Sunday 15th October
Read John 7:45-52
“Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why didn’t you bring him in?’
46 ‘No one ever spoke the way this man does,’ the guards replied.
47 ‘You mean he has deceived you also?’ the Pharisees retorted. 48 ‘Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law – there is a curse on them.’
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’
52 They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.’” (NIVUK)
Nicodemus, who has lived out the request he now makes of them, in an effort to calm things down intervenes publicly. But things are too far gone. They are not remotely interested in justice. That justice is not on their minds is indicated in their abrupt, and incorrect, response to him. (Both Nahum and Jonah arose in Galilee after all…).
Many have sought to paint a picture of Nicodemus’ faith from the three vignettes we receive in John’s gospel. What type of believer is he meant to represent? The conclusions are complex and varied. To me it is a simple story of someone having ears to hear, and listening. After all, John leaves open Nicodemus’ response to the conversation with Jesus he had by night (John 3). And although his intent here is to point out just how far the Jewish leaders’ opposition to Jesus has progressed, John tells us that Nicodemus publicly called for a hearing (even if he did not yet publicly declare faith). Finally, he alone reports that Nicodemus was with Joseph, boldly requesting Jesus’ body from Pilate, in order to properly prepare it for burial, at both significant personal risk and cost (the spices were not inexpensive) (John 19:38-42).
Who can you pray for right now, that they have ‘ears to hear’?
