Acts 5:17-26 / John 3:16-21
It is not often that we would come across someone who goes by the name of Nicodemus.
Although it is a name found in the Bible, yet it does sound unusual and it is not among the contemporary and popular Christian names.
Also because if we know something about the Nicodemus in the gospel, he was apparently not cast in a very good light - he came to see Jesus in the night.
But in reality, Nicodemus was not as shadowy a figure as we thought. In fact he saw the light in Jesus and that was why he came to see Him.
And it was to Nicodemus that Jesus proclaimed the very core of the Bible message which can be found in today's gospel.
Yes it is in John 3:16-17 "For God loved the world so much .......... through Him the world might be saved".
Indeed that is the very core and center of the message of the whole Bible - that God loves us and will save us so that we may live life fully on earth and also eternal life in heaven.
That was the mission of the apostles as the angel freed them from prison. They were told to proclaim the good news about this new life.
So whatever our name is, we are called by God to proclaim the Good News of New Life.
And that is God loves us, He does not want to condemn us, rather He wants to save us so that in Jesus we will find the fullness of life.