Jacob Chronicles for Kids: Volume 2, Issue 10

The Verse

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

The Story

A certain Pharisee of the Sanhedrin ruling council listened as his men spoke. There was a Man by the name of Jesus traveling throughout the region drawing large crowds, teaching, and performing miracles.

"He speaks blasphemy," said one of the men. "We must arrest Him and kill Him before He turns everyone against us."

"How does this man, Jesus, speak blasphemy?" Nicodemus inquired.

"He claims to be God!" one of the men replied.

"He casts out demons by Beezebub, the ruler of demons," said another.

Nicodemus remained calm. For he, too, was a teacher and had memorized the Torah from his youth. He remembered the words of Moses written long ago in the book of Deuteronomy. Those words, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, and you shall listen to him" drowned out the quarrelling among the Sanhedrin Council.

"Where is this man called Jesus now?" Nicodemus interrupted.

"He's right here in Jerusalem," they replied. "And we must stop Him before He leads an all-out rebellion."

Nicodemus feared King Herod and the Romans. He feared the other members of the Sanhedrin. And, if this Man was the One Moses had spoken of, he now feared himself. For he was ruler of the Jewish Council. What if they were plotting to kill the long-awaited Messiah?

"I must speak with this man, Jesus," Nicodemus thought.

That night Nicodemus tied his sandals and escaped unnoticed into the shadows. Under the cover of darkness, he walked the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem in search of Jesus. It was Passover. Nicodemus thought he might find Jesus near the temple.

They sat by the light of an oil lamp. Nicodemus, searching for answers, said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Confused by what Jesus said, he answered, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God..."

Jesus spoke of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness, and that He, the Son of Man, must also be lifted up.

Nicodemus heard later that Jesus left Jerusalem and traveled back to Capernaum by way of Samaria. The chief priests, Pharisees, and scribes followed Him. They reported back to the Jewish Council that Jesus was eating meals with tax collectors and sinners. Again, they implored the Jewish Council to stop this Man and to kill Him.

But the more Nicodemus heard about Jesus, the more attracted he was to His character. He believed Jesus was the Messiah prophesied by Moses. And, when the Jewish Council looked for ways to eliminate Jesus, Nicodemus raised the question of justice. He was overruled.

Nicodemus refused to take part in the trial by the Sanhedrin. With deep sorrow, he listened to the chants of the mob outside, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Pontius Pilate had given in to their demands. He unjustly sentenced Jesus to crucifixion and let Barabbas the robber go.

Nicodemus patiently waited. Once it was over, he came with Joseph of Arimathea bringing Myrrh and aloes. They gave Jesus a proper Jewish burial. They wrapped His body in linen with spices. They carried him to the tomb in the garden and laid Him there.

Nicodemus had memorized the Torah from his childhood. He was searching for answers. Jesus told Nicodemus we must be born again to see the kingdom of God. And, though Nicodemus lived in fear of those who ruled over Jerusalem, his search led him to believe in Jesus, the prophesied Messiah.

Do you come to Jesus under the cover of darkness because you are afraid of what others might think? Or do you light your oil lamp in the darkness and let Jesus, the Light of the world, shine before all your friends?

Jesus is the Light of the world. Take your oil lamp and share His gospel with everyone you know so they can be born again, too.

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