The Patron Saint of Curiosity & The Slow Work of God (John 19:38–40)

From Darkness to Light: The Slow Work of God

John 3:1–2; 7:45–52; 19:38–40

One of the most helpful ways to read Scripture is to see it not just as sacred writing, but as a sacred witness to humanity. The Bible was written over a long period of time, across generations that experienced the rise and fall of empires, movements, and leaders. And while it records their growing theology, it also records patterns—patterns of how people behave, how power works, and how God meets us in the middle of it all. When we read it this way, we begin to notice that the same struggles we see in Scripture are still alive in the world today.

Each book of the New Testament speaks into real communities dealing with real tensions. Romans addresses a divided church. Philippians wrestles with identity. John’s Gospel is written to people who have grown to the point where they no longer quite fit within the systems that formed them. That experience—outgrowing something you once trusted while still trying to make sense of your faith—is not new. It is part of the story Scripture has been telling all along, and Nicodemus is one of the clearest examples of this kind of journey.

When we first meet him, he is a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest religious authority in his world. He has status, influence, and security. He is everything people would have hoped to become. And yet, something is not sitting right with him. He is unsettled by what he sees happening around Jesus. So he comes to Jesus at night, an important detail for Johns audience. In John’s Gospel, darkness is not just a time of day; it is a symbol of not yet seeing clearly. Nicodemus is curious and intrigued, but he is still in the dark. He recognizes that Jesus must be from God because, as he says, no one could do what he is doing otherwise. But he is not yet ready to step fully into the light.

And then he simply disappears from the story.

Japanese theologian, Kosuke Koyama, once described God as moving at three miles an hour (the speed of a human walking.) He argues that love is slow and cannot be rushed or forced. When people try to hurry others into change, it often leads to pressure, control, or resentment. But God does not work that way. God walks with us, patiently, allowing truth to take root over time.

So when Nicodemus appears again, something has shifted. In John 7, the religious leaders are gathered, frustrated with Jesus and ready to shut him down. Nicodemus speaks up and asks: shouldn’t we at least hear him out before judging him? It is a small step that puts him at odds with the group. Their response is to mock and dismiss him. Then they make false claims to shut down the conversation.

When power is at stake, truth often becomes secondary.
People begin to protect their position rather than pursue what is right, and those who try to hold onto their principles can find themselves increasingly uncomfortable in spaces they once felt at home in. Nicodemus is beginning to feel that tension. He is not fully out, but he is no longer fully in.

He’s in a liminal space, which many Christians have found is an important part of the journey towards Christ.

After Jesus’ death, Nicodemus appears again alongside Joseph of Arimathea. They ask for Jesus’ body and prepare it for burial wihle Nicodemus brings an extraordinary amount of spices —far more than would normally be used— the kind of honor given to a king. His alignment is now public and costly, and whatever questions or fears he once had, he is now willing to risk, wether reputation, or status.

This is how transformation often works. It rarely happens all at once. It is often slow, patient, sometimes invisible. But over time, something changes. And eventually, that change becomes visible in what we are willing to stand for—and what we are willing to give up. People can change, even those embedded in broken systems. God is at work, often more slowly than we would like, but more deeply than we can see. Our role is not to force that process in others, but to trust it, to participate in it, and to remain open to it in ourselves.

House Church Discussion Questions (choose any that connect with you).

When you think about your own faith journey, where have you experienced growth happening slowly over time rather than all at once?

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, curious but not fully ready to be seen.
Have you ever had a season like that, where you were asking questions but not quite ready to step into the light?

In John 7, Nicodemus speaks up just a little and immediately faces pushback.
What experience, tension, or discomfort have you had for trying to do what felt right?

Do you feel that tension now at all?

What do you think helps someone move from quiet curiosity to the kind of courage Nicodemus exhibited?

How can we become the kind of community that gives people space to grow at “three miles an hour” without pressure or control?

Is there anywhere in your life where you sense God inviting you to take a next step, even if it feels small?