John 19:39-40, Nicodemus Returns One Last Time

39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

The infamous Nicodemus returns to John’s story of Jesus for the third and final time. At first he was skeptical but interested in Jesus at their initial meeting in chapter 3. At the end of chapter 7 he cautions his fellow Jewish leaders that they should listen to Jesus before passing judgment on him, suggesting he has been persuaded about the truth of Jesus. Now he risks his own life, having come with a very large amount of myrrh and aloes fit for the burial of a king, to prepare the body of Jesus to be buried. As John records no cautionary or negative comment regarding the Jewish leaders’ decision to recommend the crucifixion of Jesus, it appears neither Joseph nor Nicodemus was present that evening, but having heard of and perhaps witnessing the crucifixion, they agreed to act in unison for his proper burial. Nicodemus’ myrrh and aloes recall the gifts of the magi to Jesus in Matthew and his placement in the tomb fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9 that the suffering servant would be assigned a grave "with the wicked and with a rich man,” namely Joseph of Arimathea.

The presence of Joseph and Nicodemus suggest that Jesus’ mission, apparently unsuccessful in his death, actually was successful because they, two leaders in the Sanhedrin, have been converted. If we remember back to Jesus’ first encounter with Nicodemus, we will recall he said that one cannot enter into the kingdom of God except by water and the Spirit. In chapter 4 Jesus tells the woman at the well that he would offer her “living water.” In chapter 7:38-39 Jesus says, “‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Water, for Jesus and John, is a symbol of the Spirit. The water that came out of the side of Jesus, however one wants to medically explain its appearance, for John is the symbolic release of the Spirit at the death of Jesus. The sacrificial death of Jesus is required for the release of the Spirit who brings people to faith in the kingly reign of the Messiah over the kingdom of God. Therefore, it is no accident that Nicodemus and Joseph are now risking their lives to serve Jesus. It is the inevitable outcome of the release of the Spirit to usher in a new age. We are witnessing the beginning of a revolution.

Lord Jesus, who on Good Friday, the day of your passion, did stretch out your arms sacrificially upon the hard wood of the cross, that all might be brought within your saving embrace, draw us to yourself with your love, that we may be found with you and in you. Grant that, as your faithful servants, we may each take up our cross daily and follow you, and at the last enter into your eternal joy with you for ever and ever. Amen.