John 19:39-42
This devotional and the story of Nicodemus has been wonderful to read each day. It’s a story for every seeker, every skeptic, and it’s for you and I as we understand and participate in the Kingdom. Every scene has drawn me in deeper to the account of his journey. Today, we find ourselves at the final scene.
“He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
This final glimpse of Nicodemus at the foot of the cross is not lengthy. But in these few sentences, the actions of Nicodemus speaks volumes. Let’s talk about myrrh and aloe. This was an extravagant move, an insane amount of spices and resins. and in today’s market would be valued in the $150,000-$200,000 range. When mixed with linen; myrrh and aloe symbolized a royal or kingly burial. What beautiful devotion. Public devotion. Nicodemus abandoned everything that he knew; making contact with a dead body which would more than likely render him to be unceremonially clean. The defiant but courageous actions of Nicodemus would not have gone unseen by the Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. He doesn’t just step out of the shadows, he is on full public display.
Am I the only one who wanted more of the story? Could this really be the conclusion? I spent some time in the word and in prayer over this, thanking God that His story is perfect and His ways are not our ways. This story was a reminder that God wants our honest seeking and our hearts in the right place. No amount of worldly knowledge, college degrees or mastery of the scriptures can replace a personal relationship with Jesus. Just as Nicodemus’ journey shows that faith can grow gradually, moving from fear-based apprehension to courageous, public devotion; from seeker to disciple only by the Power of the Gospel. Once our eyes are open to The Truth, like Nicodemus’ were, there is no going back. There are so many people who are curious and seeking just as Nicodemus. They need to hear The Truth. Will you act in obedience and boldness and prioritize discipleship?
Go.
Go and make passionate disciples.
“He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
This final glimpse of Nicodemus at the foot of the cross is not lengthy. But in these few sentences, the actions of Nicodemus speaks volumes. Let’s talk about myrrh and aloe. This was an extravagant move, an insane amount of spices and resins. and in today’s market would be valued in the $150,000-$200,000 range. When mixed with linen; myrrh and aloe symbolized a royal or kingly burial. What beautiful devotion. Public devotion. Nicodemus abandoned everything that he knew; making contact with a dead body which would more than likely render him to be unceremonially clean. The defiant but courageous actions of Nicodemus would not have gone unseen by the Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. He doesn’t just step out of the shadows, he is on full public display.
Am I the only one who wanted more of the story? Could this really be the conclusion? I spent some time in the word and in prayer over this, thanking God that His story is perfect and His ways are not our ways. This story was a reminder that God wants our honest seeking and our hearts in the right place. No amount of worldly knowledge, college degrees or mastery of the scriptures can replace a personal relationship with Jesus. Just as Nicodemus’ journey shows that faith can grow gradually, moving from fear-based apprehension to courageous, public devotion; from seeker to disciple only by the Power of the Gospel. Once our eyes are open to The Truth, like Nicodemus’ were, there is no going back. There are so many people who are curious and seeking just as Nicodemus. They need to hear The Truth. Will you act in obedience and boldness and prioritize discipleship?
Go.
Go and make passionate disciples.
Posted in Devotional