1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
Cloaked in the darkness of night, Nicodemus approaches Jesus, the unapproachable Light, cloaked in flesh. Nicodemus, the “Who’s Who” of the Jewish people – a Pharisee, a scholar and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, was a man of authority in Jerusalem. He had had his eyebrows raised by the miraculous signs Jesus performed. He knew enough to know that these things could not have been accomplished by mere man – the fingerprints of God were all too obvious. “Pala” works – things too hard for man to do – if we are intellectually honest, point us to the Creator. I love how Jeremiah states this fact in his prayer:
17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jer 32:17 (NIV)
20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. Jer 32:20 (NIV)
Blameless Job, after being confronted and questioned by God responds accordingly:
1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Job 42:1-3 (NIV)
Indeed, Jesus speaking to the father of the boy with an evil spirit appears taken aback when the man asked if there was anything he could do to help them - foolishly questioning Jesus’ ability to give aid:
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:21-24 (NIV)
Later in Mark Jesus tells us:
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27 (NIV)
The miracles of Jesus prompted Nicodemus to discover more. Approaching Jesus at night he desired to talk with Him alone sans the constant interruptions of the public fanfare. While others were perhaps resting, sleeping or at their leisure, Nicodemus pursued further knowledge, albeit perhaps in a cowardly fashion, coming at night when no one would notice.
“Here was Nicodemus, a judicious, sensible, inquisitive man, one who had all the reason and opportunity imaginable to examine them, so fully satisfied that they were real miracles that he was influenced by them to go contrary to the stream of those of his own rank.” Matthew Henry
Likewise, we are told to pursue further knowledge through the infallible Word of God so that we may not be ashamed at His appearing. We are called to be zealous in this pursuit:
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 (NIV)
“Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.” Oswald Chambers