[22], Not only did Joseph own a tomb convenient to Calvary but, among the believers, he was uniquely suited to the task of obtaining the body from Pilate because of the office he held with the Roman government Chandler writes, Joseph of Arimathea is called in the Vulgate, or the Latin version of the Bible, noble centurion, because he was one of the ten magistrates or senators who had the principal authority in Jerusalem under the Romans. John continues, Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught (v. 14). Can you think of some stories about Jesus' interactions with women? These actions challenged the legalism and hypocrisy of the Sanhedrin and Pharisees, but Nicodemus had to be sure Jesus' body was treated with dignity and that he received a proper burial. . Ante-Nicene Fathers. If you want to avoid the ads (there's a lot!) The entirety of the apocryphal account was, at some point, attributed to Nicodemus and later incorporated into a more elaborate work, known as the Gospel of Nicodemus. The blacks in America, after the Civil War, saw him as a source of inspiration for them, as they discarded their previous identities as slaves. 1995. vol. It's unlikely Nicodemus ever physically followed Jesus in his travels. Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. One would expect that the cleansing of the temple was most certainly a topic of discussion among members of the Sanhedrin headquartered in the heart of the temple complex in the Chamber of Hewn Stone.[7]. Provo, UT 84602 Turning to Photina (the Samaritan Woman at the Well), remind your students: In biblical times, getting remarried multiple times and living with someone you weren't married to were not common practices like they are today. Thus the dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus begins with, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him (John 3:2). In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. I wanted the youth to enjoy it and not just see The Chosen as an elaborate preaching illustration. Joseph and Nicodemus were the only two who saw the body of Jesus before it was wrapped, but the women didnt see Nicodemus. Together with his friend and fellow Sanhedrin member, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus lovingly cared for the body of the crucified Savior, placing the Lord's remains in Joseph's tomb. Before this meeting, the scriptural record gives the account of Christs birth, His visit to the temple at age twelve, His baptism, the temptations, His turning water to wine at Cana, a short visit to Capernaum and the first cleansing of the temple. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! What Does the Bible Tell Us About Nicodemus? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. If these accounts are true, God used these events to bring her to Jesus and have eternal life. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#person","name":"Akinyemi","sameAs":["https://twitter.com/akinyemiconsult@gmail.com"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#website","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net","name":"Akinyemi","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/what-happened-to-nicodemus-in-the-bible/#webpage","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/what-happened-to-nicodemus-in-the-bible/","name":"What Happened to Nicodemus in the Bible? If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. . The holy and righteous Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to hear the Lord by night. Tacitus speaks of a population of 600,000; at the time of the Passover this number rose to between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000. . . One will recall that some of the early disciples (later Apostles) were somewhat skeptical on their first meeting with Jesus, yet they are not faulted. Sometimes their conversation got a little tense. You might get worried about raising doubts and concerns for some of your students that make them question the goodness of God or of the Bible. No parables are involved; nothing is hidden with imagery or in similitudes. 3. As the the bronze serpent was lifted up on a pole, all who . Taking these cues from the Gospel of John, The Chosen uses Nicodemus' story to explore the tension between faith and fear. After your youth list a few examples, I would point out: When we read the Bible and see women being mistreated by men it's good to keep in mind that the Bible is not endorsing these behaviors, it's simply describing events as they happened. He is typically, but not always, paired with Joseph of Arimathea, who together with Nicodemus carries the body of Jesus. He seems to show genuine respect for Jesus' miracles and he has real interest in what Jesus has to say. In Season 1, Episode 8, Nicodemus turns down the invitation. [11], Considering the standing of Nicodemus, and the standing of the people with whom he associated, such as the revered Gamaliel, we expect that Nicodemus was not haphazard in addressing Jesus as Rabbi. It's a perfect embodiment the evangelical vision of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. The following outlines Nicodemus' actions and response to Jesus. In the same conversation Nicodemus seeks to understand how a person might be born again after having left a mothers womb. Genesis doesn't claim that these men are good examples of morality in every area of life. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? In that case, Nicodemus is trying to hide his faith while at the same time secretly supporting his master. What a wonderful turn of events if the executioners wife became a believer and a follower of the one her husband rejected. . The second mention of Nicodemus occurs when some of the chief priests and Pharisees of the Sanhedrin ask why the temple guards failed to bring Jesus to them. [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. In The Chosen, during Season 1, Episode 8, Nicodemus chooses to not follow Jesus. Nicodemus may seem like strange choice for a primary POV character in a show about the life of Jesus. The terms use receded after the 18th century. . Johann Sebastian Bach wrote several cantatas that were used during the occasion. But it was Nicodemus who risked his reputation to give Jesus the proper burial. Quick Answer - Missional Manifesto","datePublished":"2022-06-23T12:59:31+00:00","dateModified":"2022-06-23T12:59:31+00:00","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#website"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/author/jspaul/","name":"Pastor JS Paul","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/author/jspaul/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a25b86780015a7a80bc62298866e0757?