ANOTHER SECRET DISCIPLE

Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound
John 3:2 (KJV) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a
teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 7:50 (KJV) Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

1. A Religious Man
a. A Pharisee, the strictest Jewish sect for religion and holiness
b. Unlike the Sadducees, they believed the doctrines of angels and spirits, and the
resurrection of the dead
c. They have a high regard for the Messiah and the Old Testament Law
d. They have become corrupt and enemies of Christ
e. Yet, Nicodemus desired to see and talk with Jesus, only secretly for fear of the Jews
2. A Ruler of the Jews
John 7:48 (KJV) Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
 Not a civil magistrate, for they were under the Roman government
 An ecclesiastical ruler;
 A member of the Sanhedrin (includes priests, Levites, elders of the people, and doctors
or wise men)
 A dignified “master” in Israel
John 3:10 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
3. A Rich Man
John 19:39 (KJV) And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night,
and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

 Some conjecture that he was the brother of Joseph of Arimathaea.

 The Talmusdists believe he was Nicodemus ben Gorion,the brother of Josephus ben
Gorion,
 He was one of the three rich men in Jerusalem
 He Was able to maintain a city ten years
 Had a daughter who was exceeding rich (see John 19:39)
 He brought large quantities of sweet-smelling myrrh (Exo. 30:23) and aromatic aloes (not
the common “aloes”).
Exodus 30:23 (KJV) Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five
hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty
shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
 The hundred pound mixture was enough for two hundred dead bodies.
 The strength of a mule is required to carry this weight. His servants must have assisted
him. (Joseph of Arimathaea must have his servants helping him carry the body of Jesus
as well. Just like Pilate, he must have asked someone to write “INRI” on the cross for
him.)
 The expensive mixture of these “chief spices” (Song 4:14) was not used for embalming
and preserving the body of Jesus, for his body was not embalmed.
Song of Solomon 4:14 (KJV) Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all
trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
 They were used to show respect and honor by perfuming it (Prov. 7:17; Ps. 45:8).
Proverbs 7:17 (KJV) I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Psalm 45:8 (KJV) All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
 The great men of the Jews are buried with great quantity of spices. (2 Chron. 16:14,
David)
 2 Chronicles 16:14 (KJV) And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had
made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet
odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a
very great burning for him.
4. A Resolved Man
 His other name was probably, Boni, who was known among the Jews as a secret disciple
of Jesus
a. He came to Jesus by night
John 3:1 (KJV) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a
teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God
be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these
things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of
heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even
the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Gospel for You Today

1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:
Titus 3:5 (KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Washing of Regeneration
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word,
Renewing of the Holy Ghost
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
 b. He defended Jesus openly
John 7:50 (KJV) Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one
of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out
of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
c. He honored Jesus boldly
John 19:39 (KJV) And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by
night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

 Also known as “Nicolas” in Greek; Jews began using Greek names

 Reduced to poverty due to persecution of Christians by the Jews
 His daughter was seen gathering barley corns from under horses’ hoofs or out of the
dung of Arabian beasts
 She was also seen asking for alms.

SUMMARY: NICODEMUS
1. A Religious Man
2. A Ruling Man
3. A Rich Man
4. A Resolved Man

CONCLUSION: That was NICODEMUS, ANOTHER SECRET DISCIPLE.

1. A secret disciple, who had a private and personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ
2. An open disciple, who publicly professed his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ
3. A bold disciple, who is willing to risk his reputation, his wealth, and his life for the Lord Jesus
Christ

APPLICATION:

Are you a secret disciple? Have you personally trusted Him as Lord and Savior?
What are you willing to risk for Christ?
How much are you willing to take a risk for the Lord Jesus Christ?