Editorial October 9, 1995 Issue

Following Christ by night ... and day

Mary Metzner Trammell

Put yourself in Nicodemus's position. He was an influential man in Jerusalem. He was a major player in the Sanhedrin, the highest governing body in Palestine. And he was a Pharisee, a chief defender of the Jewish Law. So you can see why Nicodemus felt shy about seeking out an interview with a young radical like Jesus. You can see why he felt he had to come secretly—or, as the Bible says, "by night" (see John 3:1–21).

After all, think of the things Jesus was saying. That the Pharisees were "hypocrites." That it was definitely as important to be meek and loving as it was to obey the details of the Law. That the kingdom of heaven had actually come! And then think of what Jesus was doing. He was healing lepers and paralytics and epileptics—sick people of all descriptions. There was even talk of his raising the dead.

The Pharisees had been watching all this closely. Officially, they'd been highly critical of the young man from Nazareth—trying to trip him up on questions of Law and challenging his authority. But some of them, unofficially of course, were impressed. Some of them actually admired what Jesus was doing. And Nicodemus felt Jesus should know this.

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