April 17, 2023
Monday for di Second Wik for Easter
Di Readings for Today
Listen for English
One Pharisee dey wey im name na Nicodemus, and e be one of the leaders of the Jews. E come meet Jesus for night and tell am say, “Rabbi, we know say You na teacher wey come from God, because nobody fit do these signs wey You dey do unless God dey with am.” John 3:1–2
The Gospel of John mention Nicodemus, one Pharisee and leader of the Jews, three times. The passage wey dey above na from the first time wey dem mention am. The second time na when e remind the Sanhedrin say dem suppose hear Jesus first before dem condemn Am, and the third time na when Nicodemus help to bury Jesus after His death. The Gospel of John dey use plenty symbols. E especially dey use light and darkness as images. For example, when Judas go out to betray Jesus, the Gospel of John note say “na night.” For the passage wey dey above, the Gospel of John note say Nicodemus come meet Jesus “for night.”
As Saint Augustine dey explain this passage, e talk say Nicodemus come meet Jesus “for night” because Nicodemus never fully born again, and because of that, e never dey live fully inside the light of faith. But as Nicodemus come meet Jesus and ask Am plenty questions, this show say small spark of faith dey inside am and say e want make that faith grow deeper. E clear say e get hope say Jesus na the Messiah, and e declare say Jesus na “teacher wey come from God.”
From the early days, before dem formally set down the way to canonize people, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church don dey give Nicodemus the title of “saint.” Dem especially dey honour am because e stand against the other religious leaders that time to defend Jesus and show say e support Am. This one need courage. Dem mock am, and e risk make the others reject am. But Nicodemus know say something special dey about Jesus, and e no give up to follow that inspiration.
For plenty ways, Nicodemus na very good example for us today for this our modern world. For most cultures for the world wey no dey centre on religion, people dey look down more and more on anybody wey dey follow Jesus. This one especially true if you choose to live your faith openly and believe everything wey the Gospels teach. Plenty Christians dey find am hard to live their faith openly, especially for workplace, school environment and other groups for society. And like Nicodemus, plenty people dey find am easier to come meet Jesus “for night,” wey mean say dem dey do am for hidden way. And even though Nicodemus start like this, later e speak openly to defend Jesus for front of im fellow Pharisees. According to some traditions, dem persecute am and drive am go exile.
Today, reflect on Saint Nicodemus. E allow the spark of faith wey dey inside am to grow as e dey listen to Jesus. E struggle with the pressure from im fellow leaders, but for the end, e openly declare im faith in Christ. And even though this one damage the position of honour wey e get for this world, inside the Sanhedrin and among the rulers for this earth, e bring eternal honour for Nicodemus for Heaven. Reflect on the courage wey e must get to stand against the pressure from im fellow leaders, as e allow the faith wey e find in Christ to grow and fill im life with the light of Truth. Try to follow the example of this good man, and allow im courage to inspire you, so that you too go receive the same eternal glory wey e dey enjoy now for Heaven.
Lord of light and truth, You dey reveal Yourself to those wey come meet You with faith. Help me to follow the example of Nicodemus so that the light of Your truth go drive away all confusion and darkness. Give me courage, dear Lord, to follow You and to set my heart on everything wey You reveal. Jesus, na You I trust.
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