How's your walk with Jesus

Where is your faith?

While we continue in the Story we have entered the time where Jesus has started his ministry. Jesus wasn’t like previous prophets. He was described to be a radical and transforming to the current culture. Jesus taught differently than what the Pharisees preached and how they lived their lives. This rapidly changed the entire church and the way he did his ministry brought attention to him. Jesus taught differently than the Pharisee’s and he lived a humble, simple life. This way of living brought simple people to gather to him. He was brought sick people, people with diseases, people that were possessed, and all the problems that the common person had. This is important, because why didn’t they do that with the current Pharisees? Why didn’t they bring those same people to the temple or doctors at the time?

It starts to paint the picture of the Pharisee’s that we know about today. Pharisee’s were known for their power and status during those times. They were the religious powerheads of the time, and they ruled as dictators that we have seen in the Old Testament. The Pharisee’s usually dressed in outlandish regalia and were known in their communities. They were proud people and usually had wealth and power. These men were predominately selected from the upper class families and they went through years of training and schooling. It became a systematic process to segregate these priests from the common people. They were groomed to segregate themselves from the common person since childhood. It is no wonder that they weren’t known to heal the sick or hang out with the common person. However, there was even a more elite level of Priests called the Sanhedrin. This was the high court of the Jewish temples and think of them as the Supreme Court of the Roman time. There was approximately 70 very wealthy and highly powerful priest that make up the Sanhedrin. They had the ultimate religious rule over the community during that time. These were the 1% of the 1%. They typically looked down on people and thought of themselves as more worthy as the common person.

So it’s strange to see a member of the Sanhedrin coming to Jesus, a radical, looking for advice. I want to look at specific person who displays our different stages of our spiritual lives. If fact, I think this character displays the different stages of faith and I want to talk about how it can be used in our modern day lives. Nichodemas was introduced to us in John chapter 3. So starting at verse 1 “There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. How John describes Nicodemas was the Chairman of the Sanhedrin. The top guy. The numero uno guy. He was well known throughout the Jewish region and probably was as famous as the governor or a celebrity of their time. He obviously had power and wealth, which probably was part of his character. Due to his position he wore the fines clothing, typically they wore a lot of jewelry to flaunt their prestige to others and show the people of their status in the community. But there are two important things that are very interesting in the next few verses. Verse 2- “This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

First, Nicodemus came to Jesus and he came to him at night. This means that Jesus’ ministry was rapidly spreading throughout the region and spreading like wildfire. It has reached to the highest levels of the Jewish government and the entire church knew Jesus by name. This means that Jesus’ work was being discussed by everyone in the areas and they even know where he was at. It also means that the highest person in the highest court was intrigued by Jesus because of his works and teachings. Nicodemus was so interested with Jesus that he sought him out and went to him. This is significant because the same people part of the Jewish Court were the ones that plotted against Jesus. However, the chairman sought out Jesus. He came to him even though he already had a gathering. But he wanted to protect his reputation so he came under the cloak of darkness. He snuck to Jesus, because he may have been ashamed to be talking to him. He definitely wasn’t broadcasting that he sought out Jesus. Using the cloak of darkness he kept his encounter with Jesus in secret. He didn’t want anyone to see him coming to Jesus, because he was afraid what everyone would think of him if they saw him talking with Jesus. So the first encounter with Jesus was under the protection of darkness. In secret and hiding a fondness of Jesus. How do you talk to Jesus in your spiritual walk? Are you open or are you keeping your relationship with Jesus in secret. Obviously if your sitting here today we all can see that you are seeking Jesus, but what about when your at a bar? What about when your with your friends back home? What about when your living a differently life because they don’t see you as a believer? Are you what DC Talk calls a “Jesus Freak”? Do you have an outward relationship with Jesus and God, or are you keeping that relationship under the protection of darkness?

