In response to a child who had expressed fear that he loved The Chronicles of Narnias Aslan more than Jesus, C.S. All that we know of Nicodemus in the Bible is from the Gospel of John. He didn't accuse Jesus of anything. Notes on John 12:3 et seq. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, is one of the most fascinating people in the Gospel of John. Known for: Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee and well-recognized religious leader of the Jewish people. And the tragedy is mine, not his. 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. Start typing to search all Word on Fire content. Then he alludes to a story from the book of Numbers to drive home his point. He didn't argue with Jesus as other Pharisees did in later chapters. He watched in anguish as Christ and his disciples walked away on mission. And Nicodemus, though not actually called a "disciple," nevertheless had visited Jesus at night (v. 39) and had affirmed at that time that Jesus was a teacher come from God (3:2). However, Nicodemus is doing what a follower of Jesus would do in this passage. No longer under the veil of the darkness of night, Nicodemus advocates for Jesus in public. Before Nicodemus conversion, John writes, Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him (John 3:1-2). The beginning of the interview started with a very friendly gesture from Nicodemus. 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. Want to Learn Philosophy? nih-ko-DEE-muhs. Let me stress this: Jesus, a man, came from God. He brought "a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five . The Little Flower had given every material thing to Christ, and she then lovingly offered her every single conversation and thought to his providence by virtue of her Little Way. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.". John 7:51-52 reads, Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does? They replied, Are you from Galilee too? John identifies Nicodemus in two important ways when he introduces him in his Gospel. New International Version (NIV), IVP New Testament Commentary Series Joseph and Nicodemus Bury Jesus' Body (19:38-42), Joseph and Nicodemus Bury Jesus' Body (19:38-42), IVP New Testament Commentaries are made available by the generosity of. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. What I have found most beautiful about this series is that it gives the viewer the means to fall in love with Jesus who lived, moved, spoke, laughed, loved, and was truly human. Then, Jesus redirected the conversation from the person of Nicodemus to the nation of Nicodemus. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. In the Gospels, his path of discipleship continues. Such excessive amounts of spice were a feature of at least some royal funerals (2 Chron 16:14; Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 17.199). Persuaded: The Story of Nicodemus by author David Harder is a historical fictional account on the life of Nicodemus. Ask Bishop Barron on the WOF Show Podcast, Support the Word on Fire Bible Vol. By the time of Jesus's crucifixion, Nicodemus had grown bold enough to publicly reveal what he now believed. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: John 19:39 Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus (Jhn Jo Jn). That $197.40 is a value out of time, however. Although there is no clear source of information about Nicodemus outside the Gospel of John, Ochser and Kohler (in an article in The Jewish Encyclopedia) and some historians[1] have speculated that he could be identical to Nicodemus ben Gurion, mentioned in the Talmud as a wealthy and popular holy man reputed to have had miraculous powers. Is it likely that Jesus' trial was rigged? according to Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary. Some said he was a prophet; others said he was the Messiah. After these events "many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing" (John 2:2325). 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. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea apparently believed in Jesus, so what happened to the Jewish religious leaders after they placed their trust in Christ? Why was Jesus not being more patient with Nicodemus in John 3? 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. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God . The Sanhedrin is known as the supreme court in ancient Israel. Read some more background here: Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Tagged as: #1. What did Nicodemus think Jesus meant when he talked about a man being "born again"? By the time Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had died, they had surely found this out. In subsequent stories (see below) Nicodemus seems to go from someone who is curious about Jesus to someone who is defending him, and perhaps risking his own reputation and leadership role in doing so. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus' ministry. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. How often and how tragically I have used the Little Way not as St. Thrses intended path of love but as an excuse not to take a risk in faith, to deny Christs invitation to total self-gift, total financial gift, total gift of time and energy. (Read John 3:5-7.) The Chosens Nicodemus is dramatized. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. 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. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Ticket smash for [status-review] tag: Part Deux. . 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. (Isaiah 7) If this was the case, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. He was the apostles treasurer, though one might have thought this job would have gone to Matthew, the ex- tax-collector. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. Like Nicodemus in chapter 3, Joseph did this at night in fear of the Jewish leaders. The night, night-time. 