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John 3:2 – Nicodemus Came At Night
Excerpt – “Why did Nicodemus come at night?”is a different question than, “Why did John record that Nicodemus came at night?”
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night (Jn. 3:2; 19:39). That is a fact which John records. Why this ruler came at night has intrigued commentators and common people. Was Nicodemus afraid (Jn. 19:38-39)? Was Nicodemus coming observing the Passover during the day (Jn.2:23)? Did Nicodemus want an uninterrupted, long discussion with Jesus? Could there have been some other reason totally unrelated?
A combination of some of the above is very likely. Being fearful and dutiful, the first because of the Jews, the second because he was a Jew, are not mutually excluded. Nicodemus very likely shared the same fear as Joseph of Arimathea, both being in the Council or Sanhedrin, and therefore in a precarious situation (Jn.7:50-52). There is even a thematic connection between John 2:23, “at the Passover Festival, many trusted in His name when they saw the signs He was doing” and John 3:2 where Nicodemus admits, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” And if you were a ruler of the Jews, wouldn’t you want a long, uninterrupted discussion with this new teacher from God?
“Why did Nicodemus come at night?”is a different question than, “Why did John record that Nicodemus came at night?” I am learning that there is a difference between the uninspired motivations of the characters within the Biblical narrative, versus the inspired motivation of the writer of the Biblical narrative. For example, we know the motivation of Peter in denying his Lord – fear. We also know the motivation of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in recording this incident was something other than fear. Theirs might be more closely akin to grace and forgiveness.
Nicodemus did indeed come at night, which was his choice. But John, who is the only writer who mentions Nicodemus, chose to record his visit, and specifically included that he came by night. Why?
Is John encouraging faith over fear? Possibly. Is John simply recording unimportant and unconnected facts? Unlikely. Since John does not explain Nicodemus’ nocturnal motivations, I wonder what John’s were, because he mentions twice that Nicodemus came at night. Apparently it is important. Maybe that fact is more important to John’s story, than to Nicodemus’.
“I certainly think there is symbolism intended by John in mentioning that Nicodemus came by night. In 3.2 a member of the Jewish ruling elite comes under cover of darkness to see Jesus; in 4.6 a woman at the bottom of the societal heap meets Christ at high noon, and it is the Samaritan woman, not the Sanhedrin ruler, who comes off looking better after an initial encounter with Jesus. There are several implications in all this that I think John wants us to see. Throughout the Gospel of John, Nicodemus gradually [comes into the light] in regard to his attitude about Jesus.”
“Beyond this symbolism, it may be that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night for no more clandestine reason than that he had to work during the day. Pharisees had to work for a living. Hillel was a carpenter, Shammai was an engineer, Saul of Tarsus made tents.” (Kenneth (Tack) Chumbley)
Within the gospel of John, there is a continual contrast between light and darkness, night and day (1:5; 3:2,19; 6:17; 8:12; 9:4; 11:10; 12:35,46; 13:10; 19:39; 20:1; 21:3). Many of these are theologically intrinsic to John’s story telling.
Yet even in the seemingly innocuous events taking place at night, such as Nicodemus’ visit; Jesus walking on water; Judas’s betrayal; the empty tomb that Mary found; the fishing story; night and darkness carries the theme that the darkness is the opposite of Jesus, His presence or purpose. Jesus even contrasts light and darkness in His discourse to Nicodemus.
Therefore Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, with night and darkness thematically representing ignorance or sin. Nicodemus came at night because He had not yet been filled with the Light. His progression towards the Light was still darkness. The darkness of the night represented Nicodemus himself.
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