Leader Guide

Bible Activity


  • Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

The Secret Believer: Children read and discuss verses about Nicodemus.


Give children a Bible if they do not have one. Have children look up the verses about Nicodemus and the religious leaders. Be ready to assist children who are not familiar with using the Bible. Have volunteers take turns reading a few verses of a passage and then lead a discussion.

Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their responses will vary.

In this activity, we are going to read and discuss verses to learn more about Nicodemus and the religious leaders in Jesus’ time on the earth.

1. John 12:37, 42–43.

37But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in Him. 42Many people did believe in Him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

• In verse 37, why do you think people wouldn’t believe, even after seeing His miracles? Maybe they were stubborn; they didn’t like change; maybe afraid of the religious leaders.

Optional: One of the saddest passages in the Bible is John 1:10–11, which says:

10He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. 11He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.

• In verse 42, even though some rejected Jesus, many did believe in Him. Surprisingly, who were some of the believers? The Jewish leaders.

• Why wouldn’t they admit they believed? They were afraid the Pharisees would expel or kick them out of the synagogue.

• What did they love? The praise of man more than the praise of God.

• How does that make you feel? Sad, surprised, angry.

• I think it is very sad to think someone would reject Jesus just to be accepted by others. Could this still possibly happen today? Please share your thoughts. People hide their faith and don’t want to be known as Christians for fear they will be rejected and made fun of. They want to fit in and be accepted even if it means denying Jesus.

• Do you think this is okay to act one way at home or at church and another way in school and around others? Why or why not? Children respond.

Jesus had something to say about this in Matthew 10:32–33:

32"Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.”

• What are your thoughts about these verses? Children respond.

Jesus gave His life for us, so we should want to share our faith and love for Him as our Savior. When we deny Jesus, it must sadden His heart and grieve God’s Spirit, who lives in us! I think we have all kept our faith hidden at one time or another. When this happens, we can ask His forgiveness and for the Holy Spirit to give us the boldness to stand for Christ the next time.

2. John 7:45–52

45When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”  46"We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded. 47"Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48"Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in Him?  49This foolish crowd follows Him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”  50Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51"Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked. 52They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”

• At a festival in Jerusalem, Jesus began to teach in the Temple. The Pharisees had had enough of Jesus! They sent Temple guards to arrest Him. Were the guards successful? No, they didn’t arrest Him.

• What did the guards say to the Pharisees? They had never heard someone speak like Jesus did.

The Pharisees were getting uncomfortable. Even the guards recognized that Jesus was no ordinary man! They asked if even a single leader believed in Him. Little did they know that some did; some right there with them that day!

• What was the reason the Pharisees said that people followed Jesus? They were ignorant of the law.

• In verse 50, who was one of the leaders present when the Jewish leaders met? Nicodemus.

• In verse 51, how did he speak up for Jesus? He asked if it was legal to convict someone without a hearing or trial.

This meant the person being accused would be given a chance to explain and defend themselves. The Pharisees ridiculed and insulted Nicodemus for speaking up. He was a respected leader and teacher for many years and probably knew the law as well or better than them all.

• Do you think it was significant for Nicodemus to speak up? Why? Children respond.

Now, let’s read some verses which seem to answer some questions about Nicodemus; things we may have wondered about his belief in Jesus. We know that in John 3 when Nicodemus talked with Jesus at night, he left with questions. The Bible doesn’t say he became a follower of Jesus then.

3. John 19:38–40:

38Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.

• In verse 38, what kind of disciple is Joseph called? A secret disciple.

• Why was he secretive about his faith? He feared the Jewish leaders.

That is what we read before in John 12:42, isn’t it? Jewish people were afraid to admit their faith for fear they would be thrown out of the synagogue. But things changed after Jesus’ death on the cross.

• What did Joseph ask Pilate’s permission to do? Remove Jesus’ body from the cross.

• In verse 39, who came with Joseph to remove the body and take it away? Nicodemus!

Ahh, now this is interesting. Joseph had been a secret disciple. Nicodemus, who came at night and then spoke up for Jesus, must have also been a secret disciple, too; until now! They publicly went to take Jesus’ body down from the cross!

• What did Nicodemus bring? Seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment.

• What did the two men use this for? To prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

• What do you think this says about the two men? They cared about Jesus and believed in Him. They no longer tried to keep their belief in Jesus a secret. These men who had secretly followed Jesus now publicly displayed their love for Him.

Conclusion: Jesus does not call us to be secret disciples. In Galatians 1:10, the Apostle Paul said:

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

Our priority should be to please God rather than people. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can be bold for our Savior!

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