THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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away from the prejudices o f his class and came “ by night.” This fact, is mentioned again in chapter 19:38, 39 ; so there evi dently is some significance in the fact thus emphasized. From its being' mentioned in such close connection with Joseph’s being a secret disciple for fear o f the Jews, the most natural-conclusion is that fear’ o f the Jews led ’ Nicodemus to seek Jesus “by night.” He was a timid soul, but in the hour when the disciples themselves had forsaken Jesus he came out boldly for Him, and on at least one occasion before that, lifted his voice in His. behalf in the Sanhedrim (ch. 7:51). -But however timid Nicodemus may have been, he was an hon est and eager seeker after truth, and while other men slept, he sat at the feet o f Jesus, the lowly carpenter, seeking light. And Jesus did not sternly rebuke his lack of boldness, but gently led him on to better things, revealing to him the most funda mental and precious o f His truths. To this' night visit o f Nicodemus we owe the third chapter o f John, which by many is regarded as the chapter of chapters in the Bible. I am glad Nicodemus made the visit. Nico demus had made a great discc/Very, viz., that Jesus was a “teacher come from God.” When one has settled it in his heart that Jesus is “ from God” he has taken a step that will ultimately lead him into all truth. The way Nicodemus put it, lays an empha sis upon th e'fa ct that Jesus was “ from God” which is brought out in neither the Authorized nor Revised Versions. That was the one fact that stood out clear and plain in the mind o f Nicodemus, this man is “ from G od .” Nicodemus was absolutely sure about this. To translate his words in thé order that they are found in the orig inal, “W e know that from God thou art come a teacher.” There are many in the church today who are not as sure o f this as Nicodemus was, though they profess a much longer creed than he did. Alas, for them ! The strength o f our creed is often more important than the length o f our creed. Nicodemus had come to this cer tainty that Jesus waS “ from God” in a very
40; -16:1-4). His resurrection from the dead is God’s seal to all the claims of Jesus. The resurrection o f Jesus from the dead is. one of the best proven facts o f history, and proves everything that is essential in Christianity. It is God’s seal C upon Jesus Christ’s claim to be a teacher sent from God who spoke the very words o f God (ch. 7:16; 12:49; 14:10, 11, 24). It is God’s seal upon Jesus Christ’s cl
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