During the burial of Jesus, something unusual happened that’s taught me a lot about following Jesus — an underrated gesture from an “outsider” named Nicodemus. You know Nicodemus from the famous night scene in John 3 in which he asked, “How can anyone get back in his mother’s womb?” in response to Jesus’ talk about being born again.

Nicodemus’ question drew a reply from Jesus that’s become perhaps the most evangelistically successful verse of all time — John 3:16. So what happened to the guy who heard those words from Jesus Himself? At first glance, not much!

In his Gospel, John concluded this scene with a nonchalant “After this,” giving no indication of heart change in Nicodemus. In John 7, Nicodemus showed up again,  defending Jesus before some noisy Pharisees hell-bent on arresting Jesus — still, no concrete evidence of conversion.

In John 19 we find Nicodemus’ third and final appearance, at Jesus’ burial. Read this scene; and, if you have a pen handy, mark every mention of Nicodemus. Underline any details you learn about him.

SCRIPTURE TEXT
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s  permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of  myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  — John 19:38-42

38After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body. 39Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. 41There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. 42So, because it was Sabbath preparation for  the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it. — John 19:38-42 (The Message)

THINK ABOUT IT
Did you catch the amount of spices Nicodemus brought to the burial? Normal Jewish burials called for five pounds of spices — an amount typically on hand in a Jewish household. Seventy-five pounds was an extraordinary amount — the quantity used to bury royalty.

Seventy-five pounds? I’m thinking Nicodemus finally got it! In Jesus’ darkest hour, when even His followers deserted Him, Nicodemus showed up in broad daylight, declaring allegiance — in stark contrast with his first encounter with Jesus. What’s more, you can’t hide 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Picture 15 five-pound bags of  sugar. The biggest dog-food bag in the pet aisle! Imagine a quantity that “makes a statement” — and that’s what Nicodemus brought.

Not only was Nicodemus burying  a king, he was burying his King. Conspicuously.

It’s a moving scene, but I have to wonder if Nicodemus’s love for Christ was somehow tinged with regret. It was a bold move, but it came late. By waiting until Jesus’ death to experience his King, Nicodemus missed a once-in-creation opportunity. Never again would Jesus walk the Earth exactly as He had then. Nicodemus could have  witnessed the miracles. He could have laughed with Jesus. Cried with Jesus. Partied with Jesus! (If you’re not sure Jesus partied, see John 2.)

Are you and I in danger of the same missed opportunity? I think so. Like Nicodemus, we live in an era when Jesus can be experienced unlike at any other time, past or future. When we get to heaven, there will be no need for His mercy, strength, grace, or forgiveness. Those things are for now — to help us endure “time” and survive things  like brokenness, mistakes, loss, and temptation.

Paul picked up this theme in a letter to believers in Philippi. As you read the Scriptures below, underline anything about Jesus that can be explored or known today.

SCRIPTURE TEXT
10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to  the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus  took hold of me. — Philippians 3:10-12 (NIV)

10I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. 11If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. 12I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.  — Philippians 3:10-12

This passage packs an impressive list of things we can explore with Jesus now. The knowing Paul speaks of is an intimate, relational knowing like that between a husband and wife or parent and child. And again, these are things we can know on this side of death or Jesus’ return, whichever comes first.

APPLY IT
I’d love to see my relationship with Jesus from His point of view. Actually, someday I will. And I hope for no regrets. The best I can do now is to imagine Jesus looking at our relationship with longing at any areas that remain unexplored.

In Jesus’ day, many believing Jews dialed down their commitment to Him for fear of the authorities. Perhaps that’s what kept Nicodemus from all-out discipleship. I wonder what fears keep us dialed down in our relationships with Jesus.

To experience His mercy requires that we honestly admit the failures that His mercy can cover. Could fear of admitting we’ve blown it keep us from basking in all the mercy we can get? Temptation can be boiled down to a fear of missing out. Might this fear handcuff our ability to receive Jesus’ strength to overcome temptation?

Or maybe we’ve thought our current spiritual plateau is as good as it gets. Does fear of asking a new set of questions keep us from experiencing a level of spiritual existence that’s better than we could ask for or imagine?

Who knows what fears Nicodemus overcame to take that bold step alongside Joseph of Arimathea, another stealth disciple. What fears can you boldly step through in order to know Jesus now? Take a moment to list your fears and weaknesses, and then look at each, asking something like, “How can I fully experience Jesus through this fear?” or “What once-in-creation characteristic of Jesus will help me in this weakness?” Journal what comes to mind. Paul made a similar list in Philippians 3:3-6—things that might have kept him on a spiritual plateau, unable to intimately know Christ as he said he desired in Philippians 3:10.

Nicodemus wore the moniker “the man who visited Jesus at night” throughout John’s Gospel. Now we can see him as the man who publicly crowned Jesus in the light of day. It took the duration of Jesus’ ministry for him to make that change. We can start now.

If you need a tangible step, buy a five-pound bag of sugar and have yourself a coronation. When a student asks why there’s a bag of sugar in your office or car, explain away — holding nothing back. You’re living a once-increation opportunity.

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A 20-year youth ministry vet, Barry is the founder and director of InWord Resources, a ministry that encourages depth in youth ministry by enabling students and youth workers to become better equipped with God’s Word. Barry is the author of numerous student devotionals and small-group studies including Youth Specialties’ James: 12 Inductive Sessions on Practical Christianity.