3 Mar. Nicodemus is ridiculed for supporting Jesus
"Some of them wanted to arrest him [Jesus], but no one was able to touch him. The Temple guards went back to the leading priests and the Pharisees, who asked, 'Why didn't you bring Jesus?'"
"The guards answered, 'The words he says are greater than the words of any other person who has ever spoken!' The Pharisees answered, 'So Jesus has fooled you also! Have any of the leaders or the Pharisees believed in him? No! But these people, who know nothing about the [Jewish] law, are under God's curse.'"
"Nicodemus, who had gone to see Jesus before, was in that group. He said, 'Our law does not judge a man without hearing him and knowing what he has done.'"
"They answered, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Study the Scriptures, and you will learn that no prophet comes from Galilee.'"
(John 7:44-52)
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and an important member of the Jewish Sanhedrin - the ruling council of Jewish leaders. He's more widely known as the man who came to meet Jesus secretly at night.
John 3:2-4 tells us, "One night, Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher sent from God, because no one can do the miracles you do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, unless one is born again, he cannot be in God's kingdom.'"
Jesus went on to explain what he meant by being "born again". "I tell you the truth, unless one is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God's kingdom... Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. Don't be surprised when I tell you, 'You must all be born again.'" (John 3:5-7)
Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that only those who are spiritually alive, with the Holy Spirit living within them, can be living in God's kingdom - where God rules in their heart through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit.
Nicodemus was clearly impressed with Jesus's words, as John later records Nicodemus's attempt to curtail the criticism of Jesus by the Jewish leaders, despite being ridiculed by them for his efforts. (John 7:44-52)
And later, John records that Nicodemus, now a Spirit-filled believer in Jesus, was one of the two men who asked Pilate for Jesus's body after his crucifixion:
"Later, Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus, because he was afraid of the Jews.) Pilate gave his permission, so Joseph came and took Jesus's body away. Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, went with Joseph... These two men took Jesus's body and wrapped it with the spices in pieces of linen cloth." (John 19:38-40)
Nicodemus's story tells us that faith in Jesus is not always immediate; but where individuals fearlessly seek the truth, the Holy Spirit of God will reveal to them the reality about Jesus, and will come and dwell in their lives.
The photo shows the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.
You can read more about Nicodemus @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/jesus-travels-to-jerusal…/