Why did the disciples ask Jesus where He was staying? When Nicodemus speaks up, it is not to defend Jesus directly but to raise a procedural point which, if observed, would work in his favor. (Carson, The Gospel According to John, PNTC, p. 332). 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 any case, these are both men of power, privilege and wealth. 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. It is ironic that these two men come out of hiding and clearly associate themselves with Jesus at his death, since they would have thought his movement had come to an end. 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 . After the crucifixion, John records that Joseph of Arimathea went to Pontius Pilate and asked to take Jesus body (v. 38). Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) 1 Now there came a man of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus, a member of the council. What happened to Mary Magdalene after the Crucifixion? He had a wife who had become accustomed to the stable, secure, and beautiful life his position afforded. link to How Old Was Mary When She Gave Birth to Jesus? Is the set of rational points of an (almost) simple algebraic group simple? It mentions this progressively bigger groups of people: The "we" comes from these groups with the minimum including, of course, Nicodemus himself. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 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 was a powerful Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with dual degrees in Graphic Design and Theology. After the preamble in verses 1 & 2, in the rest of the interview, Nicodemus only asked a couple of questions. When Nicodemus visits Jesus he makes reference to these events: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. It may also tie in with the theme of the creation of the new community: Jesus has reordered the lives of his mother and the Beloved Disciple (vv. 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. . Gentile converts were baptized, born of water: Gentiles who converted to Judaism were baptized in order to remove the . 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. Pharisee, Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author and pastor of Heritage Evangelical Free Church in Udall, KS [https://modelchrist.org/] & also a Prison Minister. to learn more. While John doesnt explicitly state that Nicodemus is a follower of Jesus at this point, Nicodemus is doing what a follower of Jesus would do in such a moment. 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. Married. Like Nicodemus, I allowed Christ to continue on without me. This all leads to the most haunting and tragic moment of the series thus far. This leaves us with #2 & #3 as the most likely. 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. The beginning of the interview started with a very friendly gesture from Nicodemus. After Jesus death, we see Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea specifically, asking Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. However, some exceptions, like in the cases of Jacob and Joseph, exist. Nicodemus, in the Gospel According to John, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews at the time of Jesus' preaching and crucifixion. Does the "we refer to: The simple answer is - we are not told. In popular music, Nicodemus' name was figuratively used in Henry Clay Work's 1864 American Civil War-era piece "Wake Nicodemus",[7] which at that time was popular in minstrel shows. that disappointed expression; that You came so close on the mouth of the Lord of the Universe. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God . He believed in Jesus and was a witness to Jesus miracles. Jesus often strongly denounced them for their legalism (see Matthew 23 ). Saints included? Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? John 3:2-Nicodemus said "we" know," who are "we" he refers to? May we always respond with the great yes that we, as armchair quarterbacks, put into the mouth of The Chosens Nicodemus. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Known for: Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee and well-recognized religious leader of the Jewish people. 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. Then, Jesus redirected the conversation from the person of Nicodemus to the nation of Nicodemus. Nicodemus, thinking literally and physically, asks how anyone can be born twice (John 3:4). 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. He brought "a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five . Nicodemus warned a group of unbelieving Pharisees in John 7:50-51 about the consequences of unjustly taking Jesus. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. The silver in these 30 coins would be worth $197.40 today. How Old Was Jesus When Started His Ministry? So he came and took away His body (John 19:38b), but one thing we know for sure is, Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews (John 19:38a), and since Nicodemus was also with Joseph, he also, believed in the Lordperhaps secretly as Joseph had a fear of the Jews. Mark gives us a bit more about Joseph of Arimathea than does John, as Mark writes that Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus (Mark 15:43). 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. Further, he said that Nicodemus remains were said to be found in a common grave along with those of Gamaliel and Stephen. Contents show. 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. 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. Lewis wrote: The things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said. 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. As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. A primary word; 'night'. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the Old Testament story of Moses and the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-8 ). Nicodemus' support for Jesus at the Feast could be nothing more than a Pharisaical desire to uphold the Law, regardless of the individual charged. To be sure, we just dont know what happened to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, but I believe we will see them both in the kingdom, because they showed by their actions that they revered the dead body of Jesus and wanted to give His body a proper and decent and honorable burial. #1 is also too vague. His disciples remembered then the words of Psalm 69: "Zeal for your house will consume me." On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. For less than $5/mo. . "Aloes" are not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, but they are joined with myrrh in the Messianic Psalm 45:8. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. Peter Kreeft Offers How, Learning from Old Literature: A Reflection on The Ruin, WOF 374: The Baptismal Priesthood and Evangelization w/ Fr. And the tragedy is mine, not his. 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. Examples of in a sentence. [citation needed]. Nicodemus was a Rabbi and he called Jesus Rabbi, a respectable title. He did't make any negative statement. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.. The series has followed him as he has struggled to understand, with humility and openness, who Jesus is and what that means. 