January
17, 2003
THE
WAY OF LIFE
"For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved" (John
3:17, NKJV).
"In
the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded the plan of salvation
and His mission to the world. In none of His subsequent discourses
did He explain so fully, step by step, the work necessary
to be done in the hearts of all who would inherit the kingdom
of heaven. At the very beginning of His ministry He opened
the truth to a member of the Sanhedrin, to the mind that was
most receptive, and to an appointed teacher of the people.
But the leaders of Israel did not welcome the light. Nicodemus
hid the truth in his heart, and for three years there was
little apparent fruit.
"But
Jesus was acquainted with the soil into which He cast the
seed. The words spoken at night to one listener in the lonely
mountain were not lost. For a time Nicodemus did not publicly
acknowledge Christ, but he watched His life, and pondered
His teachings. In the Sanhedrin council he repeatedly thwarted
the schemes of the priests to destroy Him. When at last Jesus
was lifted up on the cross, Nicodemus remembered the teaching
upon Olivet: 'As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life' (John 3:14-16). The light from
that secret interview illumined the cross upon Calvary, and
Nicodemus saw in Jesus the world's Redeemer.
"After
the Lord's ascension, when the disciples were scattered by
persecution, Nicodemus came boldly to the front. He employed
his wealth in sustaining the infant church that the Jews had
expected to be blotted out at the death of Christ. In the
time of peril he who had been so cautious and questioning
was firm as a rock, encouraging the faith of the disciples,
and furnishing means to carry forward the work of the gospel.
He was scorned and persecuted by those who had paid him reverence
in other days. He became poor in this world's goods; yet he
faltered not in the faith which had its beginning in that
night conference with Jesus.
"Nicodemus
related to John the story of that interview, and by his pen
it was recorded for the instruction of millions. The truths
there taught are as important today as they were on that solemn
night in the shadowy mountain, when the Jewish ruler came
to learn the way of life from the lowly Teacher of Galilee."--
The Desire of Ages, pp. 176, 177.
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