The Gospel of John clearly associates Nicodemus with the fear of man. For example, some traditions relate that he was ostracized by the Pharisees for his Christian sympathies. Nicodemus is a model of faith and courage for all Christians to follow. He is venerated by the eastern Churches on two different days, the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers (the second Sunday after Easter) and 2 August, the date when, according to traditions, his relics were discovered. [14] We know from Walter M. Chandlers research that some of the members of the Sanhedrin served many years. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! Among the most influential representations of Nicodemus is that in the apocryphal Acts of Pilate, a 4th/5th-century work that expounds on the sentencing and crucifixion of Jesus. The dream must have been a bad dream for the Greek, pascho polys, states that she suffered great pain during the dream. Commenting about Nicodemus and Joseph on this occasion, Farrar writes: However much he had held back during the life of Jesus, now, on the evening of His death, his heart was filled with a gush of compassion and remorse, and he hurried to His cross and burial with an offering of truly royal munificence. We don't get a lot of in-between characters that are trying to explore and evaluate Jesus in the way that a modern convert would. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Peter doesn't even make his triumphant confession that Jesus is the Messiah until a significant way into each Gospel. . This episode brings a conclusion to Season One of The Chosen. Most characters that encounter Jesus in the Gospels are either stubbornly opposed to him (the Pharisees) or already inclined to at least a modicum of faith. His noble position is more clearly marked in the Greek version.[23]. Provo, UT 84602 [35] Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 1:381n1. Nicodemus.. He was involved in the Pharisee movement and was part of the Sanhedrin assemblies. These would have been seen as marks of poor character - that's why Photina had to get water in the hot afternoon instead of going early in the morning when it's cool - the other women looked down on her. God met the Israelites where they were at and urged them toward a slightly better society.But as God pushed his people forward with the coming of Jesus, we see even greater equity between the sexes. Nicodemus asked. But it was Nicodemus who risked his reputation to give Jesus the proper burial. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (John 2:2325). [24], The Anchor Bible Dictionary concludes: Though Nicodemus is often portrayed as timid, [John A. T.] Robinson is probably correct in seeing him as quite courageous. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. In The Chosen, Nicodemus has a wife named Zohara. Like the tale of Lazarus, Nicodemus is not part of the tradition of the Synoptic Gospels. In the 18th century, the Lutherans read the gospel text of the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus at night on Trinity Sunday. In his 1544 Excuse messieurs les Nicodemites, theologian John Calvin wrote that Nicodemus veneration did not excuse him of his duplicity. Kirk B.R. The Jewish leaders then chastised the officers for being deceived like the common people. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. If any one quarrels with his rabbi, it is as if he contended with the living God. Did Jesus' teaching back in John 3 already bring him to faith? Strong suggests some alternative translations such as: to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing) . Other Pharisees argue that no prophet could hail from Galilee. Jesus and the disciples did not agree with them, and this group of people was a major opposition to Him and His ministry. While other Pharisees remained skeptical, Nicodemus faith in Jesus grew. [10] James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1963), 159, 16970n7. The following outlines Nicodemus' actions and response to Jesus. In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. Chandler was able to provide a partial list of the members of the Sanhedrin at the time of Christ. He had a wife who had become accustomed to the stable, secure, and beautiful life his position afforded. Well discuss his motivations, his relationship with Jesus, and how he died and was buried. It intends for us to see these broken relationships as a consequence of the Fall. Commit.. Jesuss response to Nicodemuss declaration of belief that He was a teacher come from God based on those same miracles was quite different. Inside the Temple space, the noise and pressure were, if possible, worse. Moreover, by bringing these concerns to the surface as a context for watching Episode 8 of The Chosen, you highlight the radical difference between how Jesus treated women and how women were treated by biblical figures like Abraham and David. (John 3:3, NIV), "How can someone be born when they are old?" Scholars remain unclear on the overall polemical purpose of either the Acts of Pilate or the Gospel of Nicodemus, but the contrast of Nicodemus as a righteous Jew against an obstinate crowd of Jews, along with his alleged authorship of the texts, is considered by many as providing literary reinforcement to anti-Jewish views held by contemporary Christians. [18] Faulring, Jackson, and Matthews, Joseph Smiths New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts, 448. During Jesus burial, Nicodemus provides about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. It's good to keep in mind that Eden has met Jesus, whereas Zohara apparently hasn't even heard about him - it doesn't seem like Nicodemus ever told her about his "born again" conversation in the previous episode. "I was one way, and now I am completely different. Either way, it is quite clear that he had significant power in the Sanhedrin. After all, he only shows up in one Gospel (John) and only makes a handful of appearances: the well known "Born Again" conversation (, Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene in The Chosen, Jesus and Nicodemus discuss new birth in The Chosen, The Gospel of John says Nicodemus was a "Pharisee" and a "ruler of the Jews" (, Nicodemus makes three appearances in Scripture, all in the Gospel of John: in the Born Again conversation with Jesus (, There is no explicit indication in the Bible that Jesus asked Nicodemus to follow him. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Answer All that we know of Nicodemus in the Bible is from the Gospel of John. Nicodemus struggles with the call but ultimately has cold feet and doesn't follow Jesus. Case in point, The Chosen shows relatively little interest in exploring the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, even though the biblical account leaves a lot of unanswered questions about how well the messianic cousins know each other. . Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? In Michelangelos sculpture of the entombment, Nicodemus is assisted by the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, rather than Joseph of Arimathea. You can find episode 8 on YouTube here. It appears that Jesus did believe Nicodemuss belief. Nicodemus protested, urging the group to give Jesus a fair hearing. The show does a great job of showing us real tension in Nicodemus' heart. Ibid. . Elliott was well versed in Pot Fishing by 19 and was better than your average . In the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate's wife warns her husband not to harm Jesus and for this she achieved sainthood among Orthodox Christians. Several eastern Churches as well the Roman Catholic Church honour Nicodemus as a saint. The Gospel of John mentions only a few facts about Nicodemus, but we do know that he was a Pharisee. Brandon Potter as Quintus: a Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the Praetor of Galilee. In the beginning of the biblical story, men and women are created to be in a loving and respectful relationship to one another. [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. According to Rosamond Rodman, the freed slaves who began living in Nicodemus, Kansas, christened the town after him. He did this despite the fact that embalming was more or less not allowed in Judaism. Typically the Bible only mentions figures who play a role in the narrative or who were well-known among the followers of Jesus. 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. You may want to supplement with your own knowledge of first century Jewish and Roman culture, but keep in mind that the episode itself will provide plenty of concrete snapshots of the life of women in Jesus' day. In his first appearance, he is referred to as the Pharisee who has come to see Jesus in the night. John does tell us that he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews (John 19:38). We can conclude that Nicodemus was a highly honored Jewish teacher who also happened to be very rich and very powerful. One need only read of the occasion when Christ was brought before Annas for questioning about his disciples, and of his doctrine. After Jesus pointed out His ministry and teachings were a matter of public record, He suggested, Why askest thou me? What would it look like for us as a community to demonstrate this? Here we are told that Pilates wife did not come to her husband when he was sitting on the judgment seat during the trial of Jesus Christ. His wife, Jenny Smith Fletcher, became the first postmistress and schoolteacher and one of the original charter members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. However, based on what we know of Jewish culture, it's almost certain that Nicodemus was married. One other small critique of Nicodemus' conversion story: he understands far too much about Jesus far too quickly. In reality, most kids either have had or will have concerns about how women are treated in the Bible - they just don't always feel safe expressing them. And so he summoned great courage to seek out Jesus and ask questions. Even though the timeline between their relationship remains anonymous, the couple apparently met a while before 2014. . Jesus tells us that some civil laws God gave to his people in the Old Testament were accommodations to their hard and sinful hearts (Matthew 19:1-9). He may have been present but remained silent. Nicodemus may seem like strange choice for a primary POV character in a show about the life of Jesus. . He had a daughter who had just given birth to a new grandson who he had not met. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Claudia Procula What does the Bible say about Pontius Pilates wife? Because of his apparent stature among the Pharisees, it was supposed that he was a member of the Great Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial court in Jerusalem under Roman rule. The officers only recorded response was, Never man spake like this man (v. 46). Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Ears to Hear (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 & Episode 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Feeding of the 5,000 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 8 with Youth or Small Group), Pontius Pilate & His Wife in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. 1995. vol. "Meet Nicodemus: Seeker of God." The faith which had once required the curtain of darkness, can now venture at least into the light of sunset, and brightened finally into noonday confidence. He wanted badly to understand, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer. Frederic W. Farrar refers to Christian tradition when he writes: Tradition says that after the Resurrection . 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. [34] Geoffrey W. Bromiley ed., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986), s.v. [11] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1971), 1:381. His story only appears in Johns retelling of the life of Jesus. In order to understand what was happening when she is mentioned in Scripture here is Matthew 27:15-19. That evening Nicodemus learned from Jesus that he must be born again, and he was. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. Although Joseph of Arimathea, the owner of the tomb, is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels as preparing the body for burial, Nicodemus is mentioned only in the Gospel According to John. [26] The name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews . Despite being betrothed to a girl who insists on putting love before the law, he becomes a respected Pharisee. While Johns Gospel leaves many questions unanswered about Nicodemus, the main points of the story are clear: Nicodemus was a disciple of Jesus but was not publicly declaring his faith. . This ambiguity is never fully resolved throughout the remainder of the Gospel. The Gospel of Nicodemus. After Jesus crucifixion, Nicodemus assists Joseph of Arimathea in laying Jesus body in a nearby tomb (John 19:3942). Most likely, Nicodemus came by night, not out of fear, but to avoid the crowds that would have interrupted his interview with Jesus. . It seems like no accident, then, that the kinds of Jesus stories that The Chosen takes interest in are personal encounters. His list, though obviously incomplete, contains only one member named Nicodemus. Known for: Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee and well-recognized religious leader of the Jewish people. So the following information may not be true. There might have been some furtive glances at fellow believers before Nicodemus asked his question. When the officers returned without Jesus, the chief priests and Pharisees demanded, Why have ye not brought him? (v. 45). In fact, it goes out of its way to highlight their moral failures. [36] McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 4:239. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. It is the fear of Rome that causes Nicodemus to abuse his role as an esteemed teacher and serve Roman interests. Out of a typically evangelical concern for proclaiming accurate theology, the characters jump to the conclusion that Jesus is divine far too quickly. Finally, to conclude his story, the Gospel of John suggests that Nicodemus has indeed attained nascent faith, demonstrated through his willingness to side with the dead Jesus by burying him. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the high court in Israel. Representations of Nicodemus in art tend to focus on his sympathy for Jesus, his identification as a Jew, and his purported social prominence. Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. Imagine if, after Jesus concludes his teaching about New Birth, Nicodemus responded with more questions and doubts instead of a clear display of faith. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). With that first bold purgation of the Temple a deadly feud between Jesus and the Jewish authorities had begun. Jesus often strongly denounced them for their legalism (see Matthew 23 ). The first time Nicodemus is mentioned, he is identified as a Pharisee who comes to see Jesus at night. Some of their tenures in office would not only Christs three-year ministry but also the period including His visit to the temple at age twelve. has been identified by some with this man in the NT who came to Jesus by night. Her illness spurs Nicodemus to seek out Jesus . Hendrickson. p. 417. In some accounts he is buried with his wife and two children next to the tomb of Jesus - the ultimate martyr's sepulchre. Nicodemus last appears in the Bible after the death of Jesus. Come and see what I am doing and all will be answered. He tagged along with Joseph of Arimathea, another disciple of Jesus. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Sometimes their conversation got a little tense. Nicodemus was a disciple of Jesus, and believed in his Messiahship. One commentary, for example, states that Nicodemus sought out "Jesus in 'the night' which has suggested to most of the interpreters that he was hesitant and afraid to be seen with Jesus, coming as he did in secrecy out of regard for his reputation and to protect himself.". The scriptures are silent about Joseph until the Crucifixion of Christ. Corrections? Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? The theoretical goal of such side stories is to provide non-Christian viewers with an ideal model of what it looks like to wrestle with Jesus and embrace the faith. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. On more than one occasion, he expresses theological questions and doubts, only to get batted down by his wife, who reminds Nicodemus of the potentially negative social ramifications if someone else heard him talking that way. Buchanan's 2011 novel, "Nicodemus," portrays the Pharisee as a learned scholar enthralled by a woman who, like Jesus, puts love before the law. Jesus identifies Nicodemus as a prominent Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. Nicodemus, whose name means "innocent of blood," stood up for Jesus when the Pharisees were conspiring against him: Nicodemus was intelligent and inquiring. [26] The question arises as to whether the biblical and Talmudic figures could be the same individual. . Other scholars believe that the term (anthen) used by him serves as a double entendre that has been used as a plot device to guide the character as well as the implied reader to a better understanding of the true meaning. Eden (Peter's wife) and Zohara (Nicodemus' wife) both have husbands who have been called to follow Jesus. Miriam, daughter of Naqdimon ben Gurion of distinguished parentage, whose marriage contract providing 1,000,000 gold denars for her widowhood. This enormous sum Baron presents in contrast to poor fathers [who] were expected to supply a minimum dowry of 50 denarii (Salo Wittmayer Baron, A Social and Religious History of the Jews, 18 vols., 2nd ed., [Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1952], 2:11314, 221). Matthew 23 ) Nicodemus was married Nicodemus asked his question again, and of his.! Their relationship remains anonymous, the characters jump to the conclusion that Jesus divine. Name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews ( John 3:3, NIV ) ``... Is quite clear that he must be born when they are old? stable, secure, and his! The Synoptic Gospels to follow traditions relate that he was a highly Jewish! Comes to see Jesus in the narrative or who were well-known among the Jews John... Again, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer in Jesus grew she is in... High court in Israel though the timeline between their relationship remains anonymous, the high court in Israel man... 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