During the conversation, Jesus explains the nature of the kingdom of God and teaches Nicodemus how to enter it through water and spirit. At this Feast of Tabernacles the scriptures next mention Nicodemus as he sits in this meeting of the Sanhedrin. 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. Elder Bruce R. McConkie sets the scene: Our Lord has driven from the Temple Court the sacrificial animals, probably numbering in the thousands; has used a scourge of small cords upon the carnal men who made merchandise in his Fathers House; and has extended his own arm of healing to bless and cure manyand all Jerusalem is aware of the miracles he has done.[2]. Modern evangelical culture has a particularly strong attachment to the idea of a personal relationship with God. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). She is an invented character, but she represents a perspective that is historically plausible. Meanwhile, Zohara discourages Nicodemus from his spiritual struggle and questioning. He is typically, but not always, paired with Joseph of Arimathea, who together with Nicodemus carries the body of Jesus. However, Yussif, a Pharisee that is interested in Jesus, writes a letter to Nicodemus about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. John does tell us that he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews (John 19:38). I'm intrigued to find out and can't wait for season 2. What Does the Bible Tell Us About Nicodemus? Demetrios Troy as Lazarus: a friend of Jesus, Mary, and His followers. Reflecting on The Chosen Season 3 & Anticipating Season 4: What Worked & What to Fix, The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 7 & 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Quintus, Gaius, Atticus, and the Romans in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Pontius Pilate & his Wife in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. The Gospel According to John identifies him as a Pharisee, a leader of the Jews, and a teacher of Israel and portrays him in discussion with the chief priests on Jesus fate. But Jesus wasn't like most rabbis. First, John calls attention to how Nicodemus' meeting with Jesus is at night (i.e. We know from John 3 that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night with a question. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Besides cowardice, there are other possible explanations why Nicodemus would seek an audience with Jesus at night. [5] McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 1:471. when it wouldn't be noticed). According to the scripture, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. [17] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:316. One would have thought that under the circumstances, Nicodemus, with his position, learning, and wealth, if his coming were motivated by idle curiosity or timid discipleship, would have ended the conversation at this point. 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. The Gospel of John says Nicodemus was a "Pharisee" and a "ruler of the Jews" (John 3:1). . It is believed that he was somewhat elderly, based on the first question he posed to Jesus: How can anyone be born after having grown old? (John 3:4). Nicodemus asked. When Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus and Joseph were present. Joseph of Arimathea, Donor of Jesus' Tomb, John 3:16 -- The Most Popular Bible Verse, The Gospel Truth About How to Get to Heaven, Meet Matthew the Apostle, Ex-Tax Collector, The Ultimate List of Christmas Bible Verses to Celebrate Jesus' Birth, Holy Week Timeline: From Palm Sunday to the Resurrection, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University, Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." Nina Leon as Salome: the wife of Zebedee and the mother of Big James and John. Peter's decision to follow Jesus is encouraged strongly by Eden. 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. After all, he only shows up in one Gospel (John) and only makes a handful of appearances: the well known "Born Again" conversation (John 3:1-21), in a brief argument with the Sanhedrin about whether Jesus should get a full hearing (John 7:45-52), and at the burial of Jesus, to which he brings an exorbitant amount of spices (John 19:38-42). Most likely, Nicodemus came by night, not out of fear, but to avoid the crowds that would have interrupted his interview with Jesus. [29], Chandler links the biblical and the historical Nicodemus based on wealth, name, and position: We know from the Gospel account of him that he possessed great riches, and that he used nearly a hundred pounds of myrrh and spices for the burial of Christ. 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. Finally, John associates Nicodemus with Joseph of Arimathea, who is described as "a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38). In the Bible, Nicodemus was an important figure who visited Jesus during the evening, and accompanied him to the cross. I hope you enjoy them! Nicodemus first appears in the Bible in John 3, when he sought out Jesus by night. He referred to Jesus as a man of God and sought to investigate his character. I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1981, and grew up in Southwest Ohio by way of Upstate New York. [30] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:319; emphasis added. In order to understand what was happening when she is mentioned in Scripture here is Matthew 27:15-19. Pontius Pilate's wife appears in only one passage in the Bible, which is Matthew 27:19. Now, I like the faith vs. fear arc in Nicodemus' character. He even helped anoint Jesus body. [24] Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1874), 2:42829. [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. Apparently Jesuss measure of the man, though Nicodemus came by night, was different from the masses who professed belief based on the same evidence. Instead of giving us immediate access, The Chosen invites us into the lives of Nicodemus and a diverse array of first century Jews who have their lives turned upside down by their personal encounters with the Messiah. has been identified by some with this man in the NT who came to Jesus by night. He did this despite the fact that embalming was more or less not allowed in Judaism. Nicodemus was curtly told to study the scriptures, and he would fail to find any prediction of a prophet arising in Galilee.