Stand By Me

Jesus often modeled how we are to live; this is part of the reason He came to earth. John 1:9-14, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…”

While His examples of compassion and power are extraordinary, He calls us to do the same kinds of things. John 13:14-17, “...I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…” (also 1 Peter 2:21). In John 7:50-53 we have a story where Nicodemus was able to serve Jesus similarly to how Jesus served the sinful woman (John 8): "Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 'Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?' he asked. They replied, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!' Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home…"

Standing up for Jesus carried a lot of risk to Nicodemus’s reputation, similar to Jesus standing with a woman caught in adultery would damage Jesus’ reputation. It's interesting that the earliest manuscripts don't include this story about the woman caught in adultery. Yet it fits perfectly with Nicodemus’s defense of Jesus and Jesus' statement, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The leaders thought His words had no claim, but Jesus says, "...My judgments are correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent Me is with Me." While Nicodemus had never seen the Father, he saw something in Jesus that convinced him. The story about the woman serves as an example of how people can stand up against evil knowing that we are not alone when we stand together.

Paul says in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” James says, “If one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (5:19-20).

We never know how much our example serves as a model for someone else’s bold move for the kingdom of God.