As someone who has been a Christian for almost my whole life, it is always so refreshing to see a new take on Scripture. Whether it’s The Message or The Chosen, sometimes I just need my goggles of familiarity torn off so I can see God more clearly.
I watched The Chosen a couple of years ago, but the story of Nicodemus is the one that continues to speak to me. Nicodemus is a leader of the Pharisees, who, even in the first minutes of episode 1, is considering Jesus as who he truly is: the Messiah. The others appreciate Jesus for the love he has, the new truth he teaches that excludes no one. But Nicodemus sees Jesus in the whole arc of Scripture: the Old Testament promises and symbolism. Although when Jesus first arrives on the scene Nicodemus feels the need to entrench himself intellectually to what he already thinks, already teaches, the camera often zooms up on Nicodemus wondering–and even believing–and then snapping back out for the sake of his career. Over and over, Jesus invites Nicodemus, and Nicodemus grieves deeply every time he says no.
Nicodemus is a bit like I can sometimes feel. Sometimes, when God is planting a seed of growth in my heart, I spend my time watching others’ joy and faith from the outside, not sure if I am ready to portray outwardly what God is calling me to. I was so grateful to see in Nicodemus God’s faithful pursuit of those he calls. Because, when Jesus died, you’d think the story was over–that Nicodemus would have lost his chance. But in the Gospels we see Nicodemus after Jesus’ crucifixion. He, a man of means, provides the embalming spices. He, a highly religious Pharisee, took on the uncleanness of touching a dead man, and prepared the body to be buried: what tenderness, and what obvious devotion. Here is a man forgetful of himself, forgetful of his position. All he knows is love for the man who called him; awe at his reshaped theology. He is God’s follower now, though he stood by and said no over and over.
Maybe, like Nicodemus and me, you’ve felt God pulling on your heart about something, and you are not brave enough to make waves in the world. Let this encourage you: the death of Jesus and his resurrection frees you from the debt to God, but also wakes our hearts up in love. Turning to follow God’s call isn’t a statement before men, it’s just allowing yourself to love God in a new way. He’s waiting, and he’ll still be waiting, as he did for Nicodemus.