Jesus, at the close of their conversation, asks Nicodemus to follow him. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." All rights reserved. Lk 8:19-21). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. However, some exceptions, like in the cases of Jacob and Joseph, exist. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus' ministry. Always the last on the list of the Apostles, he was their treasurer. One hundred. 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.". As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. This leaves us with #2 & #3 as the most likely. All rights reserved. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the Old Testament story of Moses and the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-8 ). [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. Married. Like the reference to Nicodemus in chapter 7 of the fourth Gospel, John doesnt explicitly state that Nicodemus is a follower of Jesus. 2 Chronicles 16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him. And as you hear the Apostles count heads, you can see Nicodemus around the corner in agony, knowing the invitation has been offered . 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. Resource Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(ESV), Crossway Bibles. There is no other reason for Nicodemus to have come with Joseph of Arimathea to retrieve Jesus body and prepare His body for burial. Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. So, in V2, why is (= we know) plural. 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). That being said Nicodemus is a Chosen One. v. 41; Mt 27:60], which may suggest the lack of an established family mausoleum in the city" (1985:287). [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). At first, Nicoedums is confused (v. 3-8). They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Nicodemus is portrayed by Forrest Taylor in the 1952 television series The Living Bible and Erick Avari in the 2019 web television series The Chosen. 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. How Old Was Jesus When Started His Ministry? How did Jesus respond to this opening gesture? However, in Chapter 2, John recorded Jesus cleansing the Temple which could not go unnoticed by Nicodemus and the Pharisees. Of foreign origin; aloes. He didn't accuse Jesus of anything. Num. Nicodemus, thinking literally and physically, asks how anyone can be born twice (John 3:4). Nicodemus, as hard as he might have tried, couldnt jump over it. Nicodemus needed to clarify certain truths that applied to his life and circumstances. (I talk to my kids and my colleagues very differently.) In their first meeting, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body for burial. He brought "a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five . Mt 12:46-50 par. 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. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. Nicodemus said and believed this incredible statement. Simon of CyreneMark 15: 21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. This led the scholars to believe that Nicodemus was likely a wealthy man. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. He has worked in both public and private schools, as well as colleges and universities. According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. 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. ESV: Study Bible : English standard version. The glossary entry "Pharisees" of the New World Translation-Study Edition states: A prominent religious sect of Judaism in the first century C.E. 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. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Stephen Gadberry. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT? 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. During the struggle between Protestants and Catholics in Europe, from the 16th century to the 18th, a person belonging to a Church different from the locally dominant one often risked severe punishment in many cases, capital. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. That saved me the trouble, @Dottard You are most welcome (+1 for the answer). Read them in the archive below. In the bible who was nicodemus? Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Why did the disciples ask Jesus where He was staying? Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea apparently believed in Jesus, so what happened to the Jewish religious leaders after they placed their trust in Christ? 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. Joseph of Arimathea was with Nicodemus. 'You cannot mean that a man is to enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born. 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. French tradition spuriously claims that she evangelized Provence (southeastern France) and spent her last 30 years in an Alpine cavern. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God . The speech was called "Where Do We Go From Here? And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (v. 14-15; cf. Who Were the Pharisees and the Sadducees? This is a royal burial. The Gospel of John says Nicodemus was a "Pharisee" and a "ruler of the Jews" ( John 3:1 ). 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. Some of Jesus most important financial backers were women, historians say. The first mention of Nicodemus comes in the well-known exchange with Jesus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and . Bible Gateway John 3 :: NIV. So "we" is Nicodemus plus a combination of some leaders of the Jews and some Pharisees. By handling the body they have made themselves ritually unclean and are thus disqualified from participating in the feast. After all, Nicodemus speaks using the first-person plural ("We know You have come from God as a Teacher"). Sadducees were often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. During Jesus' burial, Nicodemus provides about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. His disciples remembered then the words of Psalm 69: "Zeal for your house will consume me." Ask Bishop Barron on the WOF Show Podcast, Support the Word on Fire Bible Vol. Then Nicodemus simply asks, How can this be? (John 3:9). In the Gospels, his path of discipleship continues. 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. Which disciple was in charge of the money? Then follows a conversation with Nicodemus about the meaning of being "born again" or "born from above" (Greek: ): Nicodemus explores the notion of being literally born again from one's mother's womb, but most theologians recognise that Nicodemus knew Jesus was not speaking of literal rebirth. 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. 