Faith often begins in secret. Nicodemus came to Jesus under the cover of night, afraid of being seen but hungry for truth. His story shows how grace draws even the cautious heart into bold devotion.

John 19:39–40 (NLT)
“With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.”

Reflection
Nicodemus first appears in John 3, a Pharisee seeking answers. He was learned, respected, and cautious. Yet something about Jesus stirred him—perhaps the compassion, perhaps the authority that pierced through pretense. Though he approached in secret, his conversation with Jesus forever changed him: “You must be born again.”

We meet Nicodemus again at the cross, not hiding this time but stepping forward with Joseph of Arimathea to bury the Lord’s body. The man who once sought Jesus by night now honors Him in the open, carrying an extravagant gift fit for a king. His faith has grown from curiosity to courage.

This is the quiet transformation grace brings. Jesus does not despise small beginnings. Even the timid heart, touched by His truth, can be drawn into public devotion. Nicodemus reminds us that discipleship is a journey—one that moves us from fear to love, from secrecy to surrender.

Application
Have you ever followed Jesus from the shadows, hesitant to let others see your faith? Take heart—He meets you there, just as He met Nicodemus. Growth in faith doesn’t always happen in a moment; sometimes it unfolds through seasons of questioning and discovery. Ask God to help you take your next step—whether that means speaking truth with humility, serving when it’s inconvenient, or standing for Christ where you once stayed silent.

References
John 3:21 (NLT) – “But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Matthew 5:16 (NLT) – “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for drawing us from darkness into Your marvelous light. Like Nicodemus, I have questions and fears, yet You patiently call me to deeper faith. Give me courage to live openly for You. Let my devotion be seen not for my glory but for Yours, so that others might be drawn to Your love and truth. Amen.