This program is brought to you by Israel Restoration Ministries.
What are you doing Sunday nights? Come join Friendship with God radio Bible teacher Tom Cantor of the Friendship with God Fellowship Church every Sunday night at 5:30 p.m. at The Vine at 9336 Abraham Way, Santee, California. Watch and listen live around the world to Tom Cantor Sunday evening on youtube.com by searching for Friendship with God Fellowship or by going to our homepage at friendshipwithgod.org.
That’s friendshipwithgod.org.
Welcome to Friendship with God with our Bible teacher, Tom Cantor. Today’s message and previous messages can be listened to or downloaded for free at friendshipwithgod.org.
First Corinthians 126. First Corinthians 126 says, for ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. See, the Apostle Paul was telling, in that verse, the church at Corinth to look around, look around at each other, and see that there’s not many mighty, not many who are of nobility.
You know, it reminds me of a woman in England who was very wealthy, and she was of nobility in the high status in the society. And she became a follower of Jesus Christ, and she said, I was saved by the letter M, she said, because First Corinthians 126 says, not many, and the letter M is in the word many. But she said that if First Corinthians 126 didn’t have the letter M, then it would have been not any, she said.
So she said she wasn’t the not any, she was saved by the letter M. So all that means that this is, it’s not a case of not any of the Pharisees were followers of Christ, but Nicodemus was saved by letter M, because not many of the Pharisees were followers of Christ, but there were. He was a member of the Great Sanhedrin, that convicted Christ, condemned Christ, and then essentially carried out the execution.
But he was like a senator, he was a man of authority in the capital of Jerusalem, and that made for Nicodemus his life to be a struggle. He was struggling because he was part of that group that was the most prejudiced against Jesus Christ. And that made this man to have to struggle with thoughts of prejudice against Jesus Christ.
You know, the prejudice is so strong, I was just, you know, if you, I don’t know how to recommend you to do this, but if you look on Amazon, anyways, there’s 500 reviews about, for the book Changed, and they are so divided, it’s unbelievable. There’s like not any one, two, there’s five stars, and there’s really not two, three, four, and then there’s one stars.
And the one stars are extremely hostile. He’s a moron, the colors are wrong, he has no grammar, he’s going on and on everything under the sun. And then very negative.
And then the five stars are, oh, the book is wonderful, it’s the best I’ve heard of. And you scratch your head and you say, did they read the same book? You know, and you realize that it’s so poignant, because the point is, is that it’s not about me, it’s about Jesus Christ.
It’s what do people feel about Jesus Christ that drives their review and impression of the book. If they’re for Jesus Christ, then the book is about Jesus Christ, it’s wonderful. If they are prejudiced against Jesus Christ, then it’s the most horrible book ever written.
And it’s all about prejudice. This is the group that Nicodemus is in, the prejudiced group against Jesus Christ. So he is a person that’s got to struggle with these thoughts also that rise in him, that tempt him to be also prejudiced against Jesus Christ.
And he’s got to constantly do what the command is in 2 Corinthians 10, 5. 2 Corinthians 10, 5, which says, casting down imaginations in every high thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
He’s got those imaginations. He’s got those thoughts. He’s surrounded by it all the time to be against Christ, to be prejudiced against Christ.
And he’s got to grab those imaginations and he’s got to grab those thoughts and bring them into captivity, put them in prison. And that made life extremely hard and a struggle for Nicodemus. As when the subject of Jesus Christ came up in his body, the Sanhedrin, he was constantly being overruled by the majority.
He found himself yoked together with those who were corrupt and hated Jesus Christ. So all this meant that for Nicodemus, that the good that he wanted to do for Christ, he could not do that. And yet, he continued in his position being a ruler in Israel, and he did what he could when he was not able to do what he wanted to do.
So that’s his life. And Nicodemus, he heard Christ speak. Nicodemus was familiar with what Christ had done, by way of the miracles, publicly.
