Read John 7:45-52. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
Digging Deeper
Poker Face. Do you know what that is? In playing with cards, one doesn’t want to reveal the cards in one’s hands. Often, new players can unwittingly give away their hand by their gestures or expressions. Good players need to be expressionless. It is to keep the opponent guessing whether you have something or have nothing.
The crowd expressed their thoughts on Jesus. They even whispered, “Isn’t this the man they are seeking to kill?” The Scribes and Pharisees had their “Poker Face” on. They said absolute nothing. They weren’t going to say that they were seeking to kill Him. They didn’t want to show their hand, so they sent the Temple guards to bring Him to have a “private” meeting with Him?
The Scribes and the Pharisees kept their opinion of Jesus closely to their vest. They didn’t want to stir a debate before the people or cause a riot. These religious leaders already concluded that Jesus was not a prophet nor the Messiah. He was a deceiver! But wait, what about the signs that He performed among the people and even in Jerusalem. What about the teachings that they were so amazed about without Him having been enrolled in their elite schools? Did they truly disagree with Him? Or maybe, they just didn’t want to admit that their teaching was inadequate.
Nicodemus was the only one who was brave enough to raise an objection to their outspoken words. He was shut down immediately by just one statement. Have you ever experience being shut down by someone’s questioning about the contradictions of the Bible? Maybe you were left speechless. What’s even worse is if your inner circle of friends are harsh critics of Christianity and they leave you.
We’re left wondering, “What did Nicodemus” do? What will you do? Would you stand firm for your faith or shrink back with your friends against your faith? Are you going to stand silent or stand strong?
-Kingston