Faith Will Change Your Life

“And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’” (John 19:39)

                Nothing has the power to take a person from cowardice to courage better than faith.  Just consider the example of Nicodemus.  We’re introduced to Nicodemus in John 3.  There we’re told that he was “a man of the Pharisees” and “a ruler of the Jews.”  That means he was wealthy, educated, and powerful.  Nicodemus is not the sort of man that would’ve shown any interest in a messiah-type figure, but when Jesus began His ministry, something inside of Nicodemus was intrigued to find out more.

                For that reason, the Bible says “this man came to Jesus by night” to ask him some questions that were on his heart.  If you wonder why Nicodemus chose to approach Jesus at night rather than during the day, it’s because he couldn’t afford to be publicly associated with a “rebel-rouser” like Jesus.  Christ proceeded to tell him that a person must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.  When Nicodemus left the encounter with Jesus, he still had questions but he was intrigued to learn more.

                Fast forward to Nicodemus’ second appearance in John 7.  There he was willing to defend Jesus to his fellow Pharisees, saying that no man should be condemned before he’s had a full hearing.  That took boldness, but it took even more courage for him to do what he did in John 19.  There, he came to bury Jesus in the heat of the day (instead of night), bringing with him very expensive supplies for burial.  What made the difference for Nicodemus?  Only one thing – faith that Jesus Christ is Lord!  God will change your life if you’re willing to believe that He’s everything He said He is.