(Concluded from p. 17.)

The second time we hear of Nicodemus he is found bearing witness, yet associated with his testimony is found that same timidity which owing to the "fear of man" never could give place to the "courage" of faith, unless strengthened with a might greater than man possesses. His fellow-rulers had sought to arrest Jesus, and the officers, struck with the power of Jesus' words, returned without Him. To their question, "Why have ye not brought Him?" they replied, "Never man spake like this Man." How this should have made them consider whose word it was which arrested the officers, and held them captive in its own inherent power. But their blindness was so great that they could only regard the men as "deceived." They add with deep scorn, "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?"

Then it was that Nicodemus spoke, not apparently in defense of Jesus so much as on behalf of their own law. Yet underneath his words we can read unmistakably that what he had heard from Jesus had left its mark upon him, and that it was working in his soul, the undying "seed of the Word of God." "Doth our law judge the man before it hear him, and know what he does?" But in these few words there was a force which was felt deep down in their breasts. These judges of the nation had stooped so low as to actually condemn One to whom they had never really listened. The speaker had heard Him, and therefore he was not with them in their condemnation of what he knew to be the truth of God. Was their law then so unfair as this, that it does not even give this man opportunity to be heard? And on reflection, is not this always the reason why He is rejected by men? Once He is given a hearing in man's heart, that heart is won. It is the refusal to hear that leaves man under the sin of rejecting the One who has come from the Father with His message of infinite love."Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My word, and believes Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and comes not into judgment, but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).Who will say that Nicodemus had not heard Him? And because in his innermost soul he had heard the voice of Jesus, he cannot now keep silence. His brief thrust broke up the council. We read that "every man went unto his own house."

The end of the story about this "ruler" of Israel is reached at the scene of the crucifixion. Many things we might long to know:What became of Nicodemus later on? Did he openly join the company of the disciples? etc. But God never writes His stories to gratify our curiosity, but tells us what is needful to lead us in the path of truth. He leaves the last chapter for eternity. Then, and not till then, will many a story be fully told. But enough is now told to satisfy us that Nicodemus fulfilled the meaning of his name, and became a "world-conqueror" in the truest and most lasting sense of the word. For it is written, "Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" And we can scarcely escape the conviction that John, as he wrote these words, had the scenes in mind in which the "ruler" had met and heard the Son of God, and lastly had linked himself openly with the One whom his fellow-rulers hated and crucified. Yes, here was one whose faith had gained the victory over the world; one who had been "born of God." "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4,5).

How indelibly the Spirit of God has impressed this story upon our hearts! The last scene He presents of this "new-born" child of heaven is one in which he is joined by another, who like himself, had heard and believed. In the record of these two men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, we witness one of those great victories which God is ever winning in the hearts of men through faith. From the very uppermost bough of the tree of Judaism, men in whom the nation had prided itself, they came down in humility and repentance to link themselves with the One their fellows decreed must be condemned and slain. In their hearts they had "not consented to the counsel and deed of them," and now they act in accordance with their convictions wrought in the power of the Holy Spirit. In giving honor to the Lord in His burial they once and for all severed themselves from their former position and associates. For we cannot suppose that in identifying themselves with Jesus of Nazareth in the manner recorded, they expected to continue in honor by their fellow-leaders or the nation. The hatred against Jesus was such at that time, that none who took sides with Him or His cause could hope to escape that hatred too.

Joseph and Nicodemus were men of the highest intelligence. Their position as members of the Sanhedrim, the supreme court of Judaism, gave them honor and power such as did not exist outside that limited circle. The trial and death of Jesus brought before all the members of the Elderhood a test which meant very much more than acquitting or condemning a man whom even the heathen judge thrice declared innocent. Every charge the leaders brought against Jesus in the ears of Pilate, he had disposed of, leaving them without a reason for His condemnation. Every charge, we repeat, except one, which, by the fact that he was not of that favored nation, Pilate could not enter into with them (although the charge filled him with terror), and that was, that Jesus had, upon oath, declared that He was the Son of God.

Joseph, Nicodemus, and every member of the Council knew that in thus declaring Himself, Jesus claimed equality with God in every sense, Personally considered. With the exception of these two men they all regarded Jesus as an impostor and a blasphemer. The high-priest had accused Him of blasphemy, and they all (with the exceptions given) declared Jesus guilty of this sin, and worthy of death. The act of these two men in honoring Jesus in His burial was the strongest condemnation possible of the position taken by their fellows. In opposing them, these men knew well the consequences which must follow. They knew that they would be regarded as in sympathy with an antichrist, and that they would incur from their fellows the same hatred and rejection which had been accorded Him. They knew too that the nation would regard them as amenable to the Law written against those led away by false gods in Deut. 13. And with all this knowledge and with all others against them, these men deliberately took sides with the One who had been crucified.

There is but one answer to all this. They knew that Jesus was true, that He was indeed the very Son of God. It was faith in God and in His Son which won for them the great "Victory" over the world. And if they lost that place of honor and power before men, they won through their faith in Jesus a place of power and honor with God. God has honored these children of faith by recording their names and their deeds along with that of His beloved SON. Theirs is an honor which will abide forever. And though the world still rejects Him whom God has raised up and glorified at His own right hand, the day is near when He will publicly own along with all who have confessed Him before men, these two who in the face of scorn, hatred, and bigotry, sought to put honor upon One whom they knew and loved as God's only-begotten Son. Wm. Huss