At this time of peril Nicodemus came forward in fearless avowal of his faith in the crucified Saviour. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and with others had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus. As he had witnessed Christ's wonderful works, the conviction had fastened itself upon his mind that this was the Sent of God. Too proud openly to acknowledge himself in sympathy with the Galilean Teacher, he had sought a secret interview. In this interview Jesus had unfolded to him the plan of salvation and His mission to the world, yet still Nicodemus had hesitated. He hid the truth in his heart, and for three years there was little apparent fruit. But while Nicodemus had not publicly acknowledged Christ, he had in the Sanhedrin council repeatedly thwarted the schemes of the priests to destroy Him. When at last Christ had been lifted up on the cross, Nicodemus remembered the words that He had spoken to him in the night interview on the Mount of Olives, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" (John 3:14); and he saw in Jesus the world's Redeemer.

I denne farens stund fremkom Nikodemus med en modig bekendelse af sin tro på den korsfæstede Frelser. Nikodemus var medlem af det jødiske råd, og sammen med andre var han blevet betaget af Jesu lære. Da han blev vidne til Jesu undergerninger, var han blevet mere og mere overbevist om, at dette var den af Gud udsendte. Da han var for stolt til at indrømme, at han sympatiserede med den galilæiske lærer, havde han søgt en hemmelig sammenkomst med ham. Ved dette møde havde Jesus forklaret ham frelsesplanen og sin mission i verden; men Nikodemus havde stadig tøvet. Han skjulte sandheden i sit hjerte, og i tre år bar den tilsyneladende kun ringe frugt. Men skønt Nikodemus ikke offentligt havde anerkendt Jesus, så havde han gentagne gange i rådet modarbejdet præsternes planer om at tilintetgøre ham. Da Jesus til sidst var blevet korsfæstet, huskede Nikodemus de ord, han havde talt til ham ved det natlige møde på Oliebjerget: "Ligesom Moses ophøjede slangen i ørkenen, sådan må Menneskesønnen ophøjes," og han så, at Jesus var verdens Frelser. Joh. 3,14.