Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. John 19:38-39

The same Nicodemus “who came to Jesus by night,” brought spices. Nicodemus came out into the open in the light of the cross.

“When Jesus said to me, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life’ (3:14-15), I see now that these were not just words. He sealed his words with his blood. I must become one who truly loves God and loves others as he does. I must come out of the shadows and take my stand with him. I must ask him to change my heart and wash my life. I must take my stand with him, whatever the cost.”

This is what coming to faith in Jesus looks like. You recognize what you need to receive from Jesus and you openly take your stand with him. This is what it looks like.

Jesus Christ called Nicodemus to believe, and he calls you to believe in him today. What are you going to do? If you are a lover of darkness, you will stay in the shadows; and if you remain in the darkness, God will give you forever the darkness that you choose.

But you can also come into the light. You can recognize what you need to receive from Jesus, and you can gladly and openly take your stand with him.

What are you going to do?