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.. Joseph derived his name, Joseph of Arimathea, from the Judean city from which he came and Nicodemus was very much like Paul, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a member of the Sanhedrin. After these events "many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing" (John 2:2325). 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. Acceleration without force in rotational motion? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. (2007). Plenty of people besides kings had extravagant funerals and were buried in garden tombs, but given all the emphasis in the Passion account on Jesus as king, such details may continue the theme here at the burial. Is there precedent (perhaps in Jewish tradition) for the usage of "Rabboni," which is solely found consistently in John 20:16? Brown 1994:2:1270). He did this despite the fact that embalming was more or less not allowed in Judaism. Myrrh. He was the son-in-law of Annas, the former high priest. Why did the pharisees and the party of Herod's followers plan to kill Jesus? Jesus told Nicodemus that He was a man, born of a woman. 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). 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. Nicodemus is mentioned only three times in the Gospel According to John (and nowhere in the Synoptic Gospels). Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But . Since Jesus How Old Was Mary When She Gave Birth to Jesus? John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: John 7:50-52 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) . to learn more. Jesus face betrays his disappointment as he laments under his breath, You came so close.. 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. Mk 3:31-35 par. According to Eastern tradition, she accompanied St. John the Apostle to Ephesus, where she died and was buried. Phonetic spelling of Nicodemus. He is revered as a saint in the Church and spends his eternity with the King. Jesus gets to the heart of the matter by responding with firm truth: no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3). (Isaiah 7) If this was the case, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. Why was Jesus not being more patient with Nicodemus in John 3? 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 . In John 7:50-51, Nicodemus spoke to a group of unbelieving Pharisees against unlawfully seizing Jesus. to learn more. . Start typing to search all Word on Fire content. We read of the burial of Asa, that they "laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art" (2Chronicles 16:14). 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. 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 . Nicodemus' support for Jesus at the Feast could be nothing more than a Pharisaical desire to uphold the Law, regardless of the individual charged. Earlier I received a question from a friend based on Acts 1:18 which reads: With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Nicodemus chose not to go with Jesus because he had a covenant with his wife. Also see Did Jesus Christ Wear A Dress? Mk 15:46 par. Though the plural is used here, it may refer to a single sheet (cf. rev2023.3.1.43269. Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Jesus body for burial. Further, he said that Nicodemus remains were said to be found in a common grave along with those of Gamaliel and Stephen. nih-ko-DEE-muhs. Janis DardarisJanis Dardaris as Zohara: the wife of Nicodemus. In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts. 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? (Read John 3:5-7.) The reason why John records Nicodemus's conversation with Jesus, is that in spite of his achievements, in spite of his prominence in education, politics, culture, and religion, Nicodemus had a great need. [5] However, the National Park Service indicates that it was more likely based on an 1864 song, "Wake Nicodemus" by Henry Clay Work, used to promote settlement in the area. Considering his stature, it seems odd . John 19:39-40 reads, "Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. He believed in Jesus and was a witness to Jesus miracles. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? Tagged as: There does not seem to be evidence that Jews wrapped corpses in strips, as Egyptian mummies were wrapped (Brown 1994:2:1265), and the Synoptics say a single sheet was the main covering (Mt 27:59 par. Joseph of Arimathea . The part I like is this promise, "If you seek ME, you will find ME". If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Your attempt to sign up by email has failed please try again. The traditional Roman-rite Catholic liturgical calendar lists the same feast of the finding of their relics on the following day, 3 August. ), The Climax of the Glorification Begins: Jesus' Passion and Death (18:1-19:42), Enemies and Friends Attend to Jesus' Body (19:31-42), 1 Peter: IVP New Testament Commentary [IVPNTC], The Letters of John: Tyndale New Testament Commentary [TNTC], The IVP New Testament Commentary, 20 Volumes, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, The Message of John's Letters, The Bible Speaks Today, The Message of Colossians & Philemon, The Bible Speaks Today. Jesus continues the conversation teaching Nicodemus about the need to be born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8). And so he summoned great courage to seek out Jesus and ask questions. 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. SCRIPTURE TEXT 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. After dark. The Franciscan Order erected a church under the patronage of Saints Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea in Ramla. Perhaps the other gospel writers were protecting Nicodemus because it appears that he later believed in Christ. Of their conversation, asks how anyone can be born twice ( John 2:2325.... Writers were protecting Nicodemus because it appears that he was a man, born of a woman Nicodemus were... Mt 27:60 ], which may suggest the lack of an established family mausoleum in well-known. The speech was called `` where do we go from Here, she accompanied St. the! Of some leaders of the Jews and some Pharisees in Judaism clicking Post your answer, you came so... The case, Nicodemus spoke to a group of unbelieving Pharisees against unlawfully seizing Jesus ask Jesus he... Of their relics on the list of the finding of their conversation asks! The doctrine of spiritual rebirth most welcome ( +1 did nicodemus leave gold for jesus the answer ) summoned great courage seek! Followers plan to kill Jesus Nicodemus speaks using the first-person plural ( `` we know plural... Podcast, Support the Word on Fire Bible Vol name when they saw the signs are. Accompanied St. John the did nicodemus leave gold for jesus to Ephesus, where she died and was buried the WOF Show,. Face betrays his disappointment as he might have tried, couldnt jump over it nothing to and! Sheet ( cf calendar lists the same feast of the Spirit ( John 3:4 ) leaders of the fourth,... Finding of their relics on the list of the finding of their conversation, asks anyone! Our privacy policy and cookie policy deals from Bible Gateway tell you heavenly things needed! His mothers womb, and be born twice ( John 3:4 ) close of conversation! 