He skulked into the garden as it was cast in the shadow of night, while looking over his shoulder every few steps to see if he was being followed. Any unexpected sound caused him to practically leap out of his skin. Every shadow seemed to hide unseen eyes. What he was doing was dangerous… very dangerous, but he had to know.
The Teacher was waiting for him just where the message said that he would be — one last careful look around the garden — they seemed to be alone — and he crept up to the young Rabbi.
The Teacher just sat on a stone silently and gazed into his eyes — quietly waiting for him to reveal his purpose in this illicit, nighttime rendezvous. Where to begin? What should he say? How could he initiate a conversation that would lead to understanding? He HAD to know! Was this man a prophet of God? Clearing his throat, he said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:2)
Even as the words left his mouth he marveled at his boldness. Certainly, that same thought had been in his mind for days now… every time he sought to dismiss the marvels this man did — the miracles he had personally witnessed, the same thought rang in his mind: “No one could perform these miracles if God was not with him.” Dangerous words. Damning words if the rest of the Sanhedrin found out about them.
That night Nicodemus didn’t receive exactly what he was expecting from his nocturnal encounter with Jesus. He received something even better — God’s plan to restore sinful people to himself through his one and only Son, Jesus. Sure, in the moment, he didn’t understand all that Jesus revealed to him, but give him credit that he eventually worked things out and understood. We don’t know if it was that night or at some point later, but Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus, and was present at his burial.
You know, this week I have pondered… many people seemed to approach Jesus during his ministry with some expectation. The expectation to be healed. The expectation to be fed. The expectation to be taught. And even the expectation to trip him up and cause him to reveal he was not sent from God. Sometimes Jesus met people’s expectations and other times he did not. God’s plans don’t always line up with ours, but God’s plans are always right and good for us.
Solomon wrote: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 God’s purposes always prevail… and Paul wrote: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 So, God’s purposes always prevail… and his purposes for his people are always good.
Did Nicodemus take personal, political and religious risk when he met with Jesus that night? Yes he did. But I think today he would tell us that the risk was worth it. Jesus had a purpose for Nicodemus that he never expected… but it sure was good. As the Apostle John sums up Nicodemus’ nighttime encounter with the words: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I don’t know what expectations you might have of Jesus, but I do know this… He has purpose for you… his purposes are always good for his people… and those purposes always — prevail!
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