(Isaiah 7) If this was the case, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. 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 Pharisees ask an important question: Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? (v. 48) The Pharisees may have intended to be rhetorical, but then one of their own spoke up. 21:8). 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.. 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). III Project. Then, Jesus redirected the conversation from the person of Nicodemus to the nation of Nicodemus. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court in ancient Israel. Stephen Gadberry. Both men had power, wealth, and influence, but they were willing to lose that for the purpose of receiving eternal life and being born again. But Pilate had clearly said three times that Jesus was innocent, which may account for his allowing Joseph to take the body. The virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most fascinating people in the Bible. 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. [citation needed]. John 3:2-Nicodemus said "we" know," who are "we" he refers to? More recently, in 1941, "The Golden Gate Quartet", in the African-American Jubilee style, sang the Gospel "God Told Nicodemus". If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. #1 is also too vague. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the Old Testament story of Moses and the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-8 ). Your attempt to sign up by email has failed please try again. Daniel Burke notes that, "To blacks after the Civil War, he was a model of rebirth as they sought to cast off their old identity as slaves". . What Expenses Should I Expect When I Go To College? Nicodemus is portrayed by Diego Matamoros in the 2003 film The Gospel of John. 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. Bible References: The story of Nicodemus and his relationship with Jesus develops in three episodes of the Bible: John 3:1-21, John 7:50-52, and John 19:38-42. Though the plural is used here, it may refer to a single sheet (cf. What Is The Education System Like In Israel? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. upgrading to decora light switches- why left switch has white and black wire backstabbed? #1. And the tragedy is mine, not his. Some said he was a prophet; others said he was the Messiah. Nicodemus, as hard as he might have tried, couldnt jump over it. He came to Jesus at night, sneaking off to see the man behind the miracles. What is a Pharisee? Married. "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. 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. 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. n-ih-kh-uh-d-ee-m-ih-s. Paul Arnold is an education expert with over 25 years of experience in the field. Num. Nicodemus was not just a Pharisee, but a ruler of the Pharisees, which was one of the most powerful positions to hold in Jewry. To carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known. Nicodemus was a Rabbi and he called Jesus Rabbi, a respectable title. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God . 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. The part I like is this promise, "If you seek ME, you will find ME". After dark. 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). Carson writes that Nicodemus is advocating for Jesus but not directly. Start typing to search all Word on Fire content. Nicodemus (/ n k d i m s /; Greek: , translit. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. In their first meeting, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Further, the Sanhedrin was dominated by Sadducees (the High Priest was a Sadducee) they would not be interested in finding out much about this latest Messiah other than to condemn Him. Jesus was objectively being quick to the point in logic because Nicodemus was an expert of the Hebrew Scripture. 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. to learn more. Thus, it is not clear how exactly they wrapped the body.The action taken by Joseph and Nicodemus signals a change in their own discipleship as they clearly break with the rest of the Jewish leadership. Now, at Jesus' death, they are no longer under this condemnation; they have passed from hiding in the darkness to coming into the light. 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. (+1 for the answer.). What was the relationship between Jesus and Nicodemus? Known for: Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee and well-recognized religious leader of the Jewish people. 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. A Pharisee, which means separatist, was a member of a Jewish sect that was known for their devotion to the Law of Moses. Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular. [John 19:39] Nicodemus must have been a man of means; in his book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, Pope Benedict XVI observes that, "The quantity of the balm is extraordinary and exceeds all normal proportions. There is absolutely no reason for us to believe that Jesus did not reciprocate on equally friendly terms. 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). From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers. What would happen if an airplane climbed beyond its preset cruise altitude that the pilot set in the pressurization system? Nicodemus (/nkdims/; Greek: , translit. Later, in the fourth gospel, after his nighttime conversation with Jesus, Nicodemus publicly defends Jesus, which likely risked his reputation and position. Contents show. (John 3:1-15). The second verse of the song "Help yourself" performed by The Devil Makes Three is dedicated to Nicodemus. 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. Note on Matthew 2:11. Also see Is Jesus Coming Back Soon? 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 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. (Nicodemus thought Jesus meant somebody's body being born again, like they had to be a little baby again.) Again, this cannot be known for certain. He has worked in both public and private schools, as well as colleges and universities. Paul is passionate about helping students learn and grow, and he has written extensively on the topic of education. Aloes, the powdered fragrant aloe wood. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews." (John 19:39-40). Why Did Jesus Ask Three Times if Peter Loved Him? God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. Jesus, at the close of their conversation, asks Nicodemus to follow him. Has Microsoft lowered its Windows 11 eligibility criteria? What was the Sanhedrin? Notes on John 12:3 et seq. Jack has written 1284 articles on What Christians Want To Know! 39 Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Therefore, he came honestly seeking after God. According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. What is it, then, that you do mean? The Pharisees, however, did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, despite the signs which revealed His identity. 