The verse before us seems to show that Nicodemus came for- ward as a volunteer, and helped to bury our Lord, and did not Bhrink to take part with Joseph in his good work. I can hard- ly think that he went with Joseph to Pilate. There is not a word to show this in any of the four Gospels.
Some think that by agreement Nicodemus went to fetch the hundred pounds' weight of spice (no slight burden to carry), while Joseph went to Pilate.
I should rather conjecture, that when Nicodemus saw Joseph coming boldly forward and showing anxiety to honor our Lord's body, — Joseph, whom doubtless as a Pharisee and coun- sellor, he knew well, — his own heart was stirred within him, his own timidity fell to the ground, and he came forward and offered to aid. In so doing he deserves praise and honor, though in a lower degree, like Joseph, He showed more rev- erence and love to our Lord when dead than he had ever done when alive. Once more we see that circumstances bring out character in very unexpected ways. The man that began seek- ing Jesus by night, at last confesses Jesus openly before the world, in the full light of day.
The case of Nicodemus is deeply instructive. It shows us how small and weak the beginning of true religion may be in the soul of man. It shows us that we must not despair of any one because he begins with a little timid, secret inquiry after Christ, It shows us that there are wide differences and varie- ties in the characters of believers. Some are brought into full light at once, and take up the cross without delay. Others at- tain light very slowly, and halt long between two opinions. It shows us that those who make the least display at first, some- times shine brightest and come out best at last. Nicodemus confessed his love to Christ when Peter, James, and Andrew, had all run away. What need we have for patience and char- ity in forming an estimate of other people's religion ! There are more successors of Nicodemus in the Church of Christ than we are aware of. We may see some marvellous changes in Bome persons, if we live with them a few years. The strong- est, hardiest trees, are often the slowest in growth. He that sets down men and women as graceless and godless, if they do not profess full assurance of hope the first day they take up religion and hear the Gospel, forgets the case of Nicodemus, and exhibits his own ignorance of the ways of the Spirit. All God's elect are led to Christ, undoubtedly, but not all at the same speed, or through the same experience.
Calvin remarks on the conduct of Joseph and Nicodemus, " Here we have a striking proof that Christ's death was more quickening than His life. So great was the efficacy of that Bweet savor which the death of Christ conveyed to the minds of these two men, that it quickly extinguished all the passions of the flesh."