A Nighttime Visitor

A Nighttime Visitor

Q: Who came to see Jesus at night?

• a. Zacchaeus
• b. Nicodemus
• c. John the Baptist

The Pharisees, a group of religious leaders in Jesus’ day, disliked Jesus and often criticized him. Jesus called them hypocrites because they demanded that others should follow the religious laws when they themselves didn’t follow all parts of the law or obeyed it only for show. Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ authority and leadership.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee searching for answers. Since the Pharisees opposed Jesus, Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night so no one would see him. Nicodemus wanted to know for himself who Jesus was and what he taught, not what the other Pharisees said about him.

Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again. Jesus meant that just as Nicodemus had been born physically, he must be born spiritually. Jesus told him, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

We don’t know more about Nicodemus other than he was a changed person because of his meeting with Jesus. After Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus went with Joseph of Arimathea to ask for Jesus’ body in order to bury it (see John 19:38-39). This was a bold move for the man who originally met with Jesus in secret.

Nicodemus was changed because he met Jesus. Countless people over the years have had that same experience. Once you meet Jesus, your life is never the same.

For You

Nicodemus went to talk to Jesus to find out for himself who Jesus was. If you, like Nicodemus, want to know more about Jesus, take time each day to read from the Gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

Answer: b

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”   John 3:1-3

(The Whole Story: John 3:1-21)