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. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. nih-ko-DEE-muhs. link to What Personality Type Was Jesus Christ? The Gospel of John says Nicodemus was a "Pharisee" and a "ruler of the Jews" ( John 3:1 ). ", and delivered at the 11th Annual SCLC Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. When did Nicodemus advocate for Jesus publicly? 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. SCRIPTURE TEXT 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He acknowledged that Jesus came from God. How to extract the coefficients from a long exponential expression? 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. In John 7:50-51, Nicodemus spoke to a group of unbelieving Pharisees against unlawfully seizing Jesus. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: John 19:39 Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus (Jhn Jo Jn). Like the reference to Nicodemus in chapter 7 of the fourth Gospel, John doesnt explicitly state that Nicodemus is a follower of Jesus. Of foreign origin; aloes. May we always respond with the great yes that we, as armchair quarterbacks, put into the mouth of The Chosens Nicodemus. Your 2nd question: Was the interview on friendly terms? BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. Like Nicodemus in chapter 3, Joseph did this at night in fear of the Jewish leaders. By handling the body they have made themselves ritually unclean and are thus disqualified from participating in the feast. Considering his stature, it seems odd . Who Was Doubting Thomas? 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. Answer. Read some more background here: Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? The series has followed him as he has struggled to understand, with humility and openness, who Jesus is and what that means. 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. . Their request for the body was also a very courageous act. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. 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. That being said Nicodemus is a Chosen One. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He had a wife who had become accustomed to the stable, secure, and beautiful life his position afforded. The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus' divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed. Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus warned a group of unbelieving Pharisees in John 7:50-51 about the consequences of unjustly taking Jesus. Scripture doesn't tell us. Mk 15:46 par. For the two men who bury Jesus had not publicly associated with him before. Their chief rivals were the Sadduccees; yet, they opposed any teaching that wasnt their own. 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. Speaking of Nicodemus, I was most powerfully affected by the scenes of Christ and Nicodemus in the final two episodes of the series. Used by permission. Always the last on the list of the Apostles, he was their treasurer. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. 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. The situations presented in The Chosen are based upon the biblical texts and fill in with fictional details. v. 41; Mt 27:60], which may suggest the lack of an established family mausoleum in the city" (1985:287). [citation needed], Like Joseph, Nicodemus became the object of various pious legends during the Middle Ages, particularly in connection with monumental crosses. (Read John 3:5-7.) [15], Jesus and Nicodemus by Crijn Hendricksz, 16161645. He also likes playing golf and watching sports. He did this despite the fact that embalming was more or less not allowed in Judaism. Mk 3:31-35 par. Jesus' face betrays his disappointment as he laments under his breath, "You came so close." Nicodemus had a family. A Jew wouldn't have had to convert. Ask Bishop Barron on the WOF Show Podcast, Support the Word on Fire Bible Vol. 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). No enemy of Christ would take such a risk for fear of being exposed by the Jews. 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. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'. Jordan's line about intimate parties in The Great Gatsby? The other two appearances are relatively brief, yet nonetheless, significant. Jesus often strongly denounced them for their legalism (see Matthew 23 ). Why is there a memory leak in this C++ program and how to solve it, given the constraints? Mary's story in the Christianity FAQ exists to help people understand the Christian faith. 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. Also see How Many Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill? In the Gospels, his path of discipleship continues. Please see the About page for details. Nicodemus is mentioned only three times in the Gospel According to John (and nowhere in the Synoptic Gospels). 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? He was a pastor for 10 years. 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. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. He currently works as a professor at a local college. My guess is that most were sitting on the fence at the time of the interview. Why was Jesus not being more patient with Nicodemus in John 3? And as you hear the Apostles count heads, you can see Nicodemus around the corner in agony, knowing the invitation has been offered . "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.. They would not do this, however, in the case of treason (Beasley-Murray 1987:358). ESV: Study Bible : English standard version. Lewis wrote: The things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said. Brown 1994:2:1270). Why did the disciples ask Jesus where He was staying? He was a Pharisee who was attracted to Jesus' character and miracles. Joseph of Arimathea . Ernst Pepping composed in 1937 an Evangelienmotette (motet on gospel text) Jesus und Nikodemus. Instead, the seventy-five pounds of spices, which were probably in granular or powder form, could be packed under and around the body and in the strips of linen with which they wrapped the body. John A. T. Robinson considers Nicodemus to be from a well-established family of Jerusalem, while Joseph is "the nouveau riche country cousin with his brand-new tomb [cf. In the current Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church, Nicodemus is commemorated along with Saint Joseph of Arimathea on 31 August. To, towards, with. 3 Jesus replied, Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.. Do narratives (Jn 3:1-21) suggest Jesus took him and his visit on "friendly" terms? He watched in anguish as Christ and his disciples walked away on mission. Later in John 19:39, after Jesus had been crucified, Nicodemus joined Joseph of Arimathea in giving Jesus a traditional Jewish burial. He also helped anoint Jesus body. In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Nicodemus is: Victory of the people. By the time of Jesus's crucifixion, Nicodemus had grown bold enough to publicly reveal what he now believed. When Nicodemus visits Jesus he makes reference to these events: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. Early traditions of the Roman imperial church, which held Nicodemus in high . Persuaded: The Story of Nicodemus by author David Harder is a historical fictional account on the life of Nicodemus. 