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Written By: Pat Aman copyright 1996 - 2009 All rights reserved
Devotion April 22
What
Matters Is That We, Like Nicodemus, Finally Arrive At Jesus Feet.
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All Scriptures
are posted below the Devotion
John 3 tells us that Nicodemus first came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, a questioner: "Who are you really? How can a man be born again?" Jesus answered his questions, and raised more. But John does not say that Nicodemus believed. Perhaps he mulled the questions and answers over, for John 7 tells us he defended Jesus when other Pharisees accused him: "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" But John still does not say he believed. Then, unexpected, John 19 shows Nicodemus performing an act of great faith. When Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross, Nicodemus came with expensive spices and helped anoint the body for burial. According to Hebrew law this made him unclean, he could not celebrate Passover. Further, it publicly identified him with Jesus when even the disciples had fled. I wonder when Nicodemus decided to believe in Jesus --- in a blinding moment, or by a slow process of growth? John's way of telling the story of Nicodemus shows me that when we first believe is not what really matters. What matters is that we, like Nicodemus, finally arrive at Jesus, to offer our wealth, our reputation and our service. Father God, thank you for your saving grace. Now take all of me, for your glory. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen and Amen John 3: 1 - 21The New Birth
1
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man
came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a
teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do
unless God is with him.”
John 7: 45 - 52
45 Then the officers came to
the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not
brought Him?”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
John 19: 38 - 42
38
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being 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 the body of Jesus.
39 And
Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they
took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the
spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in
the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden
a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there
they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the
tomb was nearby.
Joyfully, In The Master's Service
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