Nicodemus is a man I can relate to. You may recall him as the religious leader who came to see Jesus “after dark one evening” (John 3:1-2). Some scholars say the time of his visit is simply how meetings were done back then. Others say he wanted to keep the meeting hidden from his colleagues, men who saw Jesus as a threat to their power base. I agree with the latter. Here’s why.

In John 7, we read the fascinating account of a heated confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders. Full of misguided anger and envy, the men wanted to kill Jesus. So they sent the temple guards to arrest Him.

When the guards returned empty-handed, the leaders were indignant. “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in Him?” they demanded (v.48). Well, apparently there was, for Nicodemus spoke up. “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked (v.51). It was a simple, sane defense of the Man I believe Nicodemus had already come to believe in.

At this point, Nicodemus may have been a “chameleon” disciple, operating undercover. But here, in the face of the full rage of his fellow leaders, he found the courage to speak. Not much later, he would find even more courage. After the Romans crucified Jesus, Nicodemus openly helped bury Him (John 19:39-40).

Nicodemus had graduated from a timid searcher for truth to one who decided that Jesus was “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6). Somewhere along his spiritual journey, he had become a courageous Christian. He left behind a chameleon façade for full-fledged faith.

Where are you in your spiritual journey? Is your faith wilting in the heat or growing in courage and power?