KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Opinion
WE ARE NOT left in ignorance whether Nicodemus came to Jesus by night...
The universal and unanimous response from all believers in the Bible is that he did. We can be united perfectly in believing this fact. This is because the Bible says he came by night ( John 3:1-2), and there is always union where all follow what the Bible says.
But, many wonder why he came by night and not by day. Numerous answers have been put forth. Yet, to reach a conclusion we must depend on our own guidance and opinion. Some say that Nicodemus came this way because of a fear of his colleagues in the Jewish Sanhedrin, and he chose the night to meet outside the public eye. Others tell us it was not through fear but to avoid the crowds that gathered about Jesus during the day, Jews preferring the quiet of the night to meet undisturbed.
Yet, either or both of these views may be correct. I am told David Lipscomb once asked his Bible class why Nicodemus came by night. Several theories where proposed, and, after all had spoken, Lipscomb said, "The Bible does not tell us why he came by night." Any answer given will only be our opinion.
THOUGHT: The distinction between faith (Gal. 3:23; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17) and opinion is perfectly clear. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God; opinion is what men think where the Word of God does not speak. Thus, when men introduce as worship to God things on which his Word is silent, they walk by opinion and not by faith. In spiritual matters it is eternally important that we walk by faith and not opinion. (Ancil Jenkins)
KneEmail: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9).