Why Did Nicodemus Come To Jesus At Night

Why Did Nicodemus Come to Jesus at Night?

There was a guy named Nicodemus who belonged to the Pharisees and who was a ruler over the Jews at the time. This man came to Jesus in the middle of the night and told him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God, for no one can do the signs that you perform unless God is there with him.’ When he asked Jesus about it, he was told, “Truly, truly, I tell to you, unless one is born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:1-3, NIV) Nicodemus paid a surprise visit to Jesus in the middle of the night.

Why?

First and foremost, Nicodemus was one of around 6,000 Pharisees in existence at the time, persons who had been set apart to uphold the teachings of the Lord.

At the time of the writing of this, he held tremendous religious, social, and political influence, all of which would have kept him quite busy during the day.

The covert operation can be explained by the risk factor, but not by the motivation.
Because he was not only a Pharisee in name only; he was a true zealot for the cause of the Messiah.
Nicodemus was affected by the Savior’s teachings and deeds, even though he did not fully comprehend the significance of what he had witnessed.
In which case, we arrive at the final component of this puzzle: While the first two chapters are concerned with the character of Nicodemus, the third is concerned with the character of Jesus.
His light continues to shine in the darkness, allowing his children to perceive the truth about him, themselves, and the world in which they are immersed.
Every aspect of his persona was based on his stature as a teacher and scholar, on his reputation as a good man, and on his commitment to following the Lord.
Despite the fact that Nicodemus was eager for a greater understanding of the Lord, he went to Jesus in the middle of the night because he was scared of being seen, both physically and symbolically.

Nicodemus, on the other hand, will rapidly discover that there is nothing safe about Jesus.

“But he is kind,” the Beaver said.

It will not be safe, but it will be incredibly beneficial.

He sees you, he knows who you are, and he loves you for who you are.

We’d love to hear your opinions on this in the comments section.

Throughout his first letter, John wrestles with the question of whether or not he is saved.

Following the teachings of the Apostle John, you can have complete peace of mind by believing in the incarnate Son of God, living in the light of obedience, and loving God and his children. Join us as we begin this research project today! Comments will be reviewed and approved before they are shown.

Why at Night?

In the Gospels, A.Nicodemus occurs three times, the first of which is recorded in John 3. You are referring to the first appearance, which is documented in John 3. A clear depiction of the route to salvation is provided through the discourse between Christ and Nicodemus recorded in this text. It is possible that this Scripture text has been utilized more often than any other in witnessing to the unbelievers by believers down through the generations. According to this narrative, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus in the middle of the night.

Perhaps the most common theory is that he was just terrified that his colleagues would discover him with Jesus in his presence.
In this passage, Joseph is characterized as a hidden follower of Jesus, who was hiding from the Jews because he was scared of them.
Another plausible explanation is that evening was the most convenient time in both Jesus’ and Nicodemus’ schedules at the time of their encounter.
Nevertheless, He always made time for individuals, even if it meant spending time with someone like Nicodemus at a time when everyone else was asleep.
Or to put it another way, was it possible for anything or anybody good to originate from a low-class town like Nazareth (cf.
As a result, he met with Him while no one else was there.
Or was it Jesus, whom he was attempting to safeguard?

A third explanation given is that the Jews believed it was spiritually beneficial to read the Scriptures late into the night, an argument that is either less well known or does not have as much backing as the other two.

However, it is quite unlikely that the other two narratives would make any note of this information if it were of no significance.

One intriguing observation is that throughout his Gospel, John places a strong emphasis on the contrast between light and darkness.

“Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

That is a significant verse in relation to this topic.

Do you have any comments or a Bible question you’d like to submit? Send your Bible-related questions to [email protected] or mail them to Norman A. Olson, c/o the Baptist Bulletin, 1300 N. Meacham Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173-4806, attention: Norman A. Olson.

Nicodemus Comes To Jesus By Night

During our recent study, the Holy Spirit has been communicating to us about faith — specifically, about believing in Jesus. Earlier in John 2, the Holy Spirit informed us about John and Andrew following and conversing with Jesus, and how they came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah as a consequence of their experiences. Furthermore, they were joined in their belief by their brothers, Peter Philip and Nathaniel. Nathanel was the only one who believed because of a sign, whilst the other four were convinced because of what they heard.

