Series: N/A
Service: Praise and Preaching Service
Type: Sermon
Speaker: Dwayne Gandy
Nicodemus: From Darkness to Light
Praise God for people—real, complex, interesting people. The Bible is filled with them. Every story of faith and failure, courage and confusion, helps us see how God patiently works with hearts at every stage of belief. Among those stories is one that quietly unfolds across the Gospel of John—a story that moves from darkness to light, from curiosity to conviction. It is the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee whose cautious heart slowly opened to the truth of Jesus.
Nicodemus’s journey is more than a story about one man—it’s a mirror for every honest seeker who wrestles with faith, struggles with change, and learns that belief in Jesus often grows step by step.
A Pharisee in the Shadows
When Nicodemus first appears in Scripture (John 3:1–2), he is described as “a man of the Pharisees… a ruler of the Jews.” That meant he was one of the most respected religious men in all of Israel. He had spent his life studying Scripture, debating fine points of law, and teaching others how to live faithfully. He was intelligent, disciplined, and devout. But he was also cautious.
After Jesus cleansed the temple and performed miracles in Jerusalem, the city was in an uproar. The religious leaders were offended, confused, and angry. Nicodemus was one of them, but something about Jesus made him curious. While others mocked or plotted, he wondered. He saw the miracles, heard the teachings, and sensed that something divine was at work.
So, under the cover of night—when no one else could see—he came to Jesus.
“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2)
Those words show both respect and hesitation. Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus as a teacher “from God,” but he isn’t ready to call Him the Son of God. He’s dipping his toes into belief—testing the water before he dives in.
Born of Water and the Spirit
Jesus doesn’t ease Nicodemus into the conversation. He dives straight to the heart of the matter:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
Nicodemus is stunned. All his life, he thought he already belonged to God’s kingdom. He was, after all, a teacher of Israel—a spiritual authority. Yet Jesus tells him that unless he is born again, he can’t even see the kingdom.
Confused, Nicodemus asks, “How can a man be born when he is old?” He’s thinking physically, not spiritually. Jesus explains:
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
To Nicodemus, this must have sounded like a foreign language. Yet Jesus is referring to the new birth that comes through baptism—a birth that joins water and Spirit, cleansing and renewal.
Nicodemus should have recognized the imagery. The prophets had long spoken of this spiritual cleansing (Ezekiel 36:25–27). But like many of his peers, his focus had been on external obedience rather than internal transformation. Jesus challenges him to shift his perspective—from rules to relationship, from ritual to rebirth.
Nicodemus’s mind must have been spinning. Here is a carpenter’s son from Nazareth speaking with divine authority, claiming that entrance into God’s kingdom depends on a new birth that only God can give.
Then Jesus says something even more startling:
“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 3:14–15)
Nicodemus knew that story well—the bronze serpent raised by Moses so that anyone who looked upon it in faith would live (Numbers 21:8–9). Jesus was saying that He would be lifted up in the same way—on a cross—and that those who looked to Him in faith would find life.
And then came the verse that sums up the heart of the gospel:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Nicodemus had come in the darkness, but he was standing before the Light of the world. He didn’t understand it all yet—but the truth was beginning to dawn.
A Cautious Believer
We don’t see Nicodemus again until John 7, about eighteen months later. By now, Jesus has healed the sick, calmed storms, fed thousands, and even raised the dead. The Pharisees, Nicodemus’s peers, have hardened their hearts. They accuse Jesus of blasphemy and want Him arrested.
When the temple guards return empty-handed, explaining, “No man ever spoke like this man,” the Pharisees sneer, “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?”
At that moment, Nicodemus speaks up.
“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51)
It isn’t a full confession of faith, but it is a courageous step. Surrounded by colleagues who despise Jesus, Nicodemus appeals for fairness. He reminds them that their own law demands justice before judgment. It’s a small act of bravery—one that earns him ridicule.
They snap back, “Are you also from Galilee?”—a sarcastic insult meant to shame him into silence. Yet in that brief exchange, Nicodemus shows growth. He may not yet be a public disciple, but he’s no longer a silent observer. He’s defending truth, even when it’s unpopular.
From Nighttime Seeker to Open Disciple
The next time we meet Nicodemus, everything has changed. Jesus has been crucified. The crowds have turned against Him. The disciples have fled in fear. And in this dark, sorrowful hour, Nicodemus finally steps into the light.
