Today's Favorite Verse: John 19:39

Today's Favorite Verse: John 19:39

"And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."

I've always been a little fascinated by Nicodemus' story. I wondered what became of him after Jesus had left? I can only find him mentioned three times in the New Testament. Did his story just die, and he missed his opportunity? I found this talk by President Spencer W. Kimball on Nicodemus and what could have been.

"O my brother, opportunity's doors are closing. Why can't you understand? Too many materialistic obstacles? He knows your influence, wealth, erudition, your exalted place in community, in government, in the powerful church group.

He offers you not a dependent, decadent kingdom like your doomed and dying Judah. He invites you to rule, not as emperor of a temporary world power like Rome, which is destined to crumble as clay, but is offering you citizenship in the kingdom of heaven, eventually to rise in stature and authority until you are a king in your own right with a dominion greater than the combined empires of all the earth.

Your decision seems weighted with earthly treasures and the plaudits of men and the conveniences of affluence. My heart weeps for you, friend Nicodemus. You seem such a good man, philanthropic, kind, generous. You could have been such a power in the Lord's kingdom. You had a spark of desire. It could have been kindled into a living flame. You might have been one of his seventies, to proselyte as an advance agent, or an apostle, or even the President of his Church. You might have filled the vacancy when Matthias was called or have been an apostle to the gentiles with Paul and suffered with him in his perils of the sea, among robbers, in prisons, in his beatings and stonings, and even in his death. How little we realize the doors of opportunity which we oft close with one wrong decision. But the price was too high, wasn't it, man of wealth?

Unwilling that you slip back in your darkness without having every opportunity, Christ will bear you his testimony again. He will not leave you guiltless. You cannot escape the condemnation of this testimony, Mr. Rationalizer. Hear him:"

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Are You a Modern Nicodemus?", April 1958 General Conference)

It made me feel bad for Nicodemus, he was so close, and yet he didn't receive it all. It made me ponder on the many that have heard the gospel message and rejected the invitation to enter the waters of baptism. I know it took my parents four years before they decided to join the church. My husband accepted baptism after the second time he was asked. Rejecting the first time doesn't mean rejecting it forever. Opportunity may come again, but sometimes time just runs out.

Day 3175