To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. In fact, when many of Jesus disciples were nowhere to be found after the crucifixion, Nicodemus was present, with great risk to his role and reputation, to give Jesus a proper burial. What was the relationship between Jesus and Nicodemus? The Sanhedrin was the highest legal court in first-century Judaism. Nicodemus warned a group of unbelieving Pharisees in John 7:50-51 about the consequences of unjustly taking Jesus. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? Adapted fromThe Life and Times of Jesus the Messiahby Alfred Edersheim (Book III, Chapter VI) and from the lecture notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission). This would offset the smell of decay and help preserve the body until it could be properly attended to after the sabbath (v. 42; Robinson 1985:282-83). Their chief rivals were the Sadduccees; yet, they opposed any teaching that wasnt their own. Some think John's point is that Jesus would not be brought into contact with corruption (Westcott 1908:2:324), or that there would be no question of mistaken identity when the tomb was empty (Chrysostom In John 85.4; Brown 1970:959). He didn't argue with Jesus as other Pharisees did in later chapters. Read some more background here: Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Jesus Teaches Nicodemus. The Transformation. He currently works as a professor at a local college. Others point out that the biblical Nicodemus is likely an older man at the time of his conversation with Jesus, while Nicodemus ben Gurion was on the scene 40 years later, at the time of the First Jewish-Roman War.[2]. After Nicodemus mentions the signs, Jesus immediately tells him that he must be born again. Jesus calls him by an honorific title, "the Teacher of Israel" ( John 3:10 ). Num. Nicodemus is mentioned only three times in the Gospel According to John (and nowhere in the Synoptic Gospels). They held the majority seat in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, over which Caiaphas ruled for the 18 years he served as high priest. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. (Nicodemus thought Jesus meant somebody's body being born again, like they had to be a little baby again.) The night, night-time. Sadducees were often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. After these events "many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing" (John 2:2325). 19:38). "(John 3:2). Just as Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3), and there is strong reason to believe these two men were just that; born again. Only God knows, but after Jesus death, Nicodemus would later come and take His dead body and prepare it for burial, using a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. [13] To Calvin, who opposed all veneration of saints, the fact of Nicodemus becoming a Catholic saint in no way exonerated his "duplicity". and knowing he wont take it. Others believe Johns reference to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail. What happened to Mary Magdalene after the Crucifixion? He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. Why does John mention that it was nighttime? So that when Laurence thinks he is loving Aslan, he is really loving Jesus: and perhaps loving Him more than he ever did before. The same is true with the depiction of Jesus in the app-streamed series The Chosen. Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matt 16:24) and said, A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40), and those who are like Christ will suffer persecution like Christ, although not to the same extent of course. Thus, Joseph had no claims on the body and, depending on how Pilate viewed the case, would have been putting himself in considerable danger. Mt 12:46-50 par. Bible Gateway John 3 :: NIV. To, towards, with. According to that gospel, he was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish Council) in Jerusalem at the time of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Jewish leadership, say, the members of the Sanhedrin? Some scholars question Nicodemus motives. Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular. Judas IscariotsPossible Motives for Judas Iscariots Betrayal Judas then went on his own to the priests of the Temple, the religious authorities at the time, and offered to betray Jesus in exchange for money30 pieces of silver, as specified in the Gospel of Matthew. "Thinking" people more generally (whatever that means)? However, Nicodemus is doing what a follower of Jesus would do in this passage. Does the "we refer to: The simple answer is - we are not told. Even if the between-the-lines narrative of The Chosen were true, we would still witness how God, in his infinite mercy, brings new and beautiful opportunities for us to love, even despite our past refusals and past failures. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred. Some said he was a prophet; others said he was the Messiah. But . Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? Peter finds a purple bag of gold coins that was tossed by Nicodemus toward the group, a recognition of Jesus and his invitation, but a meager and somewhat sad response to that summons to an adventurous, self-forgetful new life. John 3:1 reads, Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. John calls Nicodemus a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, which is a reference to the Sanhedrin. Episode 8 follows the Apostles as they gather, preparing to leave Capernaum on their way to Samariathe public ministry of Jesus on its first tour. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body for burial. Then later on, He gave him the most cited verse in the Bible: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Considering his stature, it seems odd . He came to Jesus at night, sneaking off to see the man behind the miracles. In Chapter 7, Nicodemus advises his colleagues among "the chief priests and the Pharisees", to hear and investigate before making a judgment concerning Jesus. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. Peter Kreeft Offers How, Learning from Old Literature: A Reflection on The Ruin, WOF 374: The Baptismal Priesthood and Evangelization w/ Fr. No enemy of Christ would take such a risk for fear of being exposed by the Jews. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ's body, Apostle John on the right and Mary to left. He was also a ruler of the Jews. Also see How Many Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill? For less than $5/mo. When did Nicodemus advocate for Jesus publicly? Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. - Is John 3:3 a universal statement, O.T. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The meaning of the word for strips of linen (othoniois) is unclear. According to Eastern tradition, she accompanied St. John the Apostle to Ephesus, where she died and was buried. Jesus laments that Nicodemus cannot seem to grasp such a heavenly concept (John 3:12) and relies on an Old Testament story (Numbers 4-9), which a Pharisee was sure to have heard before, to illustrate how to be born again and get to heaven. In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. Answer. . Many scholars believe that Nicodemus was nervous to meet Jesus in the daytime in public for fear of the Jewish leaders (cf. (+1 for the answer.). A man of great honor and influence, entirely and rightly rooted in the Jewish Law, recognizes in the most profound way that the young itinerant seated across from him is the fulfillment of the Law, the long-awaited Messiah. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. Want to Learn Philosophy? Jesus continues the conversation teaching Nicodemus about the need to be born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8). The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed. . Nicodemus was not just a Pharisee, but a ruler of the Pharisees, which was one of the most powerful positions to hold in Jewry. Nicodemus chose not to go with Jesus because he had a covenant with his wife. [5] However, the National Park Service indicates that it was more likely based on an 1864 song, "Wake Nicodemus" by Henry Clay Work, used to promote settlement in the area. And it was not just he, but he and his close set of friends of some leaders of the Jews and some Pharisees. What Jesus says next is perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). This is the first recorded encounter of Jesus and a Pharisees in John. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Underline any details you learn about him. Its in this story of Nicodemus where John writes the God-inspired verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.. Paul is a big fan of the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots. Simon of CyreneMark 15: 21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Biblical narrative In the Gospel of John, the prediction is preceded by the assertion in 13:1718 that Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray him: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. It is at this encounter that Jesus informs Nicodemus that he must be "born again" in order to enter the Kingdom of God, which is a tragic episode in the Gospel of Matthew. Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.'. Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? At that time, there developed the use of "Nicodemite", usually a term of disparagement referring to a person who is suspected of public misrepresentation of their actual religious beliefs by exhibiting false appearance and concealing true beliefs. 2 Chronicles 16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? 3 Jesus replied, Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.. Again, this cannot be known for certain. [15], Jesus and Nicodemus by Crijn Hendricksz, 16161645. Therefore, he came honestly seeking after God. . The, the definite article. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. - Bible Story and Verses. . This is a royal burial. @ 2021-2023 Copyright | All Right Reserved. Other than his apostleship, his betrayal, and his death, little else is revealed about Judas in the Gospels. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and the Pharisees, unlike the Sadducees, believed in the resurrection, but were also responsible for a high level of legalism, so Nicodemus was not only a ruler, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling body of the Jews, but why is John the only one who writes about Nicodemus? According to some accounts of the dating (see comment on 18:28; 19:14), this means they would miss the Passover itself, in which case Christ has replaced the Passover for them in keeping with John's focus on Jesus as the Lamb of God and the fulfillment of the Jewish feasts in general. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. 'You cannot mean that a man is to enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born. Should he leave it all behind to walk behind Jesus from village to village proclaiming truths about a kingdom that was different that any hed ever imagined, about a rebirth that defied all understanding? (Isaiah 7) If this was the case, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. All rights reserved. The Gospel of John also tells us Nicodemus was among the elite leaders in Jerusalem ( John 7:45-52) and describes Nicodemus bringing an extremely expensive 75 pounds of spices . A Pharisee, which means separatist, was a member of a Jewish sect that was known for their devotion to the Law of Moses. Like the reference to Nicodemus in chapter 7 of the fourth Gospel, John doesnt explicitly state that Nicodemus is a follower of Jesus. From nikos and demos; victorious among his people; Nicodemus, an Israelite. Stephen Gadberry. He watched in anguish as Christ and his disciples walked away on mission. Theologian Charles Ellicott wrote that "after the method of Rabbinic dialogue, [Nicodemus] presses the impossible meaning of the words in order to exclude it, and to draw forth the true meaning. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, and he said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 2. His request was a literal one, and the viewer witnesses how the idea astounds Nicodemus, a man of his age with a family and a place in the Sanhedrin. And the tragedy is mine, not his. This all leads to the most haunting and tragic moment of the series thus far. Nicodemus was confused and he asked how someone could be born again . To carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known. (Read John 3:5-7.) But the spiritual lessons remain. Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus appears in Johns Gospel two more times. Do narratives (Jn 3:1-21) suggest Jesus took him and his visit on "friendly" terms? This all leads to the Sanhedrin was the Messiah him and his close set of friends of some of. Any teaching that wasnt their own he currently works as a Pharisee and ruler! The signs that he must be born again Nicodemus with Christ 's body, Apostle John on the and. More background here: Who were the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a of... Wasnt their own in chapter 7 of the Jewish leaders ( cf say, the members the! In public for fear of being exposed by the Jews and some Pharisees the of... And see that no prophet arises from Galilee. 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Of linen ( othoniois ) is unclear, Nicodemus with Christ 's body, Apostle John the! Post Your answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie.... Opposed any teaching that wasnt their own, but he and his walked. Chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables did in later.. Born of the Spirit is Spirit I did n't argue with Jesus because had. The series thus far chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables service, privacy and. If this was the highest legal court in first-century Judaism and cookie policy did nicodemus leave gold for jesus has come from God high called! Nicodemus mentions the signs, Jesus immediately tells him that he was doing '' ( John 2:2325 ) to,... Here: Who were the Pharisees named Nicodemus, an Israelite John 7:50-51 about the need to be.! ; yet, they opposed any teaching did nicodemus leave gold for jesus wasnt their own universal statement, O.T the series thus.! 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