He has the ability to do miracles!

As a consequence, they placed their trust in Him.

They thought He was capable of doing miracles, but did they truly believe?

Nicodemus Comes To Jesus By Night

In addition to the Jewish authorities, a Jewish rabbi by the name of Nicodemus seems to have been there when Jesus performed miracles and signs. Our first lesson of this subject teaches us that Nicodemus was an adherent of the Pharisees and a leader of Jewish society. Now there was a man of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, who was a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus in the middle of the 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 present with them.” 3:1-2 (John 3:1-2) (NASB) The title “ruler of the Jews” refers to his position as a member of the Sanhedrin Council of the Jewish community.

The Sanhedrin Council was the most important religious authority in the Jewish nation at the time of its establishment.
According to John 3:10, Nicodemus was also a teacher of the people of Israel.
Nicodemus was not your typical Jewish guy, to put it mildly.
He was certain that God was present with Jesus, and he want to learn more.
Nicodemus, on the other hand, did not appear to desire to be seen by the other Pharisees and/or members of the Sanhedrin Council, according to the evidence.
That was not what he did.
Throughout the text, we learn that the Pharisees were opposed to Jesus and were exerting pressure on the other members of the group who were beginning to believe in Him.

they not only follow the same pattern, but they also provide enthusiastic support to others who follow it.

We exert pressure on others to think and act in the same way that we do.

As a result, we apply pressure and confront them in a courteous manner.

The Pharisees were engaging in the same practice.

They would slander your reputation with the intent of ruining you as a result of it.

One book in particular must be trusted by all of us, and that book is the Bible.

Because God has spoken to us via the pages of that book.

It is ultimately the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sins and leads us into the light of knowledge (John 16:13).

If we don’t, we risk coercing others into complying with our demands without actually altering their beliefs.

As a result, it indicates that Nicodemus was aware of the danger of being associated with Jesus. As a result, he did not want anybody to be aware that he was paying a visit to Jesus. As a result, he arrived at night.

You Must Be Born Again

We are not told about their first words of greeting or their first hugs with one other. Jesus made no mention of His ministry or the way in which God had used Him. He was not discussing the number of people who attended Sunday School, the yearly church budget, how many activities the church offered, or the most recent construction program of His church with this Pharisee, among other things. Jesus was not a person who took pride in his accomplishments or measured his success by worldly standards.

It was a question regarding the most important thing in Nicodemus’ life — his everlasting fate – and it was a difficult one to answer.
It was necessary for him to be created from above.
The phrase “born again” was used by Jesus.
It is also used by Christians to refer to “true” Christians, however the phrase “born from above” should be used instead of “born again,” as it is more accurate.
Consequently, it appears that he confronted Jesus in a friendly manner.
How can he possibly enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, isn’t that true?” 3:4 (John 3:4) (NASB) Nicodemus simply happened to miss it.
When we tell others about Jesus, this is a common occurrence.

Born of Water And The Spirit

As a result, Jesus attempted to assist him. According to Jesus’ response: “Truthfully, really, I say to you, unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” 3:5 (John 3:5) (NASB) It might be difficult to comprehend what Jesus is saying here. Consequently, we would want to take a moment to pause and analyze this verse before moving further. We’re interested in learning what Jesus was getting at. Consider yourself to be Nicodemus for a brief while. You’ve been keeping an eye on John the Baptist and Jesus for quite some time.

First and foremost, you would have witnessed Jesus performing miracles and signs.
Jesus performed miracles and signs, according to John 2:1-12 and 23.
The baptism of John and Jesus’ disciples, on the other hand, was about repentance rather than salvation.
His baptism served as a preparation for entering the kingdom.
Matthew 3:11 (KJV) (NASB) Baptism was all about repentance, after all!
According to Mark 1:5 (NASB), baptism was a sign of purity, as shown in John 3:25 and 26.
Water had no effect on anyone’s spiritual well-being.

Living water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, according to the teaching of John 7:37-39.

John and Jesus did not practice Christian baptism at the time.

As a result, the emphasis in John 3:5 is on the water rather than the act of baptism.