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a25b86780015a7a80bc62298866e0757?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Pastor JS Paul","inLanguage":"en-US"},"sameAs":["https://web.facebook.com/groupepignosis"]},{"@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"What Happened to Nicodemus in the Bible? To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 2. Jesus identifies Nicodemus as a prominent Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. Eighteen years earlier, Jesus, then twelve years of age, was also in the temple. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. In his first appearance, he is referred to as the Pharisee who has come to see Jesus in the night. Typically the Bible only mentions figures who play a role in the narrative or who were well-known among the followers of Jesus. Chandler was able to provide a partial list of the members of the Sanhedrin at the time of Christ. How did meeting Jesus have an impact on Eden and her mother? How do you think it might have related back to the way Jesus treated women? Nicodemus speaks to Jesus in the first-person plural (we know). Nicodemus.. Peter's decision to follow Jesus is encouraged strongly by Eden. Learn Religions. Did Jesus' teaching back in John 3 already bring him to faith? According to theologian Charles Ellicott, following the methods of Rabbinic dialogue, Nicodemus stresses on the improbable meaning of the words to bring out the real meaning. Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. . Nicodemus states his reason for seeking an audience with Jesus by referencing the miracles Jesus had performed. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? He comes from a family of fishermen. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus. This episode brings a conclusion to Season One of The Chosen. For example, some traditions relate that he was ostracized by the Pharisees for his Christian sympathies. In this account Nicodemus joins with Joseph of Arimathea to wrap the body in a large quantity of burial spices and then place it in the new sepulcher. Nicodemus, a man of great wealth, donated 75 pounds of expensive myrrh and aloes to anoint the Lord's body after his death. Jesus, the Living Word, ministered to Nicodemus, a hurting and confused individual, with great compassion and dignity. After Nicodemus had become a follower, his life was changed forever. It was, in fact, the great yearly fair of Jerusalem, and the crowds added to the din and tumult, till the services in the neighboring courts were sadly disturbed. Your contributions mean so much. He never hid his faith in Jesus again. Nicodemus struggles with the call but ultimately has cold feet and doesn't follow Jesus. Even so, a degree of ambiguity could still have been retained. In contrast to other traditions, which place the church hierarchy as a mediator between the individual and God, evangelicals, because of their belief in the Priesthood of All Believers, talk about Jesus as someone we can encounter in a direct and personal way. This group of Jews influenced the early church and were critical of Jesus ministry. One other small critique of Nicodemus' conversion story: he understands far too much about Jesus far too quickly. "Meet Nicodemus: Seeker of God." His reaction to the councils desire to arrest Jesus was boldly calculated to bring out the irony of their lawless act at the very moment in which they were ridiculing the lawless behavior of the crowd (7:4951). However, it's important to keep in mind that the Bible does not give us a complete description of the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (, In the Bible, it isn't completely clear when Nicodemus began to follow Jesus, if he did at all. This group of Jews influenced the early church and were critical of Jesus' ministry. The only time the New Testament refers to Pontius Pilates wife, Claudia Procula, is found in Matthew 27:19. When the officers returned without Jesus, the chief priests and Pharisees demanded, Why have ye not brought him? (v. 45). He was, for example (1) a Pharisee, (2) a member of the Sanhedrin, (3) wealthy, and (4) one of whom it was known that his attachment to Christ was great.. He had skipped the previous Passover in the spring. Spiritual & Religious Leaders When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Brigham Young University "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," Jesus said. In 1937, Ernst Pepping wrote an Evangelienmotette (motet on gospel text), titled Jesus und Nikodemus. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. The doctrine is strong. . An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts. Although they were both descendants from the first Israelites, the Samaritans had mixed in with other people groups and adopted a different temple and other disagreements over how to worship. 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 . There, according to John 19:39-40, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices ( myrrh and aloes) that Nicodemus had brought. In his 1544 Excuse messieurs les Nicodemites, theologian John Calvin wrote that Nicodemus veneration did not excuse him of his duplicity. As a product of evangelical culture, The Chosen presents us with a Jesus who is distinctly intimate and personal. This led the scholars to believe that Nicodemus was likely a wealthy man. 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