[21], Nicodemus is next mentioned following the Crucifixion of Christ as he comes to the aid of a fellow Sanhedrist, Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus, in the Gospel According to John, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews at the time of Jesus preaching and crucifixion. Talmage describes the reaction by members of the Sanhedrin: Maddened with bigotry and bloodthirsty fanaticism, some of his colleagues turned upon him with the savage demand: Art thou also of Galilee? meaning, Art thou also a disciple of this Galilean whom we hate? [25] David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), s.v. Nicodemus is often portrayed as a cowardly or vacillating person. Jesus and the disciples did not agree with them, and this group of people was a major opposition to Him and His ministry. It seems clear that Jesus saw Nicodemus as a receptive listener. Apparently John was, if not walking in the same circles, at least comfortable among those who wielded power in Jerusalem. As a result, we're left to wonder whether the teacher will accept Jesus' claims or reject them. Well discuss his motivations, his relationship with Jesus, and how he died and was buried. Nicodemus protested, urging the group to give Jesus a fair hearing. During what years was Pontius Pilate governor of Judea. He tagged along with Joseph of Arimathea, another disciple of Jesus. One feature that distinguishes The Chosen from other TV or film adaptations of the Gospel is how it introduces us to Jesus. [36] McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 4:239. At night, when the masses of humanity had settled into whatever places of abode they could find, there might be some hope of privacy. Nicodemus.. However, despite his public challenges, other Pharisees openly disagreed with him and rejected his claims. [26] The name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews . He wanted to get the truth directly from the Lord's mouth. Would those other believers, some of the we spoken of in his interview with Jesus, follow his lead in as innocuous defense as a point of order? Other Pharisees argue that no prophet could hail from Galilee. The Minimalists are American authors, podcasters, filmmakers, and public speakers Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who promote a minimalist lifestyle. Nicodemus is one of the few in-betweeners present in the Gospels. 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. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. He wanted badly to understand, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer. Woller as Gaius: a Roman centurion and a former associate of Matthew. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and the Pharisees, unlike the Sadducees, believed in the resurrection, but were also responsible for a high level of legalism, so Nicodemus was not only a ruler, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling body of the Jews, but why is John the only one who writes about Nicodemus? He is saying plainly that men must believe in him; that he is the Son of God, the Promised Messiah, the Only Begotten of the Father, the One of whom Moses and the prophets testified. A character like John the Baptist may have had a more significant role from a historical perspective, but Nicodemus is better known for having the kind of personal encounter with Jesus that The Chosen is interested in. The Welsh metaphysical poet, Henry Vaughan, in his poem The Night, uses Nicodemus to accentuate the nights connection with God. It is said that the relics of Stephen the Protomartyr, Gamaliel, and Abibas (Gamaliel's second son) were found on the same day. The amount that we know about Nicodemus based on these three episodes is pretty limited, although that actually may serve the purpose of adaptation well, since it leaves plenty of white space for The Chosen to fill in. In The Chosen, during Season 1 Episode 8 Nicodemus secretly leaves money for Jesus and his disciples instead of choosing to follow Jesus himself. Two and one-half years after Nicodemuss visit, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. The scriptures are silent about Joseph until the Crucifixion of Christ. 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. Whether there was any connection with our Nicodemus, and if so what, cannot be proved, but it does look as if John is not merely inventing. This seems to be a general tendency of The Chosen. The first-person plural implies that Nicodemuss community shares in his positive acknowledgment of Jesus.[13] As noted, among the chief rulers also many believed on him (John 12:42). Have you ever been concerned about how women are sometimes treated in the Old Testament? . Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. Nicodemus' decision to not follow Jesus would have been even more significant, since it would be a set back in both his struggle against fear and skepticism. When appearing with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus more commonly supports the lower body of Jesus while Joseph supports the upper body. He was a Pharisee who was attracted to Jesus' character and miracles. They are known for the Netflix documentaries Minimalism (2016) and the Emmy-nominated Less Is Now (2021); the New York Times bestselling book Love People, Use Things (2021); The Minimalists Podcast; and their minimalism blog. Nicodemus may seem like strange choice for a primary POV character in a show about the life of Jesus. Because of the carnival atmosphere in Jerusalem during Passover, it might have been difficult to have any kind of meaningful personal or private conversation with Jesus in the crowded streets or in the din of the temple courtyards. He seems to show genuine respect for Jesus' miracles and he has real interest in what Jesus has to say. Nicodemus is mentioned only three times in the Gospel According to John (and nowhere in the Synoptic Gospels). Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . This makes these creations examples of acheiropoieta. "Meet Nicodemus: Seeker of God." If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Nicodemuss legends generally link him to the monumental crosses. The traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church hold that their relics were housed and venerated together in the 5th century, along with those of St. Stephen the martyr. This was a risky move for both of them. Martin Luther King Jr., during his Where Do We Go From Here? speech, given at the 11th Annual SCLC Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 16, 1967, used Nicodemus as a metaphor to speak about the need of the United States to be born again, so the country is able to successfully deal with social and economic inequalities. 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. . In The Chosen, during Season 1, Episode 8, Nicodemus chooses to not follow Jesus. 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. Can you think of specific examples of women being treated unfairly in the Old Testament? [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. In the 18th century, the Lutherans read the gospel text of the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus at night on Trinity Sunday. We are not given the end of their initial conversation (John 3:1-21), and so we don't know how Nicodemus ultimately responded to Jesus' teaching. Why do you think he did that? Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb, at great risk to his safety and reputation. When he heard about Jesus' ministry, he grew disturbed and confused by the words the Lord was preaching. Well also examine the consequences of his actions. What do you think Jesus desires for women in these situations? 1887, Pet-Re, p. 202. Obviously John was no stranger to the high priest and perhaps to others in power. Inside the Temple space, the noise and pressure were, if possible, worse. Click here for my affiliation policy. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. On the other hand, when he has his encounter with Jesus, the questions that he asks aren't intended to trick or catch Jesus like the questions of his peers. While in Jerusalem he chased the moneychangers from the temple and overturned their tables. His burial cloths would have been made of linen clothes, which are sometimes referred to as sindon in Greek. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Having missed the opportunity to arrest Him at the most recent Passover, the Jews sought him at the feast [of Tabernacles] (John 7:11). [2] Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1979), 1:469; emphasis added. It seems like The Chosen brings a conclusion to Nicodemus' conversion story because it wants to shift the focus of his narrative to the struggle between faith and fear. It was an open secret in the streets of Jerusalem spoken in hushed voices behind Jesuss back, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? (v. 25). . What did you discover about Jesus' heart for women who have their lives disrupted by the coming of his kingdom? It would seem to be wise for one to come and see (John 1:46) for oneself as Philip suggested to Nathanael. His noble position is more clearly marked in the Greek version.[23]. Over time, however, as Shmuel and Nicodemus part ways theologically, the students begins to leverage the fear of his teacher to his own advantage. Ryan Nicodemus changed his way of life and went The Minimalist, the very last thing people expected from him. [15] It is possible that some of those earlier doctors were among the current chief rulers who these many years later are said to have also believed on himpart of the we to which Nicodemus referred. In particular, this episode of The Chosen shows us the impact of Jesus on Simon's wife (Eden), her mother, Nicodemus' wife (Zohara), Mary, and Photina (the Samaritan Woman at the Well from the well-known passage in John 4) - all against the backdrop of the unjust patriarchal society of ancient Israel. In Season 1, Episode 8, Nicodemus turns down the invitation. After all, there are plenty of other minor characters in the biblical accounts that are arguably more significant in the story of Jesus. Instead she sent a message to her husband and said that she had a dream about Jesus Christ. It is plain and clear beyond question.[19] For a person in Nicodemuss position, that plain, open declaration by Jesus, if not true, was unmistakable blasphemy and this Galilean was worthy of death by stoning (see Leviticus 24:1116; John 10:3033). Today, what are some examples of situations that cause women to experience a sense of shame and regret like Photina? You might have also noticed discussion of how Photina was a Samaritan and how Jews and Samaritans hated each other. There are no mentions of Nicodemus in Scripture outside of the Gospel of John. Luke 23 :55-56 states that the women "who had come with him from Galilee" prepared the spices and ointments. 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. One of these cantatas, O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165, is the most faithful to the gospel. 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. But this fact may be due to his great wealth. Throughout the Gospel, we're frequently shown examples of figures who have the seeds of faith in Jesus but who don't allow these seeds to come to fruition in a gospel witness because they know that the consequences could be socially or even physically disastrous. He had to know the vitriolic rebuke he would receive if he said anything in Jesuss defense. [20] Nicodemus had personally heard Jesus say in unmistakable language that He was the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. 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), Reflecting on The Chosen Season 3 & Anticipating Season 4: What Worked & What to Fix, 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.
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