Water was used to allude to the purification from sin (Hebrews 1:3; 2 Peter 1:9), and as we have previously mentioned, live water is used to refer to the Holy Spirit in John 7:37-39 (see also John 7:38).

Consequently, being born from above (John 3:3) leads in being cleaned of our sins and being regenerated and recreated by the Holy Spirit, as described in John 3:3.

How can we be sure that this is what Jesus was referring to when he said In the course of the rest of His words, Jesus really provides us with the solution.

Do not be surprised that I told you that you “must be reborn” in order to survive.

3:6-8 (John 3:6-8).

He is just referring to the Holy Spirit.

The new birth – the birth from above – can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit and only via the Holy Spirit. He arrives and vanishes in a flash. He saves us at the time and place of His choosing.

How Can These Things Be?

Nicodemus, on the other hand, remained perplexed. He couldn’t comprehend how a person could join the kingdom of God without first performing some sort of action. From his earliest memories, Nicodemus had been taught, and he had taught others, that the only way to gain entrance into God’s kingdom was to do good deeds that gained God’s favor. As a result, he was taken aback by what he had heard from Jesus. “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus inquired of Him. John 3:9 (NASB) And Jesus swiftly admonished him to consider his options further.

Indeed, I say to you, we tell of what is known to us and testify to what we have witnessed, yet you refuse to believe our words or accept our evidence.” 3:10–11 (John 3:10–11) (NASB) What was it about Jesus’ remarks about being born from above that caused this highly educated and well-respected religious man so much consternation?

It is the word “we” that contains the first half of the solution to our queries.
He repeated himself three times.
The “we” appears to allude to both John the Baptist and Jesus, given that they had been ministering together at the time of this verse.
Both of them were aware of what was going on.
What was Jesus’ goal in all of this?
Nicodemus was being persuaded to believe in Jesus by Jesus’ explanations.
What would you say if someone came up to you and asked you about Jesus?
Is it possible for you to inform him that Jesus was both God and man?

Years ago, I asked a Christian for advice and received the following response: “I would recommend that they come to our church.” According to another, “I would advise them to study the Bible.” Alternatively, “I would suggest that he/she speak with the preacher.” Despite the fact that these reactions are excellent, they are not the greatest solution.

I’m not sure how you’ll react if I tell you heavenly things and you don’t trust me since I told you worldly things first.
John 3:12-13 is a biblical passage (NASB) To begin, Jesus used an earthly metaphor, but Nicodemus could not grasp the significance of it.
Occasionally, when Christians spread the good news of Jesus, we have a tendency to overcomplicate things.
What men and women need to know, though, is: who is Jesus Christ?
All of these other activities are really distractions.
He wants us to discuss evolution or abortion, among other things.
After capturing Nicodemus’ attention, Jesus reminded him of Moses’ snake, which he remembered.
John 3:14-15 is a passage from the Bible (NASB) Nicodemus was aware of the occurrences recorded in Numbers 21:4-9.
As a result, Jesus tells him that Moses created a bronze snake and raised it over his head.

Jesus was emphasizing the point that they were rescued from the serpents because they had faith. As a result, any man and woman can be saved simply by placing their faith in the Son of Man — Jesus. Each and every one of them who believe will enjoy eternal life.

Whoever Believes In Him Shall Not Perish

Nicodemus must have realized that Jesus was referring to Himself when he asked the question. It is only reasonable that he would have been perplexed as to how and why Jesus would be raised from the dead. Consequently, Jesus informs Nicodemus that God loves the entire universe, which includes him. In fact, God loved the world so much that He gave His only born Son, so that whomever believes in Him will not perish but would have eternal life with Him. John 3:16 is a biblical passage that teaches that God is love (NASB) As a result, God sent His one-of-a-kind Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world.

However, this is owing to a mistranslation of the Greek term MONOGENES, which should have been translated as “uniqueness.” Interestingly, this identical Greek term is also used in Hebrews 11:17 to describe Abraham’s son Isaac as “the only begotten,” yet Abraham had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael, who were both born to Abraham.

This indicates that the translation of “only begotten” should be “one and only” or “unique,” rather than “only begotten.” According to the New International Version, Jesus is the “one and only Son.” God nailed His one-of-a-kind Son to the cross in order to ensure that everyone who believes in, trusts on, or depends on Him will survive into the centuries to come.