But there was something going on inside of Nicodemus. Something was stirring inside of him. And this anxiety inside of Nicodemus meant that he wasn’t satisfied to just listen to Christ publicly.
That was not enough. He had questions, and he felt that he had to have a private meeting with Christ. This was what was burning in him.
It wasn’t enough just to listen to Christ. He had to encounter Christ personally, alone, with no one else present. And that’s what he has orchestrated and set up.
So he comes to meet with Jesus at night, in the cover of night, where Nicodemus would not be seen coming to Christ. And he has this tremendous resolve to meet with Christ alone. I mean, this is a big thing for him to come to Jesus by night.
And that made Nicodemus to be following what God said to do in Malachi 2-7. When a person felt that he just needed knowledge, when a person in Israel felt he needed to be taught, Malachi 2-7 says, The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they that seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. So Nicodemus goes to Christ at night.
He’s seeking knowledge from the lips of Jesus, from the mouth of the great high priest of God, Jesus. And he realizes that for him, he’s got a high priest, a Hebrews 4.15 high priest. Hebrews 4.15.
We have not a high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all point tempted like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This is Nicodemus.
He’s coming to Jesus at night. He’s coming boldly, at risk to himself, to the throne of the grace of the great high priest Jesus, because he needs help. He’s got a time of need, because he feels empty of real knowledge.
And so following Malachi 2.7, following this instruction in Malachi 2.7, he’s come to the great high priest to hear from the lips of Jesus, knowledge, and he didn’t go away disappointed. Now, he knew, Nicodemus knew that Christ had many enemies, and he knew that if it was known that he was being influenced by Christ, that this would have enraged the enemies of Christ against Christ. Christ has made an inroad into one of ours that would have, so he comes to Jesus at night.
He’s also afraid, he’s afraid of what’s going to happen to him if he’s seen with Christ. And that’s why he comes to Jesus at night. Now, verse two, what’s amazing about verse two, it says he came to Jesus by night, and there’s nothing said by Jesus, like, why are you coming to me at night?
Like, if you’re ashamed of me, well, I’ll be ashamed of you. How can you call yourself someone that wants to follow me and hide yourself at night? Jesus said nothing like that.
Why? He said nothing because instead, he welcomed Nicodemus to come by, come, come by day, come by night, just come. Why?
Why didn’t Jesus tell Nicodemus that he should be open about his interest in Christ? The reason is because Jesus knew Nicodemus was weak, and Jesus considered the weakness of Nicodemus, and he knew that this is just the first step for Nicodemus. Later, he’ll be bold.
Later, he’ll confess me. But now, not now, but now, it’s just the first step in coming to Jesus at night. And Jesus wanted to encourage Nicodemus to do what it says in Hebrews 1038.
Hebrews 1038. The just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
So the reason that Christ did not rebuke Nicodemus for coming to him at night to be hidden is he wanted Nicodemus just to come at night. Just don’t draw back. Don’t draw back.
Because Hebrews 1039 doesn’t say just draw back. Hebrews 1029, 1039, sorry. Hebrews 1039 says draw back unto perdition.
And he didn’t want to see Nicodemus draw back unto perdition. So he encourages Nicodemus. And he just pardons all the weakness of Nicodemus.
Because he understood the pressure that Nicodemus was under as a Pharisee and a ruler. So Christ did what Christ does. He looks at our weakness and he says, it’s a good beginning.
It’s a good beginning. He’ll grow. He’ll grow beyond this point to be strong.
He’ll progress from strength to strength. And he did. Nicodemus did progress from weakness to strength.
As we see in John 7, 45, John 7, 45, when he was in the Sanhedrin, it says, then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said unto them, why have you not brought him? The officers answered, never man spake like this man. Then answered the Pharisees, are you also deceived?
Have any of the rulers of the Pharisees believed on him? Just imagine that. The rulers there said, have any of the Pharisees believed on him?