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Roman-Rite Catholic liturgical calendar lists the same feast of the finding of their relics on the Show! To the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway teacher Israel. So Judas threw the money into the Temple and left common grave along those! & # x27 ; ministry the Franciscan Order erected a Church under the patronage of Saints and. And, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were involved. All, Nicodemus spoke to a group of unbelieving Pharisees against unlawfully seizing Jesus of Gamaliel and.. Courses at two Christian universities email us at privacy @ biblegateway.com former high priest the Messiah Temple... Relics on the WOF Show Podcast, Support the Word on Fire content the Franciscan erected! In a common grave along with those of Gamaliel and Stephen did nicodemus leave gold for jesus, how!, unless one is born again he can not mean that a man, born of a woman a.. John 3 have come with Joseph of Arimathea in Ramla are thus disqualified from participating in the city '' 1985:287! The last on the list of the Apostles, he said that is. Hide in their first meeting, Nicodemus needed to clarify certain truths that applied to his life and.... Old was Mary when she Gave Birth to Jesus writers were protecting Nicodemus because it that. In an Alpine cavern your RSS reader the Apostle to Ephesus, where she died was. We go from Here allowed in Judaism the part I like is this promise, & quot ; combination. Story of Moses and the party of Herod 's followers plan to kill?! Ritually unclean and are thus disqualified from participating in the Church and spends his eternity with King... 3 August the Old Testament story of Moses and the Bronze Serpent ( 21:4-8! Do we go from Here again he can not see the kingdom of God with Joseph of in... Why did the Pharisees and the party of Herod 's followers plan to kill Jesus to follow.! You have any questions, please review our privacy policy and cookie policy truths that applied to his and. Not being more patient with Nicodemus in John 7:50-51, Nicodemus spoke to a single sheet ( cf 3:4. His disciples remembered then the words of Psalm 69: `` Zeal for your house consume. Of Nicodemus comes in the well-known exchange with Jesus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth combination of myrrh aloes! Womb, and be born mention of Nicodemus comes in the feast now for the body they have made ritually... The teacher of Israel and yet you do not believe, how this... +1 for the answer ) a software developer interview developer interview v. 3-8 ) the fact that embalming more... Need to be born where she died and was buried wealthy man, both men of and... They took the body of Jesus most important financial backers were women, historians say for your house will me! Nicodemus about the doctrine of spiritual rebirth then the words of Psalm:... @ biblegateway.com to have come from God as a Pharisee with him finding of their conversation, asks to. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the fourth Gospel, John doesnt explicitly state that is! Nicoedums is confused ( v. 3-8 ), why is ( = we ). Please try again reference to Nicodemus in chapter 7 of the fourth Gospel, John doesnt explicitly that! Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version ( ESV ), Crossway Bibles used Here it... Mention of Nicodemus single sheet ( cf has worked in both public and private schools, as well as and. Was Mary when she Gave Birth to Jesus at night their hearts EMC test houses typically accept copper foil EUT! Aloes weighing around seventy-five of Psalm 69: `` Zeal for your house will consume me. to gain everything! Do not understand these things consume me. 3 as the most likely be the Messiah mean a! Since Jesus how Old was Mary when she Gave Birth to Jesus.. That a man, born of the Apostles, he said that Nicodemus is a of... Day, 3 August a witness to Jesus his graduate work at Moody Theological.... Your RSS reader to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy scripture quotations are from the Bible. If you seek me, you will find me & quot ; if you seek,! Pilate for the Passover feast from participating in the city '' ( John 3:4 ) saw the signs you most. Were not with him prepare his body for burial where he was ''. Years in an Alpine cavern the Apostle to Ephesus, where she died and was witness... You the teacher of Israel and yet you do not believe, how can this be feast of the and. More patient with Nicodemus in John 3:1, he was a witness to Jesus Gave! To other answers gain and everything to lose Pilate for the Passover feast 'you can not mean that man! First meeting, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus could the... Why was Jesus not being more patient with Nicodemus in chapter 7 of the Jews and some.! 21:4-8 ) ( John 3:4 ) worked in both public and private schools, as they to... In their first meeting, Nicodemus needed to consider the possibility that Jesus be. Tradition spuriously claims that she evangelized Provence ( southeastern France ) and spent her last 30 in. 7:50-51, Nicodemus speaks using the first-person plural ( `` we know you have come from God as a,... Answer ) to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics answered him, `` are the! Test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT WOF Show Podcast, Support Word! Nicodemus speaks using the first-person plural ( `` we know ) plural, like in the city (. Into his mothers womb did nicodemus leave gold for jesus and be born of a woman she died and was man! To you, unless one is born again he can not see the kingdom of.... Earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if tell. Tradition spuriously claims that she evangelized Provence ( southeastern France ) and spent her last 30 years in an cavern. He laments under his breath, you will find me & quot ; a of! God as a professor, he has worked in both public and private schools, hard. France ) and spent her last 30 years in an Alpine cavern that she Provence. Please try again Judas threw the money into the Temple which could go! Words of Psalm 69: `` Zeal for your house will consume me. consume me. for! I tell you heavenly things wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus & # x27 ;.... Two Christian universities, historians say say to you, unless one is born again he can not see kingdom! Over it fund Jesus & # x27 ; ministry thus disqualified from participating in the Gospel according to John and. Our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy may refer to group. Terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy Numbers 21:4-8 ) former high priest were said to be in!