It entails placing one’s trust in Jesus.
Consider every chapter in the New Testament that has anything to say about how a person comes to believe in Jesus Christ and you’ll realize that the single criteria, which is repeated again and time again, is that we must believe in, rely on, or trust in Him.
Genuine trust in Jesus is followed by repentance, confession, and baptism.
Faith and godly repentance are two aspects of the same process.

Conclusion

A notion or a fact can be best explained by saying it several times in different ways, or by repeating the concept several times. As a result, Jesus does this. It is important to remember that God did not bring His Son into the world so that He might judge the world, but so that the world may be rescued through Him. His followers are not judged; nevertheless, those who do not believe have already been judged, since they have not placed their faith in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the only born Son of God.

Because everyone who does evil despises the Light and is afraid of coming to the Light for fear that his sins would be exposed, no one who does evil will come to the Light.
3:17–21 (John 3:17) (NASB) Jesus’ message was straightforward.
“How are we going to get away?” is the question.
The only way to do so is to put your faith in Jesus.
Nicodemus could only have eternal life if he followed a specific path.
If he did nothing, he would be judged on the other side of eternity, which would be devastating.
He was now in conversation with Jesus, the one and only Son of God.

He had to come to believe that Jesus was God and repent in order to receive pardon.

It all boils down to trust, and nothing else!

This pious ruler, teacher, and Pharisee was eventually persuaded to trust in Jesus when his heart bowed the knee of faith.

In order to follow Jesus, he was willing to give up his position and status within the Jewish community.

When Nicodemus heard Jesus speak, he was convinced by his words and came to believe in him.

Do you realize that God loves you and is inviting you to Himself even though you have never professed faith in Jesus Christ?

If you already believe in Jesus, are you sharing your faith with others by informing them about the one-of-a-kind Son of God? In the Bible, Jesus is known as the Light of the World. Come, believe in the Light, and assist Him in illuminating a dark world.

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Thursday Thought – Why did Nicodemus visit Jesus at night?

The meeting between Jesus and the Jewish teacher Nicodemus is recorded in the third chapter of the New Testament book of John. In this episode, they discuss what it means to be born again, how to enter the kingdom of heaven, the difference between earthly and heavenly things, Jesus’ identity as the Son of Man and His lifting up, God’s love for mankind, God’s righteous judgment and forgiveness of mankind, and the sinful patterns of men and women. However, it begins in verse two with the statement “This man came to JesusBY NIGHTand spoke to Him.” What prompted Nicodemus to visit Jesus in the middle of the night?

Were they absent because Jesus was preoccupied and unreachable during the daytime? Were these events brought about by Nicodemus’s inability to locate Jesus until that night, despite his efforts throughout the day
Did Nicodemus avoid meeting with Jesus because he didn’t want to be seen doing so? Were the circumstances favorable because Jesus made Himself available at night in order to gain Nicodemus’ full attention for this crucial discourse

I’m sorry, but I don’t have an answer for this question. However, I find it interesting to think about the subject. It serves as a reminder to me that Jesus is all about connections. He enjoys meeting with individuals just as much as he enjoys meeting with huge groups of people. It serves as a reminder to me that meeting with Jesus is crucial, whether it is scheduled or spontaneous, in the morning or at night, in public or in private. Nicodemus accomplished this in a physical manner. This is something we can accomplish today via prayer, reading Scripture, teaching people about Jesus, and allowing the Holy Spirit to operate in those around us.

By clicking on the link below, you can submit your prayer requests for consideration.

3. Nicodemus Meets Jesus (John 3)

The main point is that we must all be reborn. Key Verse: “You must all be born again,” I say, and you shouldn’t be astonished by my statement. – John 3:7 (NIV) Props include a captain’s hat and a life jacket.

Background/Review

PPT CUE is an abbreviation for PowerPoint CUE. Who can tell me what the meaning of the word Emmanuel is? Say:Emmanuel is a Greek word that signifies “God with us.” (See Matthew 1:23 for further information.) This was the ideal name for Jesus because, while He has always been and will continue to be God, He chose to take on a human body in order to come to be with us on earth. The ability to see Him, touch Him, talk to Him, and listen to Him was available to everyone. Last week, we looked at Jesus as a kid, and this week, we looked at Him as a mature man.