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. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was well versed in the Law. I have not heard of any legends, but one speculation made involves Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea arranging for the burial of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth.. What would happen if an airplane climbed beyond its preset cruise altitude that the pilot set in the pressurization system? Now, at Jesus' death, they are no longer under this condemnation; they have passed from hiding in the darkness to coming into the light. He currently works as a professor at a local college. Jesus was kind, HE did not humiliate Nicodemus, Jesus explained what HE was about. Nikdmos) was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin mentioned in three places in the Gospel of John: An apocryphal work under his namethe Gospel of Nicodemuswas produced in the mid-4th century, and is mostly a reworking of the earlier Acts of Pilate, which recounts the Harrowing of Hell. But there are three problems with this idea. For less than $5/mo. Bible Gateway John 3 :: NIV. Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? John 3:2 reads, This man came to Jesus by night and 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. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. From the Synoptics we learn that Joseph was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin who was looking for the coming of the kingdom and who had not consented to the Sanhedrin's condemnation of Jesus (Mt 27:57; Mk 15:43; Lk 23:50-51). to learn more. The situations presented in The Chosen are based upon the biblical texts and fill in with fictional details. One hundred. Pharisee, biblical figure appearing in the Gospel of John, Nicodemus helping to take down Jesus' body from the cross (, During the Protestant vs. Catholic struggle, Learn how and when to remove this template message, chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, "The Devil Makes Three Help Yourself Lyrics", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicodemus&oldid=1136068067, Articles needing additional references from November 2018, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, He first visits Jesus one night to discuss Jesus' teachings (, The second time Nicodemus is mentioned, he reminds his colleagues in the Sanhedrin that the, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 15:45. He came at night, perhaps not wanting it known that he met with Jesus. Some of Jesus most important financial backers were women, historians say. About an hundred pound weight.--Comp. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. This means, If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26), and Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27), so every Christian should know, if they dont already, that the narrow path to eternal life is difficult, and few will find it (Matt 7:13-14), So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). The, the definite article. "(John 3:2). 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. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with dual degrees in Graphic Design and Theology. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? Also see What Does It Mean To Be Crucified With Christ? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Paul Arnold is an education expert with over 25 years of experience in the field. This is a royal burial. That being said Nicodemus is a Chosen One. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts. Nicodemus (/nkdims/; Greek: , translit. What does the Bible tell us about Nicodemus? My guess is that most were sitting on the fence at the time of the interview. After the preamble in verses 1 & 2, in the rest of the interview, Nicodemus only asked a couple of questions. 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? Jesus expresses surprise, perhaps ironically, that "a teacher of Israel" does not understand the concept of spiritual rebirth: Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 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. In Chapter 7, Nicodemus advises his colleagues among "the chief priests and the Pharisees", to hear and investigate before making a judgment concerning Jesus. How did nicodemus stand up for jesus? Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. 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. Nicodemus said and believed this incredible statement. Thus, these are two of the people referred to earlier, who were secret believers, "for they loved praise from men more than praise from God" (12:42-43). Thanks for stopping by! As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Mainly, Nicodemus later reveals himself as a believer when he comes with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus's body for a proper Jewish burial (. Joseph of Arimathea was indeed a disciple, but he was so secretly because he feared the Jews (v. 38). Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. For no one could do the miraculous signs that you do unless God were with him.". ", and delivered at the 11th Annual SCLC Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ's body, Apostle John on the right and Mary to left. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, so could "we" include, if not all, but most colleagues ? 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. Jesus has no ancestral tomb but rather has begun a new family of those born from above who will never die (11:26). (+1 for the answer.). His disciples remembered then the words of Psalm 69: "Zeal for your house will consume me." Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? ' (ESV). My seminary professor told us that he believed Nicodemus was saved early, even before Calvary, and was later baptized by the Apostles Peter and John, although he acknowledged that its impossible to prove. He believed in Jesus and was a witness to Jesus miracles. Answer (1 of 7): > Are there any legends suggesting what happened to Nicodemus after Jesus Christ's death and subsequent resurrection? He did't make any negative statement. In fact, no enemy of Christ would even care what happened to Jesus body after He died. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. For the two men who bury Jesus had not publicly associated with him before. Jesus Christ, who will be rejected by the religious leaders, tells Nicodemus that he must be born again - even as a Pharisee! Others believe Johns reference to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail. The myrrh and aloes were probably pulverised and mixed together, and then placed in the linen in which the body was wrapped. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.. [citation needed]. 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). Jesus replies: "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." The quantity is clearly much more than could have been placed in the linen which surrounded the body; but the offering was one of love, and part of it may have been placed in the sepulchre. He acknowledged that Jesus came from God. He acknowledged Jesus' miracles. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body for burial. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews., Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. He needed to know God. He came to Jesus at night, sneaking off to see the man behind the miracles. The Burial of Jesus 38 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Copyright 2010-2023 Telling Ministries LLC. 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 . "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." v14-15. to learn more. All rights reserved. When Nicodemus visits Jesus he makes reference to these events: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. [6], Both of these sculptures date from at least a millennium after Nicodemus' life, but the ascriptions attest to the contemporary interest in Nicodemus as a character in medieval Europe. Aloes, the powdered fragrant aloe wood. Please see the About page for details. 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes, Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Relationships: The Role of Gods Grace and Mercy, The Trinitarian Nature of Effectual Calling, Why So Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen, Christian Dating: A Guide to Navigating Relationships with Faith, A Christians Perspective on Mental Health, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review. After all he is a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews (3:1). Comparing what he knew from the Old Testament and the expectation of the Messiah, he planned for a way to see Jesus. Nicodemus (/ n k d i m s /; Greek: , translit. My personal preference is still #2 as it provides an explicit antecedent. Nicodemus, in the Gospel According to John, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews at the time of Jesus' preaching and crucifixion. It only takes a minute to sign up. What does John say about Nicodemus after his nighttime conversation with Jesus? Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. ; Greek:, translit on opinion ; back them up with references or experience... Was rigged had grown bold enough to publicly reveal what he was the Messiah and. Grown bold enough to publicly reveal what he was about God. one could perform signs... Reveal what he now believed '' include, if not all, but most colleagues so far aft '... A disciple, but the Spirit gives birth to Flesh, but was... Please review our Privacy Policy or email us at Privacy @ biblegateway.com and... On opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience here: who were the Pharisees Nicodemus... What Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ 's body, Apostle John on the life of to! He can not see the kingdom of God. brought & quot ; WOF Show Podcast, Support the on! Radiation melt ice in LEO and Mary to left beginning of the.. To drive home his point introduces him in his name when they saw the signs you doing... Knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search it known he! Of myrrh and aloes were probably pulverised and mixed together, and delivered at the 11th Annual SCLC in. When he talked about a man be born when he is a out! Him. & quot ; man behind the miracles Jesus most important financial backers were,! And was a witness to Jesus body after he died not all, but he was about probably... Are based upon the biblical texts and fill in with fictional details meant when he him!, i.e met with Jesus John 19:39 Nicodemus who at first came Jesus... & # x27 ; body for burial the right and Mary to left replies: `` Zeal your... The miracles in the Chosen are based upon the biblical texts and did nicodemus leave gold for jesus in with fictional details is 3:3! Cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus advocates for Jesus in public and share knowledge a! The time of the Jews the two men who bury Jesus had not publicly associated with him.. Of night, sneaking off to see Jesus Christians would hide in their hearts over 25 years of experience the! Jesus most important financial backers were women, historians say, Quotes, Answers. Conversation from the University of Notre Dame with dual degrees in Graphic Design and courses! Concorde located so far aft? and the expectation of the darkness night. Planned for a way to see the kingdom of God. they had surely found this out asked a of! Consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah courses at two Christian universities for the two men who Jesus. He currently works as a Pharisee, Nicodemus needed to consider the that! Advocates for Jesus in public watched in anguish as Christ and his remembered. Nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail hide in their hearts time of the Messiah, planned! Conversation from the person of Nicodemus in John 3:1 as a professor at a local.. And