Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-18
&eadiuq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(Orisinal.]
NICODEMUS.

REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(OrignaIl
NICODEMUS.
One of the most interesting, as we'll as
one of the most instructive passages in the
whole Bible is that contained in the third
chapter of the gospel by John. Soon after
the marriage in Cana of Galilee, at which
water was changed into wine, the Saviour
went to Capernaum, and from thence up to
Jerusalem, to attend the passover. While
attending the passover, he drove the band
of religious hucksters who had converted
the house of God into a trading shop, out of
the temple. This was the first passover
that our Saviour attended and it seems to
have been but short time after he began
his public ministry. He first manifested
his divinity by turning water into wine,
and by driving, the traders out OF the tenn
pie he asserted his lordship over the temple.
The driving of these traders out Ofthe tenn
pie, while not perhaps, to be classed among
the miracles of our Saviour, was certainly
very miraculous, especially when we con-
slider the fact that those driven out seem to
have offered no resistance whatever.
We are not specially told of any other
wonderful thing that our Saviour did on
that occasion, but for what is said as record
ed in the 18th and 23rd verses of the second
chapter, and from what Nicodemus said, as
stated in the second verse of the third chap
ter, we are led to infer that more than one
miracle was performed by the Saviour.
At that time there was certain individ-
ual, probably residing in Jerusalem, called
Nicodemus. Of this man we know certain
ly nothing except what is related in the
third chapter of John. His name is men
IN fl,n 1aff RI nf caVnOth
chapter and again in the thirty-ninth verse
of the nineteenth chapter of John. 1t is
worthy of note that in both of these in
stances it is mentioned that he is the indi-
vidual who came to Jesus by night
All that we know of the history of Nico-
demus is, that he was a Phariseeand ruler
of the Jews. Since the Jews, at the time of
our Saviour, enjoyed no civil authority, and
had no civil rulers, we may safely conclude
that Nicodemus held some ecclesiastical
position. From what our Saviour says in
the tenth verse, Nicodemus seems to have
been teacher, a master, or eXpoundcr OF
the law.
This is all we certainly know about the
history of NicOdemus. The Jews have a
tradition that it was the particular business
of Nicodemus to make provision for a suffi-
cient supply of water at Jerusalem, during
the national feasts. This is a mere conject-
ure and is barely possible but scarcely prob
able.
The conversation which took place be-
tween Nicodemus and our Saviour is eX-
ceedingly instructive. 1t occurred after
night. Since Nicodemus was a master in
Israel, he was, during the day, some place
either in or near the temple, and in all prob
ability, had both seen Jesus and witnessed
the miracles which he performed. 1t is
manifest that the appearance of Jesus at the
passover created no small stir among the
Jews. We hazard nothing in saying that
everybody, in every circle of society, was
talking about him. Everybody would hear
of his driving the traders out of the temple,
and as there were, no doubt, some from
Cana, of Galilee, there, the miracle of turn
ing the water into wine would be reported.
If NicOdemus had not seen Jesus and heard
him teaching, he had certainly heard OF
him, and was favoraaly impressed respect
ing him.
1t is generally supposed that he came to
Jesus by night that he might thus keep his
visit to him concealed from the Jews. This
is plausible conjecture and nothing more.
We may conjecture that he had no oppor-
tunity to have private conversation with
the Saviour during the day. BE this as it
may, we are warranted in concluding that
Nicodemus had partially correct notions of
the Saviour. He calls him Rabbi-a teach
er come from God and gives his reasons for
this. mo man," says he, "can do these
miracles that thou doeSt except God be with
him."
1t is also evident that Nicodemus did
not have a very correct knowledge either
of himself or of the Saviour. This is plain
ly inferred from the answer Of our Saviour
to what Nicodemus said. Except man
be born again he cannot see the kingdom CT
God"
This answer of our Saviour is an answer
to nothing that Nicodemus said. There is
no apparent connection between what Nlco-
demus said to the Saviour and the reply OF
the Saviour. Nicodemus was astonished
and asked, Chow can man be born when
he is old?" re this the Saviour replied in
nearly the same words used before.
Our Saviour did not reply to the cour-
teous salutation of Nicodemus, but to the
thoughts which were in the mind OF Nlco.
demus It is manifest that this ruler OF
the Jews" was man of refined manners,
gentlemanly department, and in all proba-
bility of exemplary moral character. Such
being the case, he was honOred and respect
ed by his countrymen, and he had besides
good opinion of himself. He came to Jesus
and addressed him in the language OF re-
fined and educated gentleman. This was,
no doubt, natural. 1t was not feigned. He
believed all that he said, but he expected
Jesus to ask him, after he had concluded his
salutation, who he was. Nicodemus then
proposed telling him he was Pharlsee-
not Sadducee, that he was ruler OF the
Jews, and whatever else was true IN ms
history. He had no design and no desire to
deceive the Saviour, but he did expect the
Saviour to say to him, after he had heard his
statement, something like this: You are
man of refined manners, OF good educatlon,
high in authority and exemplary IN your
life, hence all that is required of you, in Or
der to become my disciple, is to be bap-
tized." TO these, or some such thoughts,
which filled the mind Of Nicodemus, our
Saviour replied in the terse sentence, "ltX-
cept man be born again he cannot see the
kingdom of God"
1t is clear that Nicodemus, while he was
ruler of the Jews and master in Israel, was
not what he thought he was. Jesus did not
say to him, "You, Nicodemus, must be born
again." This would have been apparently
harsh and uncourteous. Hence he used the
indefinite expression, Any one, or any
man must be born again. The expression
is, in fact, mild but very emphatic mode
of saying every one must be born again;
This, of course, included NlcodelluS, anu
he so understood it. This astonished him,
and he asked, "How can this be-" Accord
ING to his notions, it was impossible.
The visit of Nicodemus to our Saviour
was the occasion which led to the delivery,
by our Saviour, of one of the most wonder,
full discourses on record. We are not told
what was the effect which it had upon Nico-
demus, but we are warranted in concluding
that Nicodemus, who came to Jesus, dead
in trespasses and sins, was, either at that
time, 0rsome other time, by the Holy Splr-