Today’s Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 7 verses 45 through 52:
45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ 46The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ 47Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ 50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ 52They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’
It took guts to ask what Nicodemus asked.
Everyone else just assumed Jesus was guilty and his judgment and execution were a matter of course. There was literally no question.
But Nicodemus did question. He had reservations. He was troubled in spirit at what he saw happening. And, importantly, he had the guts to open his mouth and say so.
I’m sure that wasn’t easy. In fact, I know it was terrifying. So terrifying, in fact, that Nicodemus never says anything else before Jesus is put to death. Nicodemus was effectively silenced. He was silenced amongst the Pharisees or he was forced out altogether.
In either case, Nicodemus made it known where he stood. He had spoken up. Though he couldn’t do anything more to change the circumstances of things, he had done what he could. And it cost him.
Speaking up cost him; and he paid the price.
May God bless all who dare to pay the price that due process be given, justice be rendered, and the truth at least get a fair hearing.
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