There was one sitting right next to them that had, secretly. Going on, John 7, 49. But this people who know not the law are cursed.
Nicodemus sayeth unto them, he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them. Doth our law judge any man before it shall hear him, and know what he sayeth, or what he doeth? They answered and sent him, Art thou also of Galilee?
Search and look, for out of the Galilee arises no prophet. He’s getting stronger. And finally, in the end of this book, John 19, 38, John 19, 38.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, another one, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. He came, therefore, and took the body of Jesus, and there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pound weight, and then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the juices to bury. This record is very careful in that passage, in John 1939, John 1939, to identify Jesus as which at the first came to Jesus by night, but not at the last.
He’s coming to Jesus secretly, now he’s open. Nicodemus came to Jesus at the first by night, which showed that Nicodemus had faith, but it was very small, it was like a mustard seed, small. But later, when Nicodemus joins Joseph of Arimathea to take the body of Jesus from the cross, then that little tiny mustard seed has grown into a great tree, a great tree of faith, a mustard tree, large one.
Now, what does Nicodemus say when he comes to the Lord? It says in verse 2, verse 2, he said unto him, Rabbi. He says, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Now, when Nicodemus used the term Rabbi, it wasn’t just some polite title like Mr. There’s something very power-packed in that word, Rabbi. Nicodemus was stating in that word, Rabbi, both a confession, a personal confession, and a personal plea for help. By calling him Rabbi, Nicodemus was saying to Jesus, I know that I do not understand, and you are the Rabbi that can make me understand.
He’s saying by saying the word Rabbi, he’s saying, I know that I’m ignorant of truth, and you are the Rabbi that can educate me. I know my need to know, and you’re the Rabbi that can bring me knowledge. That’s what he’s saying.
It was a dramatic confession that this high-standing teacher of teachers, Nicodemus, made to Jesus, when Nicodemus was hailed in Israel as the, oh, you’re the ones who can make others understand, and you’re the one who can educate and bring truth. And now comes to Jesus, this one, with that one word, rabbi, and he’s confessing to Jesus, it’s a sham. It’s all a show.
It’s a sham. I don’t have the knowledge and the truth. And then in that word, rabbi, there’s like a plea for help.
Help me, he’s saying, as he calls him rabbi, he says, anyway, he is calling the enemy of his party rabbi. And the other Pharisees were happy just to have the power and just to have the position of loaning over the people, of being part of the elite above others. The others were happy with that, but not Nicodemus.
That was not enough for Nicodemus. All the power and prestige was not what he really wanted in life. When Nicodemus heard Jesus speak, something woke up inside of Nicodemus.
A hunger woke up inside of Nicodemus. Probably Nicodemus didn’t even know what he needed to satisfy this deep soul hunger that he felt inside. But Nicodemus was confident that Jesus’ rabbi could show Nicodemus what that feeling of hunger was coming from.
I mean, Nicodemus was confident that rabbi could satisfy that hunger. I mean, Nicodemus heard Jesus speak, and he felt like a void inside. He felt so empty.
And probably, again, Nicodemus didn’t know what he needed to fill the void. But he was confident when he called Jesus rabbi that Jesus could explain to Nicodemus why he felt empty inside. And he was confident in rabbi Jesus he could fill this gnawing void inside of him.
So with that first word, Nicodemus has set the stage by calling him rabbi. He’s unmasked himself to Jesus with that word rabbi. He’s saying, I am Nicodemus, and I have a great need to know in order to do.
And then he’s saying, I have a great confidence in you that you are a great teacher that can make me know so I can do. So what we see in Nicodemus, when he calls Jesus rabbi, it’s faith. Faith is a great confidence in Jesus.
That’s what faith is. Faith is confidence in Jesus Christ, that he can meet the needs of life. That’s what we see in him.
