The Testimony of Nicodemus

Testimonies of how people came to Christ are all unique, but I am sure many have common themes. For example, once having made the commitment to Christ, it is easy for many to look back and see where He had been working in, and calling them to Himself all their life.

Some testimonies can be very short; a simple “I believe” brought on by a sudden moving of the Holy Spirit.

Others can be long; in my case a work of three years involved in the research and production of my autobiography Rotor in the Green, which didn’t actually became my Christian testimony until the latter stages of writing.

Suzanne and I are currently undertaking casual employment on the wheat harvest around the Esperance area of Western Australia. For whilst not driven by money, as God blesses us with all our needs, we are still recovering financially from expenses associated with Deborah’s permanent residency two years ago.

Travelling this great country and living “on the road” we are always on the lookout for situations where we can share our witness, and God’s Word at any opportunity.

Working in hot and dusty conditions receiving the toils of the wheat farmers’ labours, we are always willing to sow some seeds of our own for the Great Harvester to reap.

Recently we attended the Esperance Baptist Church where we heard the following from Rev. Russell Rose, a retired pastor of the church. Based on the Scripture quoted this could well represent the testimony of Nicodemus.

Rev. Russell writes that Nicodemus, “…felt that something important was missing in my life”. Whether this is Scriptural, or simply based on Rev. Russell’s own testimony is open to conjecture, but it is very similar to my own experience. From Rotor in the Green:

 

“Let me introduce myself:

(Jn.3:1) My name is Nicodemus and I am a Pharisee.

I am proud of my knowledge of the Law and of the Prophets. My understanding of these earned me the position of “Teacher” to my own people.

More than that, my knowledge and wisdom lead me to be appointed to the high office of a member of the Sanhedrin; the ruling body of the Jews made up of the High Priests, Pharisees and some Sadducees.

I was greatly honoured by this, but as time went on I felt that something important was missing in my life.

(Is.40:3) About this time there was quite a disturbance down on the Jordan River; a man named John was preaching that the Kingdom of God was at hand and that we all needed to repent of our sin, and openly declare our allegiance to God’s Kingdom by being baptised.

As was necessary some of the Sanhedrin went down to check out what was happening, and it was all reported back.

From my knowledge of the prophet Isaiah there was to come such a person, and I asked myself, “Was John the one?”

(Is.35:5-6) Shortly after this we heard of a man called Jesus performing miracles and teaching.

From our checking we soon learned that Jesus was healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, cleansing lepers, making the lame walk, the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

Again my mind went to the prophet Isaiah who wrote that these things will be done by God’s special servant, the “Messiah”. I felt I had to go and see him.

(Jn.3:2-21) I knew that this Jesus was in Jerusalem and I knew where he was staying. I did not want others to know that I was going to see him so I chose to go at night.

I greeted Jesus with words which expressed that I regarded him as a teacher sent from God. I accepted this because of what he was able to do.

His reply to my greeting perplexed me, for it was far from a normal greeting. He said to be part of God’s Kingdom I needed to be “born again”!

Jesus repeated this challenge and went on to speak of the Spirit’s work. He said the Spirit was like the wind; we cannot see Him but you can feel His guidance.

My mind went to Jeremiah and Ezekiel’s prophecy on this matter. Even as I pondered on this I heard Jesus challenge me as a “Teacher of Israel” that I should understand these things.

(Dan.7:13) Jesus then made reference to “The Son of Man”. I knew that this was Daniel’s prophetic title for the coming Messiah.

Jesus added that this “Son of Man” has descended from Heaven, and then referred to the brass serpent incident (Num. 21:4-9), adding, “…so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life”.

Before I could fully digest this truth Jesus then called this person “God’s only Son, given for the salvation for all who would believe in Him”.

He proceeded to tell me that light has come into the world, but some would reject it while others would come to it, and they are the ones who do what is true.

I went home that night with a lot to think about. It was to be the beginning of a challenging journey which climaxed around three years’ later. 

Friends, you can be assured that I listened carefully to all I heard of Jesus’ teachings and actions.

As a member of the Sanhedrin I heard many reports brought to us, sometimes by our own members who had gone to spy on Jesus, but also from others who kept us informed. I was beginning to see that Jesus was more than just a Teacher.

One day our members were angry about what Jesus was doing and they wanted to condemn Him.

(Jn.7:44-52) They had actually sent some of our officers to arrest Him, but they had been overawed by His words and failed to do so.

They came back with the excuse, “No one ever spoke the way this man does”, whereupon the Sanhedrin wanted to pass judgment on Jesus in His absence.

I found myself speaking up for Jesus by reminding the others that it was against the law to do this, and they accused me of being one of His followers.

I knew what I did what was right, but I also wondered, “Did I see Jesus as more than a Teacher sent from God?”

(Jn.8:12) Shortly after this it was reported that Jesus was teaching that He is the “Light of the World”, and that all who followed Him will have the “Light of Life”.

When I heard this my mind went back to the night I went to see Jesus, when He spoke of the light coming into the world, and how man needed to follow that light.

(Jn.8:58) But there was more. For Jesus repeatedly used the Jehovah title “I” and “I am” of Himself. He even accused some of our members of being, “Of your father the Devil”.

They in turn accused Him of blasphemy and prepared to stone Him, but He disappeared from them.

(Jn.8:31) In the midst of all this Jesus challenged the Jews who believed in Him to continue in His Word, and to truly be His disciples.

I wondered, “Was I one who needed that challenge?”

The challenges for me kept coming.

(Jn.9) The next Sabbath Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth. As we questioned this man he called Jesus “a prophet”, then exclaimed, “If this man was not of God he could do nothing”, and I remembered how I first saw Jesus this way.

(Jn.10) More reports of Jesus’ teaching flooded in. This time Jesus claimed to be the “Good Shepherd”, and I knew this title was used by the Psalmists (Ps.23) and the Prophets (Is.40:11, Ez.34:11-12) of the one who is Lord and Saviour.

Was it true? Was Jesus God’s appointed Shepherd?

It was soon Passover time and I woke that Friday morning to the news that some of our ruling party had arrested Jesus. They had put Him on trial that night, condemned Him then early in the morning had taken Him to Pilate.

I knew all of this was contrary to our law, and to Roman law.

Pilate had even condemned Jesus to be crucified; a man who he himself had said was innocent. I learnt that even at that moment Jesus was being taken out to be crucified.

(Jn.3:14-16) The words Jesus has spoken to me three years earlier now came into focus. He had said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

He also added, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

In that moment I understood that this Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah, and I needed to trust in Him for Good’s forgiveness.

But what could I do to show my allegiance to Jesus my Lord? The opportunity came later that day.

(Jn.19:38-42) I heard that a man named Joseph from Arimathea had asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus for burial, so I teamed up with Joseph and assisted him in this.

(Num.9:6, 19:11-13) I knew this act would mean I could not continue to take part in Passover as I would be ceremonially unclean. But this was the least I could do to publicly show my allegiance to Jesus.

(Acts 2:24) I will leave you to imagine how Joseph and I became close friends, and our deep joy when we heard that God had raised Jesus from the dead.

(1 Cor.15:6)  I will also leave you to imagine the honour we felt at being in the group of 500 brethren to whom Jesus appeared before His ascension.

Such is an outline of my testimony of coming to know and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

What is your testimony, or are you still seeking?

Rest assured if you are still seeking, that when you find the truth you will realise that God has been calling you all your life, seeking you for His own.  

Ray Dousset

15Jan12