“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.” (John 3:2).
John 3 opens with a beautifully written meeting between a man named Nicodemus and Jesus. I’d love to know more … but as with so much of Scripture, we get enough.
There’s something deeply human about Nicodemus. He comes to Jesus at night when no one can see him — cautious and curious. He’s a Pharisee, a respected religious leader, a man who has spent his life studying Scripture. Yet, something has drawn him to a less-respected, less-educated Jesus, who has begun to attract crowds and whose teachings reveal something deeper than expected. And now, somehow, Nicodemus realizes that knowledge alone is no longer enough.
Nicodemus has questions and is desperate for answers. The thought that Jesus might have those answers drives him to let go of his pride and admit his limitations.
John 3 contains what is probably the most recognized verse in all of Scripture: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”
And yet, if you read carefully, it’s difficult to know whether Nicodemus actually heard those famous words. He appears at the beginning of the chapter and then fades from view. We’re left with questions of our own.
Did he understand what Jesus was trying to tell him? At what point did he walk away from the conversation … and why? Were Jesus’ words too simple for him to believe or too demanding for him to accept?
In The Chosen, the portrayal of Nicodemus beautifully captures the tension we see beneath the surface in John 3. He isn’t portrayed as arrogant or malicious, but hesitant. Torn between what he has always known and the possibility that Jesus is who he claims to be. And, if what Jesus claims is true, everything he has always known is turned upside down.
Nicodemus’ hesitation … and our own … is often part of faith.
We sometimes imagine following Christ means never wrestling, questioning, or fearing the cost. But many faithful people first encounter Jesus with fear and incomplete understanding … and discover that following often leads to even greater fear and more questions.
Something in Nicodemus longed to follow Jesus, yet something else held him back: reputation, pride, security, fear, the weight of expectations. Perhaps we know those feelings too. Following Christ invites us deeper: toward forgiveness, toward obedience, toward trust, toward change.
And part of us hesitates.
But grace is striking in this story. Jesus doesn’t shame Nicodemus for his questions. He meets him patiently, speaks truthfully, and leaves the door open. And that’s good news for all of us. Jesus leaves the door open. Because hesitant hearts can become faithful ones.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting me patiently in my questions, fears, and uncertainty. When I hesitate to trust or follow you fully, give me the courage to take the next step in faith. Help me believe that your grace is greater than my doubts and your love stronger than my fears. Amen.
