50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"
52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."
53 Then each went to his own home.
Once cowardly coming to Jesus in curiosity, cloaked in the darkness of night, we discover in our verses for today Nicodemus now drawing attention to his allegiance to the Savior. Previously fearful of the council – even though he being one of their numbers – timorous Nicodemus, through divine grace, now boldly pleads our Lord’s case openly before their faces. This was no small action taken on by the protagonist of our verses in Scripture today. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Philippians that could have been Nicodemus’ mantra as well:
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 (NIV)
As His children, we are given the grace sufficient to meet each need He allows. Here, Nicodemus blatenly hits these Pharisees between the eyes with their own logic, silencing and thwarting Jesus’ enemies. These leaders had most recently asserted that the poor followers of our Lord were ignorant to the Law thereby making their opinions worth nothing. Now, Nicodemus brings to light their folly concerning it. Willing to give their judgment of condemnation regarding Jesus without prior knowledge of the particulars of His case, these leaders were going against their own Law. No man was to be condemned without having heard from him his own defense. It was a great principle of the Law of Moses which they professed to honor yet obviously were conveniently failing to adhere.
It is interesting to note that God has His people sprinkled throughout even the most non-believing groups – Lot in Sodom, Daniel in Babylon, Obadiah in Ahab’s domain and Nicodemus among the Pharisees just to name a few. People called to do His bidding even in the midst of what would appear to be “enemy camp”. While Nicodemus was counted as one of their number, he was certainly not one with them in spirit. Perhaps we may find ourselves in that same lone position. Take heart believer, God knows exactly the place where we are. He is not scratching His glorious Head wondering why we are there. God maintains a remnant amidst all sorts - oftentimes in the worst places and societies.
“Christian, make your life a clear testimony. Be you as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom – not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface – but clear and transparent, so that your heart’s love to God and man may be visible to all. You need not say, ‘I am true’: be true. Boast not of integrity, but be upright. So shall your testimony be such that men cannot help seeing it. Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” C.H. Spurgeon
Never forget believer - one plus God will always be the majority. Scripture tells us:
14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? Gen 18:14 (NIV)
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)
1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:1-2 (NIV)
The reaction to Nicodemus’ words by these teachers of the Law was anything but pleasant. They blustered and railed with rage and scorn and bitter contempt. They were vexed at our Lord’s increasing popularity and their inability to stop it and now one of their own was rallying to His cause. Their prideful hearts overtook their knowledge and reason and they began venting like a smokestack yet did nothing – much lightning but no rain – afterwards becoming silent and each going to his own home. The fool vents without reason, the wise man gives thought to his words.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. Prov 10:21 (NIV)
7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. Prov 14:7 (NIV)
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Prov 14:8 (NIV)
9 Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. Prov 14:9 (NIV)
“All the wisdom of the conspiracy was broken to pieces with one plain honest word. They were not willing to hear Nicodemus, because they could not answer him.” Matthew Henry