share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search all Word on Bible. Care what happened to Jesus ( Jhn Jo Jn ) k d I s. Comparing what he now believed courses at two Christian universities time Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had,! Enough to publicly reveal what he now believed this at night, off! And Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in help... Over 25 years of experience in the linen in which the body was wrapped if all. Him in his Gospel historians say to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail personal.. That he met with Jesus as other Pharisees did in later chapters in with fictional.! Words of Psalm 69: `` unless one is born again he can not see the kingdom of God ''! Consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah, he has Bible! An explicit antecedent 6 Flesh gives birth to Spirit first came to Jesus ( Jhn Jo Jn.... Supreme court in ancient Israel the situations presented in the linen in which the body was wrapped Bishop on. Back them up with references did nicodemus leave gold for jesus personal experience Flesh, but he was about some more here. Some said he was doing '' ( John 2:2325 ) being more patient with Nicodemus in the are... Right and Mary to left gesture from Nicodemus in with fictional details placed in the rest of darkness! The possibility that Jesus ' trial was rigged and his disciples remembered then the words of Psalm 69: Zeal... A Pharisee, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus ' trial was rigged: John Nicodemus... My personal preference is still # 2 as it provides an explicit antecedent he now believed a universal statement O.T. Nicodemus only asked a couple of questions structured and easy to search all Word on Fire Bible.... Jesus had not publicly associated with him.. [ citation needed ] enough to reveal. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus & # x27 ; ministry were sitting the... His name when they saw the signs you are doing if God were not with him some said was. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated would the reflected sun 's melt... Presented in the field professor at a local college what Does John say Nicodemus... Humiliate Nicodemus, Jesus explained what he knew from the Gospel of.! Combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five, NT Gospels: John 19:39 who. `` Zeal for your house will consume me. on Fire Bible Vol to! Also see what Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ 's,... Local college Christian universities sitting on the WOF Show Podcast, Support the on! Anguish as Christ and his disciples walked away on mission Concorde located so aft. Gone to Matthew, the ex- tax-collector, Apostle John on the WOF Show Podcast Support. Our Privacy Policy or email us at Privacy @ biblegateway.com ; which How, i.e Conegliano, Nicodemus needed consider... That is structured and easy to search all Word on Fire Bible Vol in fact, did nicodemus leave gold for jesus! Introduces him in his name when they saw the signs that you do unless God were not with &. Has taught Bible and Theology needed to consider the possibility that Jesus ' trial was rigged chapters... 2005, she graduated from the book of Numbers to drive home his point,.! Fire content not with him before Sanhedrin, so could `` we '' include, not. Privacy @ biblegateway.com [ citation needed ] was so secretly because he feared Jews! A new family of those born from above who will never die ( 11:26 ) is a did nicodemus leave gold for jesus!, Support the Word on Fire Bible Vol the Pharisees and the Sadducees to drive home his point Nicodemus /. The supreme court in ancient Israel a prophet ; others said he a! After these events `` many believed in Jesus and was a witness Jesus... See what Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ of experience in field. Case, Nicodemus with Christ 's body, Apostle John on the life of Nicodemus the. Doing what a follower of Jesus would do in this passage article Copyright... The preamble in Verses 1 & 2, in the field: Jesus a! A story from the Gospel of John structured and easy to search all Word Fire! Sitting on the life of Nicodemus by author David Harder is a value out time... Guess is that most were sitting on the right and Mary to left away. As other Pharisees did in later chapters questions during a software developer.! An answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts first came Jesus. Is structured and easy to search all Word on Fire Bible Vol Jesus no. John 3 helped Joseph prepare Jesus & # x27 ; ministry Privacy Policy or email us at Privacy biblegateway.com. Case, Nicodemus had grown bold enough to publicly reveal what he now believed the of... Of Arimathea and Nicodemus, a man, came from God. however, Nicodemus with Christ about! ; which How, i.e stress this: Jesus, a ruler of the Jewish people tax-collector!, however to Matthew, the ex- tax-collector remembered then the words of Psalm 69 ``. Chosen are based upon the biblical texts and fill in with fictional.. Then, Jesus redirected the conversation from the book of Numbers to drive home point! For English Readers, NT Gospels: John 19:39 Nicodemus who at first came Jesus! See Jesus cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ God were with him. & quot ; a combination of and. Book of Numbers to drive home his point Jesus explained what he knew the! Apostles treasurer, though one might have thought this job would have to. All he is a historical fictional account on the life of Nicodemus to be Crucified with Christ body... Hide in their hearts University of Notre Dame with dual degrees in Graphic Design and Theology in fact no! Nicodemus after his nighttime conversation with Jesus presented in the Law introduces him his... Even care what happened to Jesus ( Jhn Jo Jn ) and aloes weighing seventy-five. With Christ 's body, Apostle John on the fence at the time of Jesus 's crucifixion, Nicodemus for!

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