t
away the veil he was wearing, and reveal his faith in Jesus. At least
he must say some word on behalf of the innocent man whom his
fellow-members were determined to destroy. It was a testing-time for
Nicodemus, and sore was the struggle between timidity and a sense of
duty. The storm in the court-room was ready to burst; the council was
about taking violent measures against Jesus. We know not what would
have happened if no voice had been lifted for fair trial before
condemnation. But then Nicodemus arose, and in the midst of the
terrible excitement spoke quietly and calmly his few words,--

"Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know
what he doeth?"

It was only a plea for fairness and for justice; but it showed the
working of a heart that would be true to itself, in some measure at
least, in spite of its shyness and shrinking, and in spite of the peril
of the hour. The question at first excited anger and contempt against
Nicodemus himself; but it checked the gathering tides of violence,
probably preventing a public outbreak.

We may note progress in the friendship of this secret disciple. During
the two years since he first came to Jesus by night the seed dropped
into his heart that night had been growing silently. Nicodemus was not
yet ready to come out boldly as a disciple of Jesus; but he proved
himself the friend of Jesus, even by the few words he spoke in the
council when it required firm courage to speak at all. "He who at the
first could come to Jesus only by night, now stands by him in open day,
and in the face of the most formidable opposition, before which the
courage of the strongest might have quailed."

It is beautiful to see young Christians, as the days pass, growing more
and more confident and heroic in their confession of Christ. At first
they are shy, retiring, timid, and disposed to shrink from public
revealing of themselves. But if, as they receive more of the Spirit of
God in their heart, they grow more courageous in speaking for Christ
and in showing their colors, they prove that they are true disciples,
learners, growing in grace.

The only other mention of Nicodemus is some months after the heroic
word spoken in the council. What has been going on in his experience,
meanwhile, we do not know. There is no evidence that he has yet
declared himself a follower of Jesus. He is still a secret disciple.
But the hidden life in his heart has still been grow