For two thousand years the life, death and resurrection of Jesus have created controversy.  Millions of martyrs have died for their faith during that time.  But the one that continues to baffle and intrigue people is Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ.  Some are committed believers and followers of this Jesus.  Some reject him outright.  But there are also others (quite a few, I suspect) who don’t really know what to make of him.  And Easter again raises the tricky questions, like:

• Who is Jesus really?
• Why did he die?
• Was it a tragic mistake?
• Who was actually responsible?
• Does it mean anything for us today?

Someone who typifies this uncertainty about Jesus was a man called Nicodemus.  He was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling Council, meaning that he was a religious leader of some clout.  Not wanting to be public about his interest in Jesus, he arranged to have a private meeting with Jesus at night.  The story of this meeting is told in the book of John chapter 3.

Nicodemus knew from the teachings and miracles of Jesus that God had to be somehow involved in his unique life (verse 2).  In response to Nicodemus’s questions Jesus made this radical statement:  “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (verse 3).  This only confused matters even more for Nicodemus, till eventually Jesus made this startling claim:  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man (referring to himself) must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (verses 14-15).

As far as we can tell this was the first time Jesus had even hinted about the way he would die……lifted up on a cross as a means of saving other people (see Numbers 21:8-9).  As a devout Jew, Nicodemus would have known what Jesus was referring to here.  But did he make the connection?

Little is heard of Nicodemus over the next 2-3 years, until the day Jesus was crucified.  In John 19:38-42 we read how he joined his friend, Joseph of Arimethea, also a member of the Jewish ruling Council, in giving the body of Jesus a dignified burial.  This ruling Council of 70 members was the one that had condemned Jesus to death less than 24 hours earlier.  Was Nicodemus at that meeting?  Did he speak up for Jesus?  Did he and Joseph get out-voted?  Why did he and Joseph risk their reputations and perhaps their lives by burying Jesus?

Of course, we don’t know the answers to these questions.  But one thing seems clear, and that is that Nicodemus’s quest to understand Jesus led him to the cross.  I strongly suspect that on the day of the crucifixion many things clicked into place for Nicodemus.  Did he remember those words of Jesus: “…….so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  The crucifixion of Jesus was not a tragic mistake but the very reason why God had sent him into the world in the first place.  Perhaps, finally, Nicodemus understood how to be “born again” ……..to have faith in Jesus and his saving death on that cross.  If so, this would make Nicodemus one of the very first Christians!

It may be that there is someone reading this blog who feels a bit like Nicodemus.  You’re not anti-Jesus.  You may still be a bit confused.  You may be intrigued by him.  You may even be a secret follower.  Why not check out the real message of the cross this Easter?  It could change your life forever!