has done. That plea was a bold public stand for justice that exposed their plan to destroy Jesus without a hearing, yet it was as cautious as he dared and was met with contempt and dismissal. He had been enlightened by what Jesus taught him about the new birth, had searched the Scriptures, and was strongly convinced Jesus was the Christ, but fear of reproach, expulsion, and loss of his place kept him from openly declaring himself a disciple. He kept his seat in order to preserve his influence for Jesus and helped prevent condemnation at that time, was left out when opponents later met in secret to plan Jesus' death, and after the crucifixion came forward openly to honor Jesus and care for His body.
Identity and Plea for Justice
The speaker is Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus by night, and one of themselves. He was a Pharisee and a chief ruler and rabbi, a member of the Sanhedrin and of that company of priests and rulers who were set against Jesus. He now speaks up among them in their own council.
The occasion is the return of the officers who had been sent to arrest Jesus but came back without Him, having heard His words and seen His works. Some among the Jewish rulers were already believing in Jesus, yet fear of public reproach kept them from acknowledging their belief.
In that council Nicodemus speaks for Jesus by insisting that their law does not judge a person without first hearing him and learning what he has done. He presses for a fair hearing and for moderation, rather than condemnation and destruction without a hearing. His plea challenges the rulers' plan to condemn Jesus unheard.
His intervention is a bold, public stand for justice. It exposes the injustice of condemning Jesus without a hearing and shows that the influence of Jesus had moved Nicodemus to defend a fair hearing.
At the same time his defense is cautious and limited, defending Christ only so far as he dared. It is met with contempt and dismissal, for prejudice leads the council to set his question aside.
Secret Faith Becoming Open
The night visit left Nicodemus taught about the new birth, troubled and enlightened by what he had heard. That encounter led him to accept Jesus inwardly and to search the Scriptures earnestly. Having seen and heard Jesus and having studied the prophecies of the Messiah, he became strongly convinced that Jesus was the Christ. From that conviction he warned that it would be dangerous to reject one sent with God's authority.
Yet he remained a secret and hesitant believer who did not openly declare himself a disciple or join Jesus. Fear of the Jewish leaders kept him from open acknowledgment. Fear of public reproach also kept some among the rulers who believed from confessing their belief. For Nicodemus, open declaration would have cost him his place on the council and risked expulsion.
He deliberately retained his place in order to preserve his influence for Jesus. Together with Joseph of Arimathea he challenged the grounds for condemnation and protested the arrest. Without their consent the council could not secure a condemnation, so his action helped prevent Jesus' condemnation at that time.
Because of that defense he and Joseph were not summoned when opponents arranged a later secret council to secure condemnation and plan Jesus' death. Although they were present at the crucifixion, they could not change or lessen His sentence. After His death Nicodemus came forward openly, using his position to serve the disciples, honor Jesus, and help care for His body.
The verse names the speaker as Nicodemus, the ruler and teacher who had come to Jesus by night, yet who was himself one of the Pharisees and rulers gathered against Jesus.
When the officers sent to arrest Jesus returned without him, Nicodemus stood up in that council to insist that their law does not condemn anyone without first hearing him and learning what he has done.
That plea was a bold public stand for justice that exposed their plan to destroy Jesus without a hearing, yet it was as cautious as he dared and was met with contempt and dismissal.
He had been enlightened by what Jesus taught him about the new birth, had searched the Scriptures, and was strongly convinced Jesus was the Christ, but fear of reproach, expulsion, and loss of his place kept him from openly declaring himself a disciple.
He kept his seat in order to preserve his influence for Jesus and helped prevent condemnation at that time, was left out when opponents later met in secret to plan Jesus' death, and after the crucifixion came forward openly to honor Jesus and care for His body.
Identity and Plea for Justice
The speaker is Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus by night, and one of themselves. He was a Pharisee and a chief ruler and rabbi, a member of the Sanhedrin and of that company of priests and rulers who were set against Jesus. He now speaks up among them in their own council.
The occasion is the return of the officers who had been sent to arrest Jesus but came back without Him, having heard His words and seen His works. Some among the Jewish rulers were already believing in Jesus, yet fear of public reproach kept them from acknowledging their belief.
In that council Nicodemus speaks for Jesus by insisting that their law does not judge a person without first hearing him and learning what he has done. He presses for a fair hearing and for moderation, rather than condemnation and destruction without a hearing. His plea challenges the rulers' plan to condemn Jesus unheard.
His intervention is a bold, public stand for justice. It exposes the injustice of condemning Jesus without a hearing and shows that the influence of Jesus had moved Nicodemus to defend a fair hearing.
At the same time his defense is cautious and limited, defending Christ only so far as he dared. It is met with contempt and dismissal, for prejudice leads the council to set his question aside.
Secret Faith Becoming Open
The night visit left Nicodemus taught about the new birth, troubled and enlightened by what he had heard. That encounter led him to accept Jesus inwardly and to search the Scriptures earnestly. Having seen and heard Jesus and having studied the prophecies of the Messiah, he became strongly convinced that Jesus was the Christ. From that conviction he warned that it would be dangerous to reject one sent with God's authority.
Yet he remained a secret and hesitant believer who did not openly declare himself a disciple or join Jesus. Fear of the Jewish leaders kept him from open acknowledgment. Fear of public reproach also kept some among the rulers who believed from confessing their belief. For Nicodemus, open declaration would have cost him his place on the council and risked expulsion.
He deliberately retained his place in order to preserve his influence for Jesus. Together with Joseph of Arimathea he challenged the grounds for condemnation and protested the arrest. Without their consent the council could not secure a condemnation, so his action helped prevent Jesus' condemnation at that time.
Because of that defense he and Joseph were not summoned when opponents arranged a later secret council to secure condemnation and plan Jesus' death. Although they were present at the crucifixion, they could not change or lessen His sentence. After His death Nicodemus came forward openly, using his position to serve the disciples, honor Jesus, and help care for His body.