Jesus’ ministry was different and his ministry attracted each one of us, because we all have come to hear the Word each week. We all have found something attractive in the Christian religion, or we wouldn’t be here today right? This is because it was a divine ministry. A God ordained ministry that is not from this world. However, you all became Christians is personal to you but there was something interesting that kept bringing you back and that was because we all know Jesus is the Messiah. We all know that he is the Savior of all of us and only through him we can received salvation. This is echoed in verse 2. Nicodemus referred to Jesus as Rabbi. This is a term of that acknowledges that Jesus is a Spiritual Leader. The highest level of Jewish courts surrendering to Jesus in the first encounter. But he continued with “we know that you have come from God” There were more than just Nicodemus that has acknowledged Jesus’ power and divinity. They understand that he is more powerful than worldly powers and they have submitted to him. What’s different from the “we” and Nicodemus was that Nicodemus sought after Jesus. Even though he was ashamed of coming toward Jesus he still came. This is what Jesus wanted. He wants all of us to come to him. Nicodemus obviously didn’t listen to some reports that he was a devil worshiper or a demon, because he referred to Jesus as Rabbi. This wasn’t a term that was loosely used in their culture. But Nicodemus used it to show reverence and respect to Jesus. Nicodemus saw something different with Jesus and Jesus’ proved that he had divine wisdom that Niocdemus hasn’t heard before.

Jesus taught during his ministry with the authority from God. He was assure that his words were true and that he was on God’s mission to save the world. Jesus gave Nicodemus a lesson on baptism and then spoke life into Nicodemus. See even under the cover of darkness and hiding in secrecy Jesus was still willing to speak to Nicodemus. Even when Nicodemus was ashamed to publicly talk with Jesus during the day, Jesus wasn’t ashamed of us. Even after all the sins and things Nicodemus was doing wrong, Jesus allowed a sinner to approach him. He didn’t distant himself from the sinners, in fact he embraced them. Jesus wanted the relationships, even though people plotted against him. In these few verses we saw Nicodemus’ faith begin. No matter where you are at with your relationship with Jesus, he will always answer you when you call upon him. He will meet you in the darkness to breathe life into your dark life. He will meet you in secrecy because you are ashamed to publicly announce that you’re a Christian. Jesus was never ashamed of his desire to save the sinners of the world. Jesus isn’t ashamed of you or me not matter what sin that we have committed and no matter how hard we try to keep it a secret, he still wants this intimate relationship with us.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happens to Nicodemus next or how this conversation changed his life. We do know that it in fact changed his faith and he became a believer. I’m going to jump ahead a little past the Story storyline, but it’s just to show you the radical change in Nicodemus. This next scenes took place about 6 months before Jesus was crucified. It obviously showed that Jesus’ ministry is becoming a well-known ministry and there was a massive revival going on. Jesus work had to be so significant where a meeting of church leaders and members of the Sanhedrin met to discuss Jesus. It also showed that there has already been action to arrest Jesus and that Church leaders have plotted against him. John 7:45-“The temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought him?” the police answered, “No man ever spoke like this!” Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law is accursed!” Right here listen “Nicodemus-the one who came to Him previously, being one of them- said to them, “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? They replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

There is some serious drama in the Bible. Here the Sanhedrin and other priests are already talking against Jesus and they are already denying him any divine authority. But now there are two groups that have started believing him in him. The temple police and guess who the other one is…Nicodemus. He mentioned in the first few verses that he has already recognized him coming from God. He has spoken to Jesus and has already heard his teaching. It’s interesting that when they start talking against Jesus, it was Nicodemus that stood up for him. Remember that Nicodemus met with Jesus in secret and no one knew about this encounter. So when the Pharisees said “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed it Him?” they didn’t know that already there were that actually did believe in him. Nicodemus believed that he was sent from God, and remember what he said “WE know that you have come from God” There were more Pharisees that knew that Jesus came from God and that he was more than just a Man. Maybe some of them believed in him, but Nicodemus knew and believed that Jesus was different. So when the Pharisees asked if any of the Pharisees believed in him, it was Nicodemus that spoke up. He didn’t defend Jesus, but how it is written, it appears that he wanted the Pharisees to hear the words that Jesus taught. It was the first outwardly action that Nicodemus did in favor of Jesus. Here is the shift of his faith. He didn’t speak to the other Pharisees in private or under the cover of darkness. He spoke outwardly and said that the Pharisees need to hear Jesus before any judgement has been given. He wanted his peers to hear the divine words and the breath of life that he heard that night. Again I say, I don’t know what happened to Nicodemus after he spoke with Jesus, but here we see a dramatic change with this man. He is starting to not be afraid of what others thought of him, because he wanted everyone to hear God’s words and wisdom. Here we see that Nicodemus is taking a stand for Jesus and publicly stating that everyone should be listening to him. Is this where you’re at in your spiritual life? Are you saying that you’re a Christian, but not publicly telling or showing that you’re a Christian? Are you indirectly standing up for Jesus, but not ready to publicly state that you are a follower for Jesus?