“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus… And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.” (John 19:38–39)
While others ran away, Nicodemus came forward. He brought an extraordinary amount of burial spices—worth a small fortune—and joined Joseph in wrapping Jesus’ body in linen and laying Him in the tomb.
By Jewish law, touching a dead body made a person ceremonially unclean. Nicodemus was willing to defile himself to honor the one who had made him clean. He didn’t care who saw him now. The man who once came to Jesus under cover of darkness was now serving Him in broad daylight.
In that act, Nicodemus’s transformation is complete. He has moved from curiosity to conviction, from cautious belief to courageous devotion.
The Journey of a Growing Faith
Nicodemus’s story isn’t one of instant conversion—it’s a story of steady awakening. Like so many believers, his faith unfolded gradually as he wrestled with truth, watched Jesus’ works, and counted the cost of discipleship.
His story reminds us that spiritual growth often happens in stages:
1.
CuriosityAt first, Nicodemus was curious. He recognized something divine in Jesus and wanted to know more. Many people start here—asking questions, feeling drawn to God, unsure of what it all means. Curiosity is often the Spirit’s first nudge.
2.
CautionNicodemus approached carefully, not wanting to risk his reputation. Yet even in his caution, he came to Jesus. God honors those who take even small steps toward Him.
3.
ConvictionBy the time we see him defending Jesus in John 7, Nicodemus has begun to care more about truth than comfort. His faith is growing bolder, even if he’s not ready to declare it publicly.
4.
CommitmentFinally, in John 19, Nicodemus acts decisively. He gives his time, his wealth, and his reputation to honor Jesus. Faith has matured into love—and love acts.
Lessons from Nicodemus
1. God Is Patient with Our JourneyNicodemus didn’t understand everything at once. Neither do we. Faith takes time to develop. God meets us where we are and patiently leads us forward. He doesn’t despise small beginnings; He rejoices in each step toward the light.
2. Truth Requires CourageNicodemus’s world was full of pressure—religious, social, and political. Speaking up for Jesus risked everything. The same is true today. Following Christ may cost us relationships, respect, or comfort, but silence often costs us more. Each act of courage strengthens our faith for the next one.
3. Growth Requires WrestlingNicodemus had to confront the gap between what he thought Scripture said and what it actually said. He wrestled with the Word of God—and that wrestling produced growth. Honest questions, prayerful study, and humility before truth are not signs of doubt—they’re signs of faith in progress.
4. Small Steps Lead to Big ChangeNicodemus’s first step was quiet—meeting Jesus at night. His next was subtle—asking for fairness. His last was public—preparing the Lord’s body for burial. God often uses small acts of obedience to prepare us for greater ones.
5. The Religious Need Rebirth TooNicodemus wasn’t a drunkard or a tax collector; he was moral, respected, and religious. Yet Jesus told him he needed to be born again. Church attendance, knowledge, and good reputation cannot replace the new birth of water and Spirit. Everyone—no matter how moral—needs the cleansing power of Christ.
Modern-Day Nicodemuses
All around us are modern-day Nicodemuses—people who are curious about Jesus but afraid to make it known. Some have grown up religious but never truly been born again. Others are just beginning to seek. They might ask for a Bible, start watching online sermons, or quietly show up to worship for the first time.
Like Jesus, we must meet them where they are—with truth, patience, and love. We can help them take one step closer to Christ, one question at a time, one conversation at a time.
You may not bring anyone all the way to Jesus in one day—but you can help them move closer. That’s what disciples do: they plant, they water, and God gives the increase.
The Invitation of the Light
Nicodemus’s journey began in the shadows and ended in the light. That’s what the gospel does—it draws us out of darkness into the radiant presence of God.
Maybe you’re in that same journey. Maybe you’re cautious, still counting the cost. Take heart—Jesus is patient. But don’t stay in the shadows forever. The sincere seeker who once came to Jesus by night must one day step into the light.
The same Jesus who said, “You must be born again,” is still offering new birth today. Through baptism, we are buried with Him and raised to walk in newness of life.
The man who once came at night ultimately stood in the light of the cross. That same invitation stands before you:
Come to the light. Let the Spirit make you new.