A Visitor In The Night (John 3:1-20)

Ask:Who brought their Bible with them today? Say:I LOVE seeing you with your Bibles. Now, I am about to say something I hardly ever say. For the next few minutes, do not open your Bibles! Okay, all Bibles closed. Ask:Who can recite John 3:16, without looking it up? Teacher: Call on a student to stand and say the verse. Thank your volunteer. Say:John 3:16 is probably the most famous verse in the Bible. People put it on billboards, and they hold it up at ball games. It is a great verse about God’s love for us and how we can be made right with Him if we put our trust in Jesus.

Ask:Again, without looking, who can tell me what Bible story John 3:16 is from?

Nicodemus Meets Jesus

PPT CUENicodemus was a religious leader who belonged to the Jewish faith. He belonged to a religious sect known as the Pharisees. These folks were well-versed in the laws of God. They were adamant that the Jewish people should adhere to the law and not become like the non-Jewish people who lived in their immediate vicinity. This might appear to be a positive development, yet they had grown conceited in their hearts. They were pleased with themselves because they were God’s chosen people, and they were pleased with themselves because they understood so much about God’s law.

The Pharisees made the error of believing that God was pleased with them since they followed all of the laws (Matthew 5:20).
Due to their extensive knowledge of God’s word, the Pharisees were well aware that God had promised to send the Messiah.
They expected the Messiah to arrive in a regal robe, not swaddling garments, as they had anticipated.
They also took pleasure in the authority they possessed as leaders.
Consider what the Bible has to say about a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus.
Unless you have a copy of the “red letter edition,” the words spoken by Jesus will be written in red ink.
He was a member of the Jewish ruling class.

We are confident that God is with you.

It’s late at night.

Perhaps he wanted to remain hidden so that no one would notice him.

Nicodemus did not want the other Pharisees to find out that he had gone to meet Jesus because he did not want them to judge him.

Nicodemus must have had a lot of guts to even attempt to leave the city!

Nicodemus most likely pondered what to say to Jesus for a lengthy period of time.

According to the Bible, Jesus has the ability to read the hearts of mankind (Matthew 9:4, 12:25).

Jesus said, “It is not my will that you should perish, but that I should rise up on your behalf.” “What I’m going to tell you is completely accurate.

He was taught by Jesus that he needed to be “born again.” It is possible to say that the original terms for “born again” were “born from above” (according to Strong’s concordance).

“How is it possible for me to be born when I am old?” Nicodemus inquired.

I’m not going to be able to have a second birth!” Jesus responded by saying, “What I’m going to tell you is completely accurate.

It is people who give birth to other people.

When I say, ‘You must all be born again,’ don’t be startled if you hear me say it.

This is the process of receiving a new life from God.

Nicodemus would have been well aware of this.

God promised them that one day He would wipe away the filth of their sin with the cleansing power of water.

Water represented the remission of sins (John 13:8-11), and the Spirit would provide them with a new and abundant life (John 15:11).

Jesus also made it plain that this new birth could not be brought about by Nicodemus’ efforts, but that it could only be brought about by God’s grace (John 3:6).

And I will give you a new heart, and I will infuse you with a new spirit as a result.

Ezekiel 36:25-27: “And I will put my Spirit in you, so that you will follow my decrees and be cautious to keep my laws.” NLTSay: Nicodemus had been taught his entire life to think that he might earn God’s approval by following a set of predetermined guidelines.

“How is this possible?” he inquired once again of Jesus.

“What part of this do you not understand?

He referred to himself as the “Son of Man,” which was a title given to the Messiah, whom the Jews had been looking forward to for centuries (John 3:13, Daniel 7:13).

God, in His benevolence, provided a means for His people to be protected from the fatal snake bites.

Everyone who glanced at the snake would not perish as a result of their actions.

There was no other option for saving one’s life.

The only way for individuals to be saved from the consequences of their sin would be for them to place their faith in Him.

Anyone who believes in Him will not perish, but will instead be granted eternal life in His presence.

In order to save the world via His Son, he sent his Son.

Anyone who does not believe, on the other hand, has already been judged.

– John 3:16-18 (New International Version) Everyone is guilty of transgressing against the will of God.

This applies to EVERYONE, not just you (Romans 5:12).

God has promised Nicodemus that EVERYONE who puts their faith in Him will be SAVED from the punishment they deserve, and that they will no longer be cut off from His presence.

Teacher: Inviting around 8 volunteers is a good idea.

Consider the following scenario: a group of individuals has been shipwrecked on a desert island.

What would happen to these folks if they were deprived of food and water?

Don’t lose sight of the fact that they will all perish unless they are saved immediately.

One day, a rescue boat arrives on the island to assist the survivors.

The boat is large enough to accommodate all of the islanders and their belongings.

They must have faith that the boat will transport them to safety, and they must climb on board the boat.

Each individual has the option of deciding whether or not to board the rescue boat.

After then, a rescue boat arrived.

Those who did not make it onto the boat will perish as a result.

Optional presentation, without the participation of volunteers: Consider the scenario of a group of people who have been shipwrecked and are stranded on a desert island.

Inquire as to what would happen to the people if they were deprived of food and water.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that they will all perish unless they are saved immediately.

One day, a rescue boat arrives on the island to assist the survivors.

Inquire as to what each individual must do in order to be rescued by the boat in question.

In other words, there is only ONE way to be rescued.

Some folks may decide that they do not want to get on the boat.

However, a rescue boat arrived.

Those who did not make it onto the boat will perish as a result.

The regulations that Nicodemus had been following may be lifted off his shoulders.

He said, “The verdict is in.” Although light has been brought into the world, individuals have preferred darkness over light.

Everyone who engages in wicked deeds despises the light.

They are concerned that what they are doing will be observed.

He does this so that it will be clear that he has accomplished his goals with the assistance of God.

If so, tell me about it.

Once I’ve determined that the infection is present, I have two options.

As a result, it’s quite unpleasant to look at, and I’m embarrassed to reveal what I done.

The infection would spread throughout your body, causing you to become quite ill.

Our sin is quite similar to that illness.

(John 8:12).

When we recognize that we have a sin issue, we may either choose to go to Jesus and ask him to forgive us, or we can choose to cover up our sin by turning away from Jesus.

However, we must have more faith than that.

In Jesus, God has fully fulfilled every promise He has ever made about the Messiah that He would send, including the one that He made about Himself.

Our inherent state is that we are guilty of sin and that we shall suffer as a result of our actions.

Putting your faith in Him will result in your salvation!

When you receive this new life, you are reborn into your old body.

– John 3:7 (NIV) PPT CUE: Main Point The main point is that we must all be reborn.

We can scarcely realize the difficulties which he had to overcome.

But, even so, we cannot wonder that he should have wished to shroud his first visit in the utmost possible secrecy.

With that first bold purgation of the Temple a deadly feud between Jesus and the Jewish authorities had begun, of which the sequel could not be doubtful.

Nevertheless, Nicodemus came.

Did he believe what he was hearing?

If he truly believed it, he did so in private.

No!” The following lyrics provide evidence that he may have secretly believed what he was saying: In response to Nicodemus’ question, who had previously gone to Jesus and who was one of their own, Jesus said, “Does our law condemn someone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” (See also John 7:50-51) Nicodemus did not defend Jesus, but he did advise that Jesus should be given the opportunity to defend himself at the very least once.

Following our Lord’s death on the cross, we are given more evidence that Nicodemus may have come to place his confidence in Jesus.
Because of his dread of the Jews, Joseph continued to follow Jesus in secret for a while.
He was joined by Nicodemus, the man who had previously visited Jesus in the middle of the night.
The two of them covered Jesus’ corpse in strips of linen, together with the spices, before burying it.
– John 19:38-40 (NASB) Joseph, a secret disciple of Christ, was with Nicodemus when the incident occurred.
Nicodemus and Jesus may have even met in secret before Jesus’ death to debate His teachings, or it may have been only after Jesus’ death on the cross that Nicodemus came to completely believe in Jesus’ teachings.
Perhaps it was at that point that Nicodemus realized that Jesus had not come for selfish gain, but rather to offer His life as a ransom for many.
What’s more, it would appear that by this point, Nicodemus was prepared to risk everything, including his reputation and even his Pharisee position, in order to care for Jesus’ body.
A blasphemer, in their opinion, would not be entitled to a decent Jewish burial.
It is only permitted to be duplicated for personal, charitable, and non-commercial purposes.

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Nicodemus – Wikipedia

SaintNicodemus
Nicodemus helping to take down Jesus’ body from the cross (The Deposition, byMichelangelo)
Defender of Christ
Born	Galilee
Died	Judea
Venerated in	The Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchOriental Orthodox ChurchAnglican ChurchLutheran Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	2 August (Eastern Orthodox ChurchByzantine-rite Catholic Churches) 3 August (Roman-rite Catholic Church)Third Sunday ofPascha(Eastern Orthodox ChurchByzantine-rite Catholic Churches) 31 August (Roman-rite Catholic Church)
Attributes	Pharisee
Patronage	Curiosity

Nicodemus (; Greek: o, translit.Nikódmos) was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, and he is named in the Gospel of John in three different places:

He initially comes to Jesus in the middle of the night to discuss Jesus’ teachings (John 3:1–21)
Then he meets Jesus again the next day to discuss Jesus’ teachings (John 3:1–21). It is the second time that Nicodemus is said that he tells his fellow members of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court system) that the law demands that a person be heard before being condemned (John 7:50–51)
The final character to appear is Nicodemus, who arrives after theCrucificationof Jesus to bring the traditional embalming spices and to assistJoseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial (John 19:39–42).

It is believed that an apocryphal work bearing his name—theGospel of Nicodemus—was written in the mid-4th century, and it is mostly a reworking of the earlierActs of Pilate, which describes theHarrowing of Hell. Ochser and Kohler (in an article in The Jewish Encyclopedia) and other historians have argued that Nicodemus may be the same person asNicodemus ben Gurion, who is recorded in the Talmud as a wealthy and popular holy man claimed to have had magical powers. Those who disagree with this interpretation point out that the biblical Nicodemus was probably an older man at the time of his encounter with Jesus, whereas Nicodemus ben Gurion arrived on the scene 40 years later, during the Jewish War.

In John’s Gospel

Nicodemus, like Lazarus, does not belong to the tradition of the Synoptic Gospels and is only addressed by John, who devotes more than half of Chapter 3of his gospel and a few lines of Chapter 7to Nicodemus, and who references him for the final time inChapter 19. It is revealed that Nicodemus is a Pharisee who comes to visit Jesus in the middle of the night the first time he is mentioned. According to the scriptures, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to participate in the Passover festival. The moneychangers from the temple were ejected and their tables were thrown to the ground during his visit to Jerusalem.

Because no one could achieve the miracles you are performing unless God was present with them.” (See also John 3:2).

Then there’s a dialogue with Nicodemus about what it means to be “born again” or “born from above” (Greek: v) and what it means in practical terms: In his discussion with Nicodemus, the idea of being actually born again from one’s mother’s womb is explored; nonetheless, most theologians agree that Nicodemus understood Jesus was not speaking about literal rebirth.

‘You cannot mean that a guy is going to be born for the second time after entering his mother’s womb the first time.
In response to the “ateacher of Israel,” Jesus expresses amazement, possibly sarcastically, that he does not comprehend the notion of spiritual rebirth: 3:10–11 (John 3:10-11.) Is it possible that you are a master of Israel and are unaware of these things?
KJV Nicodemus is described by James F.
In Chapter 7, Nicodemus counsels his colleagues, who are referred to as “the chief priests and the Pharisees,” to listen carefully and thoroughly before reaching a judgment on Jesus.
Nonetheless, it seems likely that he had some kind of influence on the Sanhedrin during his time there.

Nicodemus must have been a wealthy man, according to Pope Benedict XVI, who writes in his bookJesus of Nazareth: Holy Week that “the quantity of thebalm is enormous and transcends all natural proportions, indicating that this is a royal funeral.”

Veneration and liturgical commemoration

Nicodemus is revered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Churches as well as the Catholic Church. Several churches, including the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine-rite Catholic churches, commemorate Nicodemus on theSunday of the Myrrhbearers, which is celebrated on theThird Sunday of Pascha (i.e., the second Sunday after Easter), as well as 2 August, the date on which it is believed that his relics, as well as those of Stephen the Protomartyr and Gamaliel, were discovered. The feast of the discovery of their remains is commemorated on the next day, August 3, according to the traditional Roman-rite Catholic liturgical calendar.

In Ramla, the Franciscan Order built a church dedicated to Saints Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea under the patronage of the saints.

Legacy

Nicodemus appears significantly in medieval images of the Deposition, in which he and Joseph of Arimathea are seen taking the dead Christ from the cross, typically with the assistance of a ladder, and burying him in the tomb. Like Joseph, Nicodemus became the subject of several religious traditions during the Middle Ages, notably in association with massive crosses, which he shared with Joseph. His carvings of theHoly Face of Lucca and theBatlló Crucifix were said to have been aided by angels, with the face in particular receiving divine help, and therefore becoming examples ofacheiropoieta (angelic assistance).

In poetry

The presence of Nicodemus in Henry Vaughan’s poem “The Night” is essential because it helps to develop the poem’s description of the night’s connection with God.

In music

In the Lutheran prescribed readings of the 18th century, the gospel passage of Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus in the middle of the night was allocated to the Sunday before Trinity. Johann Sebastian Bach produced many cantatas for the event, the most notable of which being O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165, composed in 1715 and based on a libretto by the court poet in Weimar, Salomo Franck, and remaining faithful to the gospel. In 1937, Ernst Pepping produced an Evangelienmotette (moteton gospel text) for the characters Jesus and Nikodemus.

Tim Curry recorded a cover version of the song for his debut album, Read My Lips, in 1978.

A very casual version of the connection between Nicodemus and Jesus may be found in the song “Help Yourself” by The Devil Makes Three, which is available on iTunes. Nicodemus is mentioned in the second stanza of the song “Help yourself,” which was performed by The Devil Makes Three (band).

In literature

In Persuaded: The Story of Nicodemus, author David Harder tells the story of Nicodemus, a real fictitious character from Greek history. With the goal of maintaining historical and scriptural accuracy, Harder based his novel on events and timetables found in the pages of the Passion Translationversion of the Bible. He also brought biblical characters to life in a realistic story with the goal of keeping his book historically and scripturally accurate.

During the Protestant vs. Catholic struggle

A person adhering to a Church other than the one that was prominent in a region during the fight between Protestants and Catholics in Europe from the 16th century to the 18th century ran the risk of harsh punishment – and in many cases, the chance of losing their lives. As a result of this development, the word ” Nicodemite ” came to be used, which is often a derogatory term to refer to someone who is accused of publicly misrepresenting their genuine religious views by showing deceptive appearances and concealing true convictions.

United States

In particular, the descriptive term ” born again “, which is used to describe salvation or baptism by certain organizations, and John 3:16, which is frequently referenced to characterize God’s plan of salvation, may be traced back to Jesus’ conversation with him. He was a figure of rebirth for African-Americans after the Civil War, writes Daniel Burke, as they strove to shed their former status as slaves. Rosamond Rodman claims that liberated slaves who relocated to Nicodemus, Kansas, following the Civil War gave their town the name “Nicodemus” in honor of the former slave owner.

evoked the biblical figure of Nicodemus as a metaphor for the need for the United States to be “reborn” in order to successfully confront social and economic inequalities.

Gallery

Nicodemus as depicted in art
Jesus and Nicodemus by Crijn Hendricksz, 1616–1645
Cima da Conegliano, Nicodemus with Christ’s body, Apostle John on the right and Mary to the left
Tanner – Nicodemus coming to Christ II
Cima da Conegliano, Nico

References

Cornel Heinsdorff: Christus, Nikodemus, and the Samaritanerin in the city of Juvencus. Cornel Heinsdorff: With an Annotation on the Lateinische Evangelienvorlage (= Untersuchungen zur antiken Literatur und Geschichte, Bd.67), Berlin/New York 2003
With an Annotation on the Lateinische Evangelienvorlage (= Untersuchungen zur antiken Literatur und Geschichte, Bd.67), Berlin/New York 2003

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNicodemus.

Nicodemus is mentioned in the Jewish Encyclopedia and Butler’s Lives of the Saints as “St. Nicodemus.”