Now, the next word that Nicodemus says to Jesus is surprising, because it’s the word we, we, John, verse two, verse two. We know that thou art a teacher come from God. Now, he said we, so we look around and we say, we don’t see anyone else there at night meeting with Jesus, other than Nicodemus.
And yet Nicodemus has said, we know, and certainly not talking about the Pharisees, because they don’t know that he’s a teacher come from God. But we expected Nicodemus to say, I know that thou art a teacher come from God. But Nicodemus says, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.
And so it raises the question, who’s the we? Who is the we that he’s talking about? Evidently, Nicodemus is not the only Pharisee.
It’s not any of the Pharisees, it’s not many, but there’s some who believe that Jesus is the teacher come from God. At least one other Pharisee who also believes with Nicodemus that Jesus is the teacher come from God. So evidently, one or more Pharisees are with Nicodemus as a small group of Pharisees within this hostile group against Jesus, and they believe that Jesus is the teacher that’s come from God.
And this small group evidently has commissioned Nicodemus, go to Jesus and get answers to questions. Now if you and I encountered Nicodemus and the others who joined Nicodemus in their belief that Jesus was a teacher come from God, we wouldn’t see this about Nicodemus. He certainly didn’t walk around with a cross.
And other Pharisees, we wouldn’t have seen that. Nicodemus and the other Pharisees in his group would appear to us to be just like all the other Pharisees, hostile enemies against Jesus. And that shows us how weak we are to see the hearts of people.
We see a person who to us looks as hard as a rock against God. And we see a person and conclude, oh, that person is triple deed. He is dead.
He is damned. And he is delivered. That’s what Mildred used to say.
And we conclude, there’s no way that that person is going to be coming to Jesus. That’s because we can’t see inside the heart. We can’t.
And that reminds me of Dorothy Greenstein. Dorothy Greenstein was a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Poland. And she worked at the LA Holocaust Museum.
And she spoke to many, many schools, high schools, throughout Los Angeles, about her experience of escaping the Nazis in Poland. Dorothy was also a Hebrew teacher. And so Dorothy lived in Los Angeles.
And Dorothy retaught me Hebrew on the phone regularly. And we would read through the Bible together in Hebrew. And that led to great disagreements and great arguments.
Loud arguments. So heated that my wife would come over and say, What’s wrong? What’s going on?
So, well, we’re just having a discussion. It wasn’t really an argument. And then Dorothy would say to me, Stop talking to me about Jesus.
And Dorothy would say to me, Look, you and I go to different congregations. So she would put it. And I was convinced that Dorothy would never come to Jesus.
Well, Dorothy got melanoma. And she died in 2018 in December. And I went to the funeral at the San Bernardino Chabad Synagogue.
And now I knew that Dorothy had another student who was a Gentile, who was a Mexican named Sergio. And I knew that he went to a messianic fellowship in Los Angeles. He was a believer in Jesus.
And Dorothy used to talk to me about him. It was at Dorothy’s funeral that I met Sergio for the first time. And Sergio told me that before Dorothy died, that Sergio told Dorothy that he had great peace inside.
And Dorothy asked Sergio, how can I get that peace? That same peace. And so Sergio told Dorothy how she had to receive Jesus in order to get that peace.
And Dorothy did that. He told me that she did that. She received Jesus.
Tom Cantor’s messages can be listened to and downloaded for free at friendshipwithgod.org. For other free resources, email us at tomcantor at friendshipwithgod.org or call us at 800-247-3051. Join our live services on YouTube by searching Friendship with God with Tom Cantor every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
What are you doing Sunday nights? Come join Friendship with God radio Bible teacher Tom Cantor of the Friendship with God Fellowship Church every Sunday night at 5:30 p.m. at The Vine at 9336 Abraham Way, Santee, California. Watch and listen live around the world to Tom Cantor Sunday evening on youtube.com by searching for Friendship with God Fellowship or by going to our homepage at friendshipwithgod.org That’s friendshipwithgod.org This program is brought to you by Israel Restoration Ministries.
