The Gospel Truth
Choose to be part of the minority
Dr. Charles F. DeVane Jr. First Baptist Church

What kind of person was Nicodemus? John 3:1 says, "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." It seems simple enough to me. He was a man, a Pharisee, had a weird name, was a ruler and a Jew. Nicodemus was the minority man.

As a minority man,

Nicodemus got to see someone the majority of

people never got to see.

Jesus Christ walked upon the planet for 33 years, only the last three of which were open to the public. Only a very small minority of people in human history ever had a sit-down with him. Nicodemus' status in all the aforementioned minorities earned him this right. Some Jewish leader needed to get to the bottom of why some Jewish people were calling Jesus Christ the king of the Jews.

It happened at night, for various speculative reasons. Perhaps they met around the light of a campfire. Perhaps there was only moonlight. Maybe they faced off in front of two entourages. Maybe they faced each other one on one. But one thing is certain, Nicodemus got to see Jesus face to face, which puts him in a small minority of first century people.

Wouldn't you like to see Jesus face to face and enjoy this privilege forever? You can! But only if you belong to a very special minority.

As a minority man,

Nicodemus got to ask a question the majority of

people never bother to

ask.

Actually, Nicodemus didn't ask it out loud. But since he was meeting with the very God of heaven and earth, Jesus knew his very thoughts and intentions. So, Jesus articulated Nicodemus' question for him.

Everyone wonders about life after death. All people have some sort of question about heaven. But how many people are running around asking specific questions about "the kingdom of God." Life after death is what we want, heaven is where we all want to go, but "the kingdom of God" is not so much about us as it is about God. Self-centered people don't tend to ask God-centered questions.

I am convinced, based on what John will record in chapter six and in other parts of scripture, that God drew Nicodemus to Jesus, God put this question in his heart, and God provided him with the perfect answer.

Wouldn't you like to have God answer your most important question? He will! But only if you belong to a very special minority.

As a minority man, Nicodemus received an answer the majority of

people don't want to

hear.

Nicodemus' first response to this business of being "born again" was mainstream. He rolled his eyes and laughed out loud. It wasn't the answer Nicodemus wanted to hear.

Nicodemus thought, like the majority, that entrance into the kingdom of God could be earned. We pull ourselves up to heaven by our own boot straps, or so we think. Like the former Saul of Tarsus, Nicodemus had great confidence according to the flesh. But this confidence must have been wavering, and his conscience must have been bothering him, or else he would have never come to Jesus that night.

Christ's command was shocking. "You must be born again," he said. It's grace, not merit. It's faith, not works. It's from above, not below. It's something God does for man, not what man does for God. It's the person and work and glory of Jesus Christ, not the person and work and glory of a pharisee or a preacher or a good little church member. It's radical grace, like wind in the hands of a sovereign God, which blows and becomes good news to only a minority of souls.

Wouldn't you like to hear the secret to spiritual success, the key to the kingdom of God? You just did! But only if you belong to a very special minority.

As a minority man, Nicodemus made a commitment the majority of

people never make.

I know there is no record of Nicodemus praying a prayer or signing a commitment card in John 3. His last words in the chapter are, "How can these things be?" Did Nicodemus get it, or not?

The only right response to the gospel is repentance and faith. I prefer the meaning of the word "is" in the previous sentence because repentance and faith "is" one event, two sides of the same coin, one enormous commitment most people never make.

Scripture and history are on Nicodemus' side. In John 3, Nicodemus is questioning Jesus the rabbi. By John 7, Nicodemus is defending the claims of Jesus the messiah. And by John 19, Nicodemus is boldly and lovingly helping bury the body of Jesus the savior.

I believe Nicodemus believed. I believe Nicodemus repented. True belief is always marked by a change of mind, heart and behavior. In other words, Nicodemus was "born again." This makes him a part of a very important minority. Nicodemus was an evangelical Christian.

So when you think of Nicodemus, think of him as a minority man. And pray that you will be able to be numbered in this minority. Repent. Believe. Be born again. Be a part of the only number that will ever really matter.

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