Devos- Pinedale Christian Church

Friday
Jul 15th, 2022

By: Matthew Sink

The Gospel of John-Day 30

John 7:40-52 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 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?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Nicodemus has become one of my favorite stories in the New Testament. His story stretches across the entire Gospel of John, and we see just enough of him to understand that he is on a journey to get closer to Jesus. In fact, his journey is not unlike many that I see in our Church.

It would be easy to read this snippet of John 7 and gloss right past what happens with Nicodemus. After all, it is not deep or profound. He doesn’t declare faith in Jesus. He doesn’t have a epiphany of faith. He doesn’t leave the Pharisees and become a Disciple. He doesn’t even really make a strong defense of Jesus at all. But he does make a defense, and no matter how small it seems from the outside looking in, that is a huge moment from the inside looking out. That moment changed his heart.

There is tremendous power in “one step.” Jesus never required people to have all of the answers before they started following Him. He allowed people to start where they were and even watch from a distance. But eventually, we all have to make a move. For all of us, there comes a day of decision – a day when you have to decide, do I want to identify myself with Jesus. Do I trust Him? Do I believe He is who He said He is?

And if you do, you need to respond to the light that you’ve seen and take a step out of the shadows. And then another. What you will find in that place is that you see things as you’ve never seen them, and you experience God as you’ve never experienced Him.

Why not take one step closer. If you’ve seen enough to know that Christ is trustworthy, and you believe that He alone holds the words of truth, take one step towards Him this week and see what happens.