Nicodemus’ Soliloquy

Time with Jesus - Monday, 30 July 2012

Hi all,

I called this meditation “Nicodemus’ Soliloquy”. My intention was to try and get inside Nicodemus’ head and show how he managed to meet Jesus in a quiet place at night. I do not claim this to be fact. It’s just my thoughts on the circumstances associated with that extraordinary meeting. We often miss the fact that Nicodemus was acknowledged to be the most respected teacher of the Old Testament in Judah. ¹⁰ "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? John 3:10 TNIV Perhaps this illustrates why, from Nicodemus’ point of view, the meeting needed to be in secret. What is equally astonishing is that Jesus agreed. It sheds new light on the graciousness of our Master. He will meet us anywhere. Even when we are scared of what the personal consequences to ourselves might mean, He will meet us. Only God Himself would do that!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give			Time with Jesus – Monday, 30 July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	Nicodemus’ Soliloquy (1 & 2)			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Nicodemus’ Soliloquy (3 & 4)
"I'm known as the man Nicodemus; A teacher of thousands of Jews. The people know me, As a strict Pharisee. With rigid, inflexible view; A member of the Sanhedrin; That governs the Lord's promised land. With astute consecration, We've led the whole nation, By God, the Almighty's command. For years I've been highly regarded As expert in all of our law. I can quote all the book, Of our Pentateuch; 'Cause I memorised it years before; With all of our religious traditions, Written to keep us all pure. The smallest detail, I've kept without fail. The favours of God to ensure. For many years I have been feeling, Religion just tear me apart. It's been almost as though, I just have to let go, Of an emptiness deep in my heart. Then, somebody mentioned a teacher, Who seemed to be getting a name. He was meetings men's needs, By miraculous deeds, Such as healing the blind and the lame. They told me His name was called Jesus; A Nazarene carpenter's son; And the things that He taught, And the healings He wrought, In the Name of Jehovah were done. Now this made me very determined And eager to take a brief look, To see if He would, Do the things that He should. Or prove He was only a crook!		It could be that He's the Messiah, Of whom all our prophets foretold. I wanted to know, So decided to go, This Galilean to behold. Initially, there was no problem, In studying Him from the crowd. I watched Him this way, For many a day. As close as my office allowed! The things I observed were amazing; Beyond all my power to record. And each little act, Denoted the fact, Of the favour He has with the Lord. I knew that I had to get closer. I couldn't continue at bay; And the nearer I got, It was clearer to spot; This Person had something to say! But coming in close brought the danger, That I was more easily seen. It just might be thought, That I gave Him support, And the consequences that could mean. After all, what about my position; And my place on the Council to boot? I just couldn't afford, To give any accord, That my colleagues might later refute. So I sent off a few trusted servants, With a charge to examine His past. Perhaps they would find, That He is the kind, With a history to leave men aghast!		50 Then Nicodemus, a Pharisee, spoke. He was the one who had gone (by night) to Jesus earlier. He asked, John 7:50 NIrV 58 Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen. Matthew 26:58 NIrV 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:42-43 ESV 25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. Proverbs 29:25 NLT 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me. John 6:37 GW 3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. Isaiah 42:3 NLT 20 "You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. " Matthew 17:20 NLT 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 2 Timothy 1:7-8 ESV 28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame. 1 John 2:28 NLT 32 "Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I’ll also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32 NLT	But when they came back and reported; They told me that very few men, Had a past half as clean; As this one's had been. There was nothing for which to condemn. There was only a sort of a rumour That one or two people had said. It was sort of believed, That He'd been conceived, By a virgin before she was wed! There was also that time in the Temple, When He had been only a lad. When the priests of the day, Were impressed by the way, He applied all the knowledge He had. As an infant He'd visited Egypt. 'Though He was in Bethlehem born. Apart from all this, There was nothing amiss, That was worthy of any man's scorn. But this was far better than nothing, And confirmed what I already knew. For I'd already guessed, That He'd pass the test, Without any scandal in view. So I have been procrastinating, For quite the best part of a week. Hoping we'd meet, In some quiet back street; That would give an occasion to speak. But that was unlikely to happen. This fact I just had to embrace. To talk with this Man, I must needs make a plan, To meet in some suitable place.		So yesterday, I sent a message, With a person I knew as discreet; To ask with persuasion, To set an occasion, Where we could both secretly meet. He answered with great understanding. The venue suggested concurred; And to keep out of sight, He would meet me at night, If that was the time I preferred. So now  I am here to meet Jesus; And ask Him to show me the truth. Do all of our rites, Make us good in the sight, Of the God I have served since my youth? Perhaps it is true that God's Kingdom, Does inwardly come to abide? Have I been included, Or simply deluded, By ritual, tradition and pride? There's so many thing I must ask Him, The moment He walks through that door; And I'll stay here all night. If He'll show me what's right, The Kingdom of God to explore. So here I am; patiently waiting To speak to this man I admire! Perhaps I will find, That I've really been blind, And He is God's chosen Messiah! What is that? Do I really hear footsteps? Is the moment I've longed for now here? Thank God it is Him! Now where to begin? Oh Lord, help my mind to stay clear! "Rabbi, we know You're a teacher; And that from Jehovah You've come! For the signs that we see, Are not man's agency, And only through God can be done!" The last verse above quotes Nicodemus' final words before the discussion with Jesus commences in John 3:3  He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." John 3:2 NIV
					Jim Strickland Written 1984