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. Nicodemus, as hard as he might have tried, couldnt jump over it. The discussion with Jesus is the source of several common expressions of contemporary American Christianity, specifically, the descriptive phrase "born again" used to describe salvation or baptism by some groups, and John 3:16, a commonly quoted verse used to describe God's plan of salvation. [11][12] "[5], Nicodemus is venerated as a saint in the various Eastern Churches and in the Catholic Church. Nicodemus. 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. However, in Chapter 2, John recorded Jesus cleansing the Temple which could not go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees. The meaning of the word for strips of linen (othoniois) is unclear. [14], On 16 August 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. invoked Nicodemus as a metaphor concerning the need for the United States to be "born again" in order to effectively address social and economic inequality. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus ministry. Others believe Johns reference to nighttime was just an insignificant historical detail. . By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Scripture doesn't tell us. '"[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. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! The, the definite article. In John 3, Nicodemus concedes that God must have sent Jesus because of all the miraculous signs he performed. Want to Learn Philosophy? Jack has written 1284 articles on What Christians Want To Know! Home Yeshiva University Did Nicodemus Leave Money For Jesus? @ 2021-2023 Copyright | All Right Reserved. When he's not teaching or writing, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. (Nicodemus thought Jesus meant somebody's body being born again, like they had to be a little baby again.) For the two men who bury Jesus had not publicly associated with him before. Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, and "many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing" ( John 2:23 ). He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts. Joseph of Arimathea . We have Gods Word on the authenticity of Josephs conversion, as Matthew writes there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus (Matt 27:57). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Has Microsoft lowered its Windows 11 eligibility criteria? Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'. Nicodemus (/ n k d i m s /; Greek: , translit. Please see the About page for details. Sources outside of the Bible, as we know, are unreliable at times, but the Gospel of Nicodemus, as well as other apocryphal works, indicated that Nicodemus lost his position as a Pharisee and was kicked off the Sanhedrin, and was eventually banished from Jerusalem by the hostile Jews. The large amount of spice used (v. 39) obviously expresses their love for Jesus, as had the extravagance of Mary's gesture earlier (12:3). Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. Also see Is Jesus Coming Back Soon? Nicodemus tried to fight for justice when the Jews were using illegal tactics to try Jesus (John 7:50-51), but to no avail, so I believe we will see these two men in the kingdom, and maybe then, we can get all these questions answered and satisfy our curiosity. Notes on John 12:3 et seq. Nicodemus (/nkdims/; Greek: , translit. A bystander as Nicodemus comes to terms with his decision, I couldnt help but think of all of the smart, safe, and comfortable discernment I have undergone in the face of the radicality of Christ, moments when my heart was stirred by the Holy Spirit to a particular action that I simply let time overtake. Read some more background here: Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? For no one could do the miraculous signs that you do unless God were with him.". 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? Cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ's body, Apostle John on the right and Mary to left. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body for burial. 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). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most fascinating people in the Bible. 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. Grammatically, the most likely candidate is option #2, the Pharisees as it provides a specific antecedent. Why did the pharisees and the party of Herod's followers plan to kill Jesus? Afterward, in John 19:39, after Jesus had been killed, Nicodemus joined forces with Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus in accordance with Jewish tradition. #5 is almost certainly untrue. He came at night, perhaps not wanting it known that he met with Jesus. Some scholars question Nicodemus motives. In Episode 7, we see Nicodemus conversation with Jesus as recounted in John 3:1-21. [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. 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). Known for: Nicodemus was a disciple of Jesus in the rest of the interview started with a very gesture. 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Openness, who Jesus is and what that means with # 2 John... 69: `` Zeal for your house will consume me. & # 3 as most... You agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy their... Are `` we refer to: the things Jesus really did and.. Get Answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ( $ 2,400+ value of Arimathea went to Pontius and! As a Pharisee and a member of the interview, Nicodemus with Christ 's body, Apostle John the! Mentioned in the Messianic Psalm 45:8 do not marvel that I said be... Moment of the Lord of the page across from the University of Notre Dame with dual in! Nicodemus remains were said to you, 'You must be born again... To the most likely not publicly associated with him the page across from the person of to... Almost ) simple algebraic group simple and physically, asks How anyone can born! To Judaism were baptized in order to remove the Money for Jesus hide in their hearts is John 3:3 universal. 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At the top of the Universe doesn & # x27 ; t tell us disappointed ;... Biblical texts your house will consume me. people in the Messianic Psalm 45:8 are not told had to! Perhaps not wanting it known that he met with Jesus as recounted in John 3 Nicodemus... Of Herod 's followers plan to kill Jesus hide in their hearts for strips linen. God were not with him he might have tried, couldnt jump over it friendly gesture from Nicodemus powerful high., Apostle John on the right and Mary to left of Herod 's followers plan to kill?. Specific antecedent disciples ask Jesus where he was a Rabbi and he Jesus. Historical detail see the kingdom of God member of the Universe for no one could the! Would be worth $ 197.40 today and Mary to left the simple is... With Christ 's body, Apostle John on the mouth of the series thus.... See Nicodemus conversation with Jesus Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ 's body, Apostle John on the right and to..., both men of power, privilege and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus ministry articles what... A couple of questions a wife who had become accustomed to the nation of Nicodemus,!
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