The Approach of Nicodemus

John iii. 2 v.
“The same came to Jesus by night.”

To come by night is not a universal experience. There are, in truth, all times for coming to Christ. The radiant morn of hope, the meridian strength of manhood, the burden and the heat of life’s afternoon, the twilight of disappointed joy — all these are both times and reasons for our coming. But night seems a reason for not coming; it is the coming in darkness, in doubt, in intellectual depression. We do not so much wonder at shadows following the coming. It is the property of light to make shadows. The darkness of a Thomas grows out of his love, and the fear lest it should be vain. But to come in shadow, to come when love itself is in its infancy, to come when every motive prompts to stay — this appears a very arduous thing. The doubt of Nicodemus was more discouraging than the doubt of Thomas. Thomas had a background in memory; the darkness of the moment was painted on the

236 SEARCIIINGS IlV THE SILENCE.

canvas of a bright past. But Nicodemus had no Christian memories to support him. He began in the night; it was his first experience. He had never seen the morning star, never heard the lark’s note, never known how the world could be kindled by the day. He was called while yet under the shadow; he came by night.

Son of Man, I am glad that Thou hast suffered him thus to come. I am glad that, amid the many approaches to Thee, there is one for a life so poor. I am glad there is a stage below the coming of a little child. The child comes in emptiness. But night is worse than empty; it is a space filled with spectres. I thank Thee that Thou hast admitted into Thy kingdom a man from such a home. He saw nothing about Thee but Thy works. Thy beauty was veiled to him. He had not even seen that youth can be renewed — that a man may be born again when he is old. Yet, in his rags, Thou hast taken him in. He asked only to work with Thee — to do that kind of labour which he saw Christians do. He would sign no creed, he would make no confession, he would join no church; he asked but to be a helper of humanity; and Thou saidst, “Come.” He had a back-door to Thy communion table; but he sat down with the best. He never saw Thee on the mount; but he was privileged to meet Thee in the vale; he took up Thy crucified body. Such is ever Thy work for those who come by night. Thou leadest them by the paths of the human; Thou makest them the ministers to man. They do not always take Thy name; those who wrestle for daybreak are afraid to take a name; they would bless and pass by. But Thou givest them the name they have not assumed; Thou callest them after Thyself. They have come to Thee in the night; but they shall claim their brotherhood with the children of the day.