The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?” John 7:47-48
The Pharisees shamed the officers when they returned. Did you catch what they were saying? “No thinking person believes this. Yes, the crowd might believe in Jesus, but they are simple people. You are professionals.” And when they ask, “Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?” (7:48) they are implying, “Don’t think for yourself, leave it to the experts. None of the elites believe in Him.”
Then one of the Pharisees, a man called Nicodemus, speaks up. He is the one who, earlier in John 3, came to visit Jesus by night, out of fear of the other Pharisees finding out. But now Nicodemus has courage. He wants to make his own firsthand investigation. “Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’” (7:50-51).
Nicodemus is not yet a committed believer, but the beginnings of faith are forming in his soul. Later, when Jesus was crucified, he came out into the open. Two men went to Pilate and asked that they might bury the body of Jesus—Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (19:38-39).
When Nicodemus first met Jesus, he thought Jesus was just a teacher (3:2), but after doing his own investigation, he realized there was much more to Jesus. He listened to what Jesus said and that led him to believe. This is how faith is formed, and what Nicodemus did is exactly what this Gospel invites us to do—give Jesus a hearing and learn what He does.
Take an honest look at Jesus and think for yourself. If you ask Jesus to help you, if you listen to what He says and learn what He does, then faith will be formed in your soul. You will come to believe and have life in His name.
Are you being shamed for your belief in Jesus? Do you feel you have to sneak around when it comes to your faith? What can you learn from Nicodemus?
