that
whenever Jesus was in Jerusalem, Nicodemus sought him under the cover
of the night, and sat at his feet as a learner. Doubtless Jesus and he
were friends all the three years that passed between that first night
when they talked of the new birth, and the day when this noble
councillor assisted his fellow-member of the Sanhedrin in giving
honorable and loving burial to this Teacher come from God.

Once we have a glimpse of Nicodemus in his place in the Sanhedrin.
Jesus has returned to Jerusalem, and multitudes follow him to hear his
words. Many believe on him. The Pharisees and priests are filled with
envy that this peasant from Galilee should have such tremendous
influence among the people. They feel that the power is passing out of
their hands, and that they must do something to silence the voice the
people so love to hear.

A meeting of the Great Council is called to decide what to do.
Officers are sent to arrest Jesus, and bring him to the bar of the
court. The officers find Jesus in the temple, in the midst of an eager
throng, to whom he is speaking in his gracious, winning way. That was
the day he said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
The officers listen as the wonderful words fall from his lips, and
they, too, become interested; their attention is enchained; they come
under the same spell which holds all the multitude. They linger till
his discourse is ended; and then, instead of arresting him, they go
back without him, only giving to the judges as reason for not obeying,
"Never man spake like this man."

The members of the court were enraged at this failure of their effort.
Even their own police officers had proved untrue. "Are ye also
deceived or led astray?" they cry in anger. Then they ask, "Have any
of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this multitude
which knoweth not the law, are accursed." They would have it that only
the ignorant masses had been led away by this delusion; none of the
great men, the wise men, had accepted this Nazarene as the Messiah.
They did not suspect that at least one of their own number, possibly
two, had been going by night to hear this young rabbi.

It was a serious moment for Nicodemus. He sat there in the council,
and saw the fury of his brother judges. In his heart he was a friend
of Jesus. He believed that he was the Messiah. Loyalty to his friend,
to the truth, and to his own conscience, demanded that he should cas