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. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. ATK Hasim April 16, 2022. Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others. 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. The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed. Is it likely that Jesus' trial was rigged? Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. Nicodemus had a family. Many scholars believe that Nicodemus was nervous to meet Jesus in the daytime in public for fear of the Jewish leaders (cf. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? 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. This all leads to the most haunting and tragic moment of the series thus far. 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. In Henry Vaughan's "The Night," mentioning Nicodemus is significant to elaborate the poem's depiction of the night's relationship with God. So "we" is Nicodemus plus a combination of some leaders of the Jews and some Pharisees. The glossary entry "Pharisees" of the New World Translation-Study Edition states: A prominent religious sect of Judaism in the first century C.E. [11][12] [3], Finally, when Jesus is buried, Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloesabout 100 Roman pounds (33 kilograms (73lb))despite embalming being generally against Jewish custom (with the exceptions of Jacob and Joseph). How can these things be? he asks (v. 9). The silver in these 30 coins would be worth $197.40 today. 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. 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. During Jesus' burial, Nicodemus provides about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. and knowing he wont take it. Jesus then went on to tell Nicodemus that he needed to be born again. Judas puts his arm around Jesus shoulder while he kisses Jesus lips (on the tradition and interpretation of this gesture see Mormando: passim). The coins themselves, being ancient and historical, would of course be priceless, but at the time they were just regular silver coins used as instruments of commerce. A primary verb. He is revered as a saint in the Church and spends his eternity with the King. And it was not just he, but he and his close set of friends of some leaders of the Jews and some Pharisees. That saved me the trouble, @Dottard You are most welcome (+1 for the answer). He acknowledged Jesus' miracles. . When the other Jewish leaders referenced the Law, Nicodemus cited its teachings about fair hearings right back to them. Read them in the archive below. "Thinking" people more generally (whatever that means)? Why was Jesus not being more patient with Nicodemus in John 3? rev2023.3.1.43269. However, in Chapter 2, John recorded Jesus cleansing the Temple which could not go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees. link to How Old Was Mary When She Gave Birth to Jesus? Sadducees were often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. Yet Jesus "knew all people and . Why at night? So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.. The details of Nicodemus story in the Gospel of John suggest that he became a follower of Jesus Christ. The traditional Roman-rite Catholic liturgical calendar lists the same feast of the finding of their relics on the following day, 3 August. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 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, John 3:1-21).The second time Nicodemus is mentioned, he reminds his colleagues in the Sanhedrin that the law requires that a person be . 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. The first mention of Nicodemus comes in the well-known exchange with Jesus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth. Bible Gateway John 3 :: NIV. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? So he came and took away His body, a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, 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, Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher, 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, Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple, So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple, made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth., Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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. . Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten. At first, Nicoedums is confused (v. 3-8). Bible Gateway John 3 :: NIV. 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. (I talk to my kids and my colleagues very differently.) Nicodemus needed to clarify certain truths that applied to his life and circumstances. The Chosens Nicodemus is dramatized. All rights reserved. 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. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. 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). The fact that it is a new tomb is emphasized by John (v. 41). In response to a child who had expressed fear that he loved The Chronicles of Narnias Aslan more than Jesus, C.S. Nicodemus himself might have wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah. ' (ESV). After Nicodemus mentions the signs, Jesus immediately tells him that he must be born again. It is possible he was sent by the Pharisees to find out more about Jesus, as this took place early in His ministry. Jesus went right to the heart of his mission: Born again. Jewish leadership, say, the members of the Sanhedrin? In addition, by allowing Jesus to have a decent burial Pilate would be able to further annoy the Jewish leadership. 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. The Jewish leaders had a different perspective. 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. 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). Comparing what he knew from the Old Testament and the expectation of the Messiah, he planned for a way to see Jesus. To understand Jesus' statement in verse 12, we need to see the background of Nicodemus. Want to Learn Philosophy? Nicodemus, thinking literally and physically, asks how anyone can be born twice (John 3:4). Examples of in a sentence. Mt 12:46-50 par. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. In any case, these are both men of power, privilege and wealth. Jesus Christ, who will be rejected by the religious leaders, tells Nicodemus that he must be born again - even as a Pharisee! Then he alludes to a story from the book of Numbers to drive home his point. Song of Solomon 4:6,14 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. In that manner. 'You cannot mean that a man is to enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born. As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 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?