Let’s fast forward again to John 19:38-40 “After this (Meaning after Jesus’ death) Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus- but secretly because of his fear of the Jews- asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and laoes. Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.” This is the same Nicodemus that spoke to Jesus in the protection of darkness. The same Nicodemus that secretly stood up for Jesus. Now Nicodemus was with another prominate Jewish priest. Joseph was a very well know priest that was also part of the Sanhedrin. Remember when Nicodemus said “we know that you came from God” This proves that there were believers in the Sanhedrin, but they were scared. Now it was these two men that have kept their belief in Jesus secret that came for the broken body of Jesus. When all of Jesus’ disciples scattered and fled, it was Nicodemus and Joseph that publicly stated that Jesus was worth to be buried like royalty. This burial was equalivant to burying a king. Tombs weren’t cheap and usually very wealthy people were only buried in tomb. Joseph bought this tomb, so that is a very public act. But Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. The amount of these were astronomical. Like I said before, this burial was fit to bury a king. Even though there was a lot of money, it was their act that is far more important.

In the Old Testament, it was a commandment that Jews weren’t supposed to handle dead bodies. If they did touch a dead body, they were considered unclean and they were casted out of the camps. Joseph and Nicodemus handled Jesus’ body. They prepared Jesus body for burial and they carefully wrapped him in aromatic clothes. Meaning they completed a very sacred burial that was fit for a king, but intentionally made themselves unclean for Jesus. These were Pharisees that didn’t associate themselves with common people, but yet they surrendered everything to just bury Jesus’ broken and fragile body. They sacrificed their prominate statuses and their high levels of influence. Instead they wanted to give Jesus’ a proper burial and not let his body be defiled by anything. Nicodemus went to Pilate in the day and in the public to ask for a dead body. They outward stated that Jesus was fit to be a King and gave him a proper burial. Not Jesus’ family, not his disciples, not any of followers. It was a man that met him in the dark and in secret that made a radical change in his faith. He didn’t care about what the world thought of himself, because he wanted to show reverence to Jesus. So where are you in your faith? Are you wanting to come to Jesus in the protection of the dark? Do you not want anyone to know that you are a follower of Jesus? Or are you quietly indirectly a follower of Jesus? Living in this world, but still secretly following Jesus? Or are you publicly stating that you’re ready to surrender your status to just give Jesus the reverence that he deserves. Are you ashamed of what Jesus did for you, or are you ready to tell the world that you are a Jesus Freak and to live your life according to the Bible? It’s funny. My favorite thing about this uniform is the cross I carry. It is a public symbol that I have surrender my life to him. That I am held to certain standards that I must act according to the Bible or people will come up to me ask if I am a Chaplain. It is a very public statement that I am a Jesus Freak and that Jesus is with me every day, every moment, and that I will never use the protection of darkness to say that I am a follower of Jesus.

The story is told of artist Paul Gustave Dore who was traveling in Europe when he faced a predicament. He reached a border crossing and discovered that he had misplaced his passport. Without his papers, the officer wouldn’t allow Dore to pass. Finally, Dore was given a test to prove his identity. The official gave him a piece of paper and a pencil and requested he draw a group of nearby peasants. Dore did so with such ease that the official was convinced he was indeed the famed artist.

Paul Dore’s identity was affirmed through his work. Many people in our world find their identity through their work or accomplishments. Like the Pharisees they thought they were proud elite priests, but some realized they were nothing because there was someone greater that lived among them. Joseph and Nicodemus changed their lives to surrender to Jesus. They submitted to Him and found out that they have been living their lives wrong. They turned their ways and became humbled servants of Jesus. Now I ask you where is your faith?