A year before that, while at Passover, He had healed an invalid on the Sabbath, and therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him (John 5:16). Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. 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. His noble position is more clearly marked in the Greek version.[23]. [or to] believe.[8] A number of other translations use the word trust in place of commit. The first time Nicodemus is mentioned, he is identified as a Pharisee who comes to see Jesus at night. In The Chosen, during Season 1, Episode 7, Jesus invites Nicodemus to follow him. John does tell us that he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews (John 19:38). Sellers shouted the merits of their beasts, sheep bleated, and oxen lowed. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. When appearing with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus more commonly supports the lower body of Jesus while Joseph supports the upper body. Turning to Photina (the Samaritan Woman at the Well), remind your students: In biblical times, getting remarried multiple times and living with someone you weren't married to were not common practices like they are today. Despite being betrothed to a girl who insists on putting love before the law, he becomes a respected Pharisee. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Just think Claudia Procula was the first one we know of who was unequally yoked. 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. He may have pursued an honest though cautious investigation of one who was reputed to possess miraculous powers, possibly the long-awaited Messiah. 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 referred to Jesus as a man of God and sought to investigate his character. 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. Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/nicodemus-seeker-of-god-701080. 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. By the end of the Gospel of John, Nicodemus appears to have become a disciple, and so it's possible that Jesus did invite Nicodemus to follow him. However, the National Park Service disputes this, asserting that the name of the town was inspired by an 1864 song, Wake Nicodemus by Henry Clay Work. 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. . I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. . Elliott Nicodemus Neese was born on January 26, 1982, in the United States. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. John records Jesuss testimony to Nicodemus as follows: He who believeth on him is not condemned; but he who believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the Only Begotten son of God, which before was preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testifyed of me (Joseph Smith Translation, John 3:18). When Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus and Joseph were present. 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. Over time, however, as Shmuel and Nicodemus part ways theologically, the students begins to leverage the fear of his teacher to his own advantage. The Gospel of Nicodemus. And so he summoned great courage to seek out Jesus and ask questions. If the above statements are true about her, she was one who feared God. We are not given the end of their initial conversation (. Learn Religions. If any one thinks evil of his rabbi, it is as if he thought evil of the Eternal.[17]. Nicodemus is one of the few in-betweeners present in the Gospels. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! But, even so, we cannot wonder that he should have wished to shroud his first visit in the utmost possible secrecy. 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. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? It would seem to be wise for one to come and see (John 1:46) for oneself as Philip suggested to Nathanael. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Apparently John was, if not walking in the same circles, at least comfortable among those who wielded power in Jerusalem. It seems like no accident, then, that the kinds of Jesus stories that The Chosen takes interest in are personal encounters. What do you think Jesus desires for women in these situations? (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. Inside the Temple space, the noise and pressure were, if possible, worse. