Jesus Talking With Nicodemus at Night, (Crijn Hendricksz Volmaijn, 1601 - 1645) is an oil painting sold by Sotheby’s London in 1994 to a private collection. Volmaijn was a Dutch “Golden Age” painter at the time when the Dutch accomplishments were some of the most acclaimed in the world. Little is known about this painter.
To appreciate this painting, consider the following excerpt from today’s Gospel, John. 19-21:
“And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night. Look at the artist’s use of light- the candles illuminate Jesus, the Light of the World, and Nicodemus is embraced in this light too, contrasted with the deep surrounding darkness. Nicodemus appears twice more in the story of Jesus, standing up for Jesus before the chief priests and the Pharisees (Jn 8. 50-52), and after Christ’s death, as a disciple, to help bury Christ. “But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” The night Nicodemus spent listening to Jesus, transformed his life and brought him into the Light of Christ as a witness for all times.
How can I proclaim Jesus as the Light of the World? How do I live my life in the Light of the Gospel? Where does the Light reveal the things I must change in my life?
For further reflection on Nicodemus in today’s Gospel: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/03/10/john-316-and-the-journey-from-darkness-to-light/
