Nicodemus and his Sanhedrin colleagues were the political and religious tule makers and enforcers of their day. They doled out a dizzying mess of statues, down to the most impossible to follow, legalistic minutia. They were especially found of legislating Sabbath observances purity, and tithing laws.

Of course, the Pharisees created all kinds of loopholes for themselves. They deemed the mutable "oral law" to be equally as binding as the written one. In other words, they could change (or follow) a law however and whenever they saw fit. Consequently, this group of rule-maker-breakers was thought by the people to be high-handed, hypocritical Zealots. Their shameless arrogance provoked resentment and fear-based obedience.

They were, essentially, fancy bullies. 

As far as he was concerned, Nicodemus deserved the glory he got. After all, his command of Scripture, religious training, prominence in the community, and the power to throw folks in jail for, say, fishing on the Sabbath, mandated it. And who would dare question him? What common man was more powerful than he?

Nicodemus discovered the answers when he met Jesus.

Jesus didn't look very important. He didn't adorn Himself with elaborate garments, phylacteries, and long tassels the way the Pharisees did. Nor did He brandish a list of credentials and demand deference. Yet His power defied and preempted all systems of institutional hierarchy.

His otherworldly authority was dispensed with compassion and grace. It was undeniable. Jesus cast out demons and did miracles. And Nicodemus was among the few men of power who knew what that meant: Jesus was sent by God.

And although His presence threatened Nicodemus' position, power, and livelihood, it beckoned his heart and compelled him to risk all he'd built. In Jesus he found real truth and power, not the religious invention he was a part of. He found the Word; it had been made flesh and was dwelling among them (John 1:14). The body of Scripture Nicodemus had dedicated his entire life to knowing, knew him by name. He found the hope to which he'd been called.

And it was beyond powerful.

PRAYER FOCUS

Repent  of the times you've valued status over humility, then ask God to bring you to your knees in gratitude and awe from the fact that He's in relationship with you.

MOVING FORWARD

• Write down a time when you felt better than someone else because of your religious status or choices, or their lack thereof.
• What's a rule or lifestyle choice you've stressed as important, perhaps at the expense of a more direct or pure connection with Jesus?
• We rarely have to risk a lot to follow Jesus. But what are some things you'd have a hard time risking to follow Jesus?