Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and 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.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:1-3
This passage sets the stage for Jesus to share an important lesson with an unlikely listener. Nicodemus is not only a Pharisee but a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council that would later try Jesus for the accusations people leveled against Him. Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness, apparently to avoid being seen contacting Him.
We are blessed to be able to come to Jesus openly and unafraid. While we sometimes feel the pressure that displaying our faith causes, we are rarely in danger for doing so. How sad is it that we are afraid of what people will think of us or say to others because of our faith practice! There are still places in the world where people face death daily due to their faith in Christ but do not let that deter them from believing.
Displaying our faith in public means more than just praying at restaurants or wearing a visible cross. If we want to be Christ’s disciples we must live as He did, born to a new life and sharing God’s love where we are led. It happened to Nicodemus later – in John 19 we read that he and Joseph of Arimathia claimed Jesus’ body following the crucifixion and performed His burial. Don’t let the whims of society dictate the practice of your faith, live each day for the Lord!
Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of our Savior and the way He taught us to live. Help us to follow the lessons we have received, to love You and others and to go make disciples of all the world. Amen.