Jerusalem was a city of universities; people traveled from distant lands to Judea to receive education. There were many learned men and theologians in Jerusalem. They liked to philosophize, talk about the meaning of life, about God.
However, none of these knowledgeable people came to listen to Jesus. For what reason? They probably thought they knew it all. They had read all the wise books and were familiar with all the wise sayings of the past. They had excellent memories. Probably, when information about Jesus’ preaching reached them, they laughed and said that it doesn’t happen that way, and if they were asked: “Why do you think that?”, they answered: “Because it never happened that way.” Their knowledge of life was based on knowledge taken from the past. They didn't look ahead.
Only one person... and because he was the only one, his name was remembered and carried down to our times. He was a university professor; his name was Nicodemus. But even he could not muster the courage to come to Jesus in the light of day. He thought: “What will people say?” After all, he was a professor of theology and would ask questions of an uneducated young man who had never been to university.
That's why he came in the middle of the night when everyone was sleeping. Even Jesus' disciples were asleep. He woke Jesus up and introduced himself:
— I am a professor of theology; my name is Nicodemus. Please forgive me for disturbing your sleep. I want to ask you about the Path.
Jesus said to him:
“Don’t worry about your disturbing my sleep, for I will disturb your deeper sleep.” You ask about the Path, but the Path requires courage. And you are a coward! You were afraid to come during the day. You thought, “What will people say?”
Nicodemus said to him:
- You're right, I accept your words, they are fair. But tell me, how to take the first step on the Path?
Jesus said to him:
“The first step of a brave man is to admit that he knows nothing and that all his knowledge is borrowed.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru