WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:” (John 3:1)

I would venture to say that most of us have heard of this man named Nicodemus.  Though he is only mentioned in the Gospel of John, and interestingly, he is only mentioned 3 times in this Book, yet he stands out as a prominent figure.

Let me point out three things before I really drive into the heart of this blog;

First, Nicodemus was a Religious man.  The verse we just read said he was “a man of the Pharisees.”  That means he was very devote;  that means he paid his tithes; that means he supported the widows and orphans; he was faithful in attending the synagogue on a regular basis; he was faithful, he fasted, he observed the Sabbath Day, he prayed publicly, he followed the letter of the Law.  Morally speaking, when you look at Nicodemus’ life – there were none better.

But not only was Nicodemus a Religious Man, he was also a Ruler.  Most people believe (and I agree) that he was a member of the Sanhedrin Court.  This was the most elite, the most dedicated, and most respected of all the Jews.  You might say he was on the Supreme Court of the day.

Not only was he Religious and a Ruler, but he was also a Rabbi.  In verse 10 of chapter 3, Jesus refers to Him as “a master of Israel.”  This word “master” translates into teacher or rabbi.   This means that from the time he was a child, he was trained in the Law.  This means that he would have lead in Judaistic rituals, he would have taught the Scriptures and answered questions regarding them.  In fact, if he were alive today and we were to look at Nicodemus, we would say, “If there is any man that is going to make it into Heaven, Nicodemus is that man.”  Yet, we find in reading John chapter three, there was something missing in his life.  He came to Jesus “by night.”

So, the first time we find him is in John chapter 3, and we find Nicodemus and CHRIST.  He comes to Jesus by night and he admits to Him there is something different about him. He says, “You have to be of God or you couldn’t do the things you do.”  He says, “I am also a Rabbi, but I can’t heal people.  I can’t cause blinded eyes to see or the lame to walk, or lepers made clean, or the dead to rise.  I can’t do the things you do so you must be from God.  There is something different about me and you.”

Now the reason he came to Christ by night is because the Pharisees and the Sadducee’s rejected Jesus.  If Nicodemus would have been seen with Jesus, more than likely he would have been kicked out of the Court.  So, he came to Jesus by night, I believe,  because he was curious.

And Jesus loved him so much that He cut right to the chase (don’t you love that about Jesus?).  Nicodemus says, “How do you do these things?”  and Jesus says, “Well, if you want to go to Heaven, you must be born again.”  I love that term “born-again.”  In other words, Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, it doesn’t matter if you are Religious, or a Ruler, or a Rabbi – YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”  Nicodemus was not lacking sincerity, but he was sincerely wrong!

So Nicodemus asked an interesting question, “How can a man be born-again when he is old?”  And Jesus answered him by taking him all the way back to something he understands.  And that is something else I really love about Jesus, He doesn’t try to impress people when He talks to them, he simply speaks them in a way they can understand.  When Jesus wanted to talk to fishermen, He talked about fishing.  When He wanted to talk to farmers, He talked about farming.  Jesus got right down to where people were living and that’s exactly what He did with Nicodemus.  He said, “As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”  Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, look and live.”

Now I am sure Nicodemus knew the story.  In fact, he’d probably read it backwards and forwards.  He probably even had it memorized, of how the fiery serpents fell and bit the children of Israel in Exodus and how Moses went to God on behalf of the children of Israel.  And God said “take a serpent and wrap it on a pole, and raise the serpent – LIFT IT UP.  People will see the serpent on that pole and they will be healed of their snake bite.”  So Nicodemus knew exactly what He meant when he said, “Nicodemus, all you have to do is Look and Live.”

Isaiah 45:22 says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”  Nicodemus, you want to know what you have to do to be born again – LOOK AND LIVE.

So, our first encounter here is with Nicodemus and Christ.  And I am sure that went he left that day, he was probably more confused than ever.

The second time we find Nicodemus was in John chapter 7.  There was a great deal of confusion among the church people.  Some of the people wanted to crown Jesus as King, and others thought he was a blasphemer and wanted to kill Him.  So Pharisees thought this would have a negative impact on their political ties with the Romans.  So, at the end of John chapter 7, they are asking questions like:  “What are we going to do with Him?”  And guess who stood up?  Nicodemus!  And in verse 51 he says, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” He says to the other members of the court, “Wait a minute, you haven’t even talked to this man.  So, how you gonna judge Him when you haven’t even talked to Him?”   Now, I may be wrong here, but, at this point, I don’t think that Nicodemus was truly born-again.  The first time we saw Nicodemus, we saw Nicodemus and Christ.  But this time, I believe, we see Nicodemus and Conviction.  I believe that if he was truly saved, born-again, he wouldn’t have been a part of this court.  But I believe, in his mind, the words “Look and Live” were playing over and over again.  So here is Nicodemus standing up on behalf of Jesus.  I believe he was under conviction, though not necessarily converted.

The third time we see Nicodemus is in John chapter 19.  And beginning in verse 38, “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.  ³⁹ And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. ⁴⁰ Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. ⁴² There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

I like that every time you find Nicodemus, it says, “which at first came to Jesus by night.”  But listen, it’s not night any more.  It’s day time now, and in fact, it’s just after Jesus has died for the sins of the world.  Joseph of Arimathaea might have had the Tomb – but Nicodemus brought the Treasure!   Well Joe, what do you mean by treasure?  The Scriptures say he brought with him a “mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.” It’s not night any more.  He’s not private any more.  He’s not hiding any more.  He was saying, “You know what, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t hide it any more.  I now know what it means to LOOK AND LIVE.”

Just how much treasure did Nicodemus bring?  Well, remember when Mary came an anointed the feet of Jesus with 1 pound, and Judas got angry and said “hey, we could have sold this for 300 pence.”  That was about a year’s wages in that day.  That was just one pound, but Nicodemus brought one hundred pounds.  In today’s terms, based on the average family income in America today, that would mean he brought about 50 million dollars of  myrrh and aloes to anoint the body of Jesus.

What is it that changed in Nicodemus?  What is it that moved him from the darkness into the light?  The first time we saw Nicodemus and Christ, then we saw Nicodemus and Conviction, but praise God, this time we see Nicodemus and the Cross.  And my friend, the Old Rugged Cross made the difference!

Remember John chapter 3, “Even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  “Nicodemus all you have to do is look and live.”  I don’t think Nicodemus understood a thing Jesus was saying at the time.  But as he stood somewhere in the shadows, and he watched Jesus as He was suspend between Heaven and Earth, and nailed driven in His hands and feet, he remembered those words “Nicodemus, LOOK and LIVE!”  The Cross made the difference in Nicodemus’ life.

Twenty-eight years ago, my grandmother, Miriam Moore, one of the godliest people I have ever known, went home to be with the Lord.  Six years after my Grandmother died, my brother Sonny was killed in an automobile accident.  I image one day when I arrive in Heaven, and I see my Grandmother and Brother asking me, “Well Joey, when did you get here?”  And I tell them, “Well I just got here today.”  And they say, “Well that’s funny, cause we just got here today too.”  WHY?  Because the Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference!”

Twas a life filled with aimless desperation

Without hope walked the shell of a man;

Then a hand with a nailprint stretched downward,

Just one touch then a new life began.

And the old rugged cross made the difference

In a life bound for heartache and defeat;

I will praise Him forever and ever

For the cross made the difference for me