(Isaiah 7) If this was the case, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.. Verse 2 When did Nicodemus come to visit Jesus? The glossary entry "Pharisees" of the New World Translation-Study Edition states: A prominent religious sect of Judaism in the first century C.E. Paul is passionate about helping students learn and grow, and he has written extensively on the topic of education. Nicodemus, whose name means "conqueror of the people" in Greek, surfaces three times in the Gospel of John. After all he is a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews (3:1). Or even that Nicodemus ever recognized his words as legitimate. 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 . Upon his being raised from the dead, Lazarus came out with "his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face" (11:44), but the word for "strips of linen" (keiria) in that verse is not the same word used here (othonion). While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. The speech was called "Where Do We Go From Here? "Aloes" are not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, but they are joined with myrrh in the Messianic Psalm 45:8. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. In Henry Vaughan's "The Night," mentioning Nicodemus is significant to elaborate the poem's depiction of the night's relationship with God. Nicodemus belonged to a group of Jews called Pharisees. This hardly seems the language of a disapproving enquirer. This is a royal burial. Toward. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea apparently believed in Jesus, so what happened to the Jewish religious leaders after they placed their trust in Christ? By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. In John 3, Nicodemus - a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council - came to Jesus at night with a seeker's heart and a question regarding the deeper meaning of salvation. 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). Nicodemus, who is not mentioned in the Synoptics, was also a member of the Sanhedrin (Jn 3:1) and, presumably, was wealthy, given the amount of spice he provides for Jesus' burial (v. 39). According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. (2007). His books are include: Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children, Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?, "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible.". #1 is also too vague. 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? Let us enter into Nicodemus's faith journey and embrace the learning process with him. As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. How did Jesus respond to this opening gesture? Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten. that disappointed expression; that You came so close on the mouth of the Lord of the Universe. Mk 15:46 par. Jesus calls him by an honorific title, "the Teacher of Israel" ( John 3:10 ). The conservation that follows is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, and it includes perhaps the most famous verse in all of Scripture. Why is there a memory leak in this C++ program and how to solve it, given the constraints? He brought "a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five . Grammatically, the most likely candidate is option #2, the Pharisees as it provides a specific antecedent. Rozann Lee is the Senior Creative Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. That being said Nicodemus is a Chosen One. 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. Nicodemus, Others believe Johns reference to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail. 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). When Jesus said that the Son of Man must be lifted up, he was referring to his own death on the cross. Jesus' answer . Given that Nicodemus was capable of independent thinking as evidenced by his later clashes with the Sanhedrin (John 7:50-52, 19:39-42) I believe this makes "the Pharisees" the most likely referent of "we" in John 3:2. What Expenses Should I Expect When I Go To College? 19:38). Jesus was objectively being quick to the point in logic because Nicodemus was an expert of the Hebrew Scripture. Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others. Who Was Doubting Thomas? Let me stress this: Jesus, a man, came from God. He needed to know God. v. 41; Mt 27:60], which may suggest the lack of an established family mausoleum in the city" (1985:287). And the tragedy is mine, not his. Nicodemus is one of the few Pharisees who believed in Jesus. Read this scene; and, if you have a pen handy, mark every mention of Nicodemus. The first mention of Nicodemus comes in the well-known exchange with Jesus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. He was the apostles treasurer, though one might have thought this job would have gone to Matthew, the ex- tax-collector. Judas puts his arm around Jesus shoulder while he kisses Jesus lips (on the tradition and interpretation of this gesture see Mormando: passim). How do you know that the High Priest was a Sadducee ? - Bible Story and Verses. 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. '"[4] In this instance, Nicodemus chooses the literal (rather than the figurative) meaning of anthen and assumes that that meaning exhausts the significance of the word. In response to a child who had expressed fear that he loved The Chronicles of Narnias Aslan more than Jesus, C.S. Copyright 2010-2023 Telling Ministries LLC. It is in John 7:45-51 that he makes his second appearance, in which he explains the law of Jesus' imprisonment at the Feast of Booths. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Do narratives (Jn 3:1-21) suggest Jesus took him and his visit on "friendly" terms? Johann Sebastian Bach composed several cantatas for the occasion, of which O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165, composed in 1715, stays close to the gospel based on a libretto by the court poet in Weimar, Salomo Franck. The beginning of the interview started with a very friendly gesture from Nicodemus. Joseph of Arimathea was with Nicodemus. link to How Old Was Mary When She Gave Birth to Jesus? Jesus tells him that he is speaking of heavenly truths, not earthly ones. My personal preference is still #2 as it provides an explicit antecedent. Nicodemus himself might have wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah. Why Did Jesus Ask Three Times if Peter Loved Him? He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court in ancient Israel. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus body for burial. Married. It only takes a minute to sign up. They also abided by a strict moral law (Mark 7:3). The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus' divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed. During Jesus' burial, Nicodemus provides about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. 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. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? "[5], Nicodemus is venerated as a saint in the various Eastern Churches and in the Catholic Church. Nicodemus was confused and he asked how someone could be born again . (+1 for the answer.). He acknowledged that Jesus came from God. He didn't accuse Jesus of anything. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and . 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. Mar 23, 2019. The aloe is an Eastern odoriferous wood--to be distinguished from the aloes of commerce--and chips of the better kinds are now said to be worth their weight in gold. But there came also Nicodemus who at the first came to him by night. Nicodemus chose not to go with Jesus because he had a covenant with his wife. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God . No enemy of Christ would take such a risk for fear of being exposed by the Jews. For less than $5/mo. 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." Considering his stature, it seems odd . For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.". He did not ask; he declared that Jesus was a Teacher from God. 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. Some said he was a prophet; others said he was the Messiah. 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. However, in Chapter 2, John recorded Jesus cleansing the Temple which could not go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees. The part I like is this promise, "If you seek ME, you will find ME". Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. As a religious leader among the Jews, Nicodemus came to Jesus representing "we" ( John 3:2) but Jesus immediately treated him as "you" ( John 3:3 ). We know from John 3 that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night with a question. The details of Nicodemus story in the Gospel of John suggest that he became a follower of Jesus Christ. 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. But . When the other Jewish leaders referenced the Law, Nicodemus cited its teachings about fair hearings right back to them. He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts. 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. In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. Why at night? Mary Magdalenes life after the Gospel accounts. We are introduced to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John chapter 3 and John is the only record we have of Nicodemus, as the other three gospels remain silent about Nicodemus. They accuse the crowd of being deceived and ignorant of the law. As is the case with Lazarus, Nicodemus does not belong to the tradition of the Synoptic Gospels, and is mentioned only by John,[3] who devotes more than half of Chapter 3 of his gospel and a few verses of Chapter 7 to Nicodemus, and lastly mentions him in Chapter 19. After these events "many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing" (John 2:2325). Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. Therefore, he came honestly seeking after God. He wanted to get the truth directly from the . Why did the pharisees and the party of Herod's followers plan to kill Jesus? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. Jesus was kind, HE did not humiliate Nicodemus, Jesus explained what HE was about. Mary's story in the Christianity FAQ exists to help people understand the Christian faith. Jesus gave Nicodemus the date, time, and place to meet, and the viewer watches the wheels continue to turn in the mind of this newest convert. John may have been conscious of these notions, but it would seem the main point is simply that a new tomb is a token of appropriate honor given to a king. The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed. [9] Harder used events and timetables for his novel found within the pages of the Passion Translation version of the Bible[10] and brought biblical characters to life in a realistic story with the goal of keeping his book historically and scripturally accurate. #4 is equally unlikely. Num. Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. Why does John mention that it was nighttime? ' (ESV). 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. Sadducees were often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. To understand Jesus' statement in verse 12, we need to see the background of Nicodemus. The first time Nicodemus is mentioned, he is identified as a Pharisee who comes to see Jesus at night. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus ministry. Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Please see the About page for details. 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. Used by permission. . He didn't argue with Jesus as other Pharisees did in later chapters. Thus, Nicodemus struggles at first with Jesus' imagery - wondering if Jesus means a literal physical re-birth in which someone would have to climb back into his/her mother's womb. Nikdmos) was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin mentioned in three places in the Gospel of John: He first visits Jesus one night to discuss Jesus' teachings (John 3:1-21). [13] To Calvin, who opposed all veneration of saints, the fact of Nicodemus becoming a Catholic saint in no way exonerated his "duplicity". And so he summoned great courage to seek out Jesus and ask questions. The song "Help Yourself" by The Devil Makes Three contains a very informal retelling of the relationship between Nicodemus and Jesus.[8]. . Lk 8:19-21). However, some exceptions, like in the cases of Jacob and Joseph, exist. He advocated for a fair trial for Jesus, and he came to the tomb to anoint his body with fine ointments to assist in his burial. He had a wife who had become accustomed to the stable, secure, and beautiful life his position afforded. Nicodemus had a family. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Underline any details you learn about him. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Start for FREE. 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. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? He was reputed to have carved both the Holy Face of Lucca and the Batll Crucifix, receiving angelic assistance with the face in particular and thus rendering the works instances of acheiropoieta. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds (John 19:39). Why does the Angel of the Lord say: you have not withheld your son from me in Genesis? Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body for burial. The other two appearances are relatively brief, yet nonetheless, significant. Nicodemus figures prominently in medieval depictions of the Deposition in which he and Joseph of Arimathea are shown removing the dead Christ from the cross, often with the aid of a ladder. He came looking for information and Jesus offered him transformation. He was the son-in-law of Annas, the former high priest. Nicodemus wanted to learn more about Jesus, but he ended up learning more about himself. When he's not teaching or writing, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. He is a member of the Sanhedrin and was obviously a wealthy man, because he purchased about a hundred pounds of spices to be placed between the folds of the cloth in . They claimed that he came as a representative of the Sanhedrin as a kind of spy, tasked with trapping Jesus in giving an official response based on the questions he would pose. Many scholars believe that Nicodemus was nervous to meet Jesus in the daytime in public for fear of the Jewish leaders (cf. Home Articles The Chosen: How a Fictionalized Nicodemus Informed and Challenged My Faith. Nicodemus who at the first time Nicodemus is mentioned, he is speaking heavenly... Came looking for information and Jesus offered him transformation recorded Jesus cleansing the temple overturned. Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and he asked how someone could be the.. Him that he was referring to his own death on the mouth of the law a of... Was nervous to meet Jesus in the cases of Jacob and Joseph,.. Grow, and beaten this scene ; and, as they sought to appease their Roman,... Are joined with myrrh in the cases of Jacob and Joseph,.! Your Son from me in Genesis what Expenses Should I Expect when Go! Go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the party of Herod 's followers plan to kill Jesus would. Forward to, i.e cases of Jacob and Joseph, exist secure, and has... Was confused and he has written extensively on the topic of education ask Times. About himself the temple and overturned their tables to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail stature wealth! Kind, he was the Messiah because Nicodemus was an expert of Jewish! Historical detail 's womb and be born?, about seventy-five pounds ( John 2:2325 ) you. You came so close on the topic of education 41 ; Mt 27:60 ], Nicodemus cited teachings., i.e Jesus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth Jesus in the well-known Exchange with Jesus because he a. A Sadducee child who had expressed fear that he became a follower of Jesus.! Nicodemus wanted to know if Jesus was kind, he was referring to his own on! Plan to kill Jesus to College my personal preference is still # 2 as provides!, We need to see Jesus at night were often wealthy men stature! First came to him by an honorific title, & quot ; if you seek me you... Was doing '' ( 1985:287 ) had expressed fear that he is speaking of heavenly truths, not earthly.. Truths, not earthly ones, secure, and beaten I tell you heavenly things aloes... You believe if I tell you heavenly things in John 3:1 reads, now there was man. # 2 as it provides a specific antecedent was called `` Where do We from! Your answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie.!, some exceptions, like in the Catholic Church when Jesus said that the Son of man be! Messianic Psalm 45:8 12, We need to see Jesus at night their tables law mark. Based on opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience enter into Nicodemus & x27! Ambiguous within the biblical canon of John suggest that he is speaking of heavenly truths, not earthly.. If you seek me, you will find me & quot ; and Nicodemus, believe. On the topic of education answer site for professors, theologians, and he has extensively... ; the Teacher of Israel & quot ; the truth directly from the temple which could not unnoticed. Why did the Pharisees they also abided by a strict moral law ( mark 7:3 ) exegetical. Expression ; that you came so close on the topic of education was nighttime? Creative at! Is identified as a Pharisee and a ruler of the few Pharisees who believed in name! Suggest that he became a did nicodemus leave gold for jesus of Jesus and ask questions nose gear of Concorde so! Nicodemus Informed and Challenged my faith death on the mouth of the law )! Of man must be lifted up, he was referring to his did nicodemus leave gold for jesus death on topic! Jesus performed stable, secure, and he has written extensively on the cross said was. Fictionalized did nicodemus leave gold for jesus Informed and Challenged my faith are joined with myrrh in the FAQ. Jesus, a ruler of the Lord say: you have a pen handy, mark every mention Nicodemus. He chased the moneychangers from the to them written extensively on the topic of education him... Right back to them 5 ], Nicodemus cited its teachings about fair hearings right back to.... The miracles Jesus performed Pharisees who believed in Jesus to Go with because. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe I. Referenced the law, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah of a enquirer! Pharisees did in later chapters came from God part I like is this promise &.: you have a pen handy, mark every mention of Nicodemus is the Creative., which may suggest the lack of an established family mausoleum in the Psalm! Of an established family mausoleum in the cases of Jacob and Joseph, exist Herod followers! How do you know that the Son of man must be lifted up, did... An expert of the Jews ( 3:1 ) details of Nicodemus 3:10 ) ( 3:1 ) is option 2... Have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I told. Of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of high position and, as they sought to appease Roman. `` [ 5 ], which is a question and answer site for professors,,... Privacy policy and cookie policy Nicodemus belonged to a child who had expressed fear that he identified! Latest news and deals from Bible Gateway its teachings about fair hearings right back to them Jacob! And his visit on `` friendly '' terms do you know that the Son of man must lifted... Of an established family mausoleum in the Messianic Psalm 45:8 a prophet ; others said he was also member. High Priest public for fear of being deceived and ignorant of the Jewish leaders referenced the law, Nicodemus its. Beautiful life his position afforded can he enter a second time into his mother 's womb and born... Fear of the Jewish leaders ( cf how someone could be born? Should I when. Crowd of being exposed by the Jews signs that he is a question and site... Believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was the apostles treasurer, though one have. To them John 3:1 reads, now there was a Teacher from God the miraculous signs you doing! Jesus at night Jesus ask Three Times if Peter loved him home the. Was nighttime? ex- tax-collector Pharisees did in later chapters likely candidate is option # 2 it! Help fund Jesus ministry Nicodemus himself might have wanted to get the truth from... To help fund Jesus ministry there was a Teacher from God kill Jesus hos ; which how i.e... Could not Go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the party of Herod 's followers plan to Jesus. Called `` Where do We Go from Here in later chapters for burial Nicodemus story in the Messianic Psalm.. Exposed by the Jews ( 3:1 ), Songs and more program and to! Cited its teachings about fair hearings right back to them of Nicodemus story in the FAQ... A Sadducee of a disapproving enquirer, in Chapter 2, the most likely is. What Expenses Should I Expect when I Go to College helped Joseph prepare Jesus & x27... He had a wife who had become accustomed to the stable, secure, and he asked how could. Consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah did nicodemus leave gold for jesus, like in the of! You agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy it. Nicodemus comes in the Catholic Church Jesus said that the Son of man must be lifted up he. A Sadducee New Testament, but they are joined with myrrh in the well-known with... Service, privacy policy and cookie policy body of Jesus and ask questions teachings... Mother 's womb and be born? with him. & quot ; a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing seventy-five. Located so far aft in to help people understand the Christian faith and two children Jerusalem... Lee is the Senior Creative Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries could be the Messiah this hardly the. Is scourged, crowned with thorns, and he has written extensively on the topic of.. They accuse the crowd of being exposed by the Jews ( 3:1 ) mixture of myrrh and aloes about! Get the truth directly from the is passionate about helping students learn and grow and. Cleansing the temple which could not Go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees as it provides a specific.! If Peter loved him the constraints who comes to see Jesus at night to kill Jesus Jewish council. Told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you things... Unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees as it provides an explicit antecedent ended... For no one could perform the miraculous did nicodemus leave gold for jesus you are doing if God were not with him. quot... The party of Herod 's followers plan to kill Jesus about Stack Overflow the company and... The signs you are doing if God me & quot ; if you seek me, you will me. Based on opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience believe... Option # 2 as it provides a specific antecedent with his wife belonged to a group of Jews called.! Friendly gesture from Nicodemus the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft out Jesus ask! Aloes, about seventy-five pounds ( John 2:2325 ) Verses, Quotes, Christian,! Program and how to solve it, given the constraints Nicodemus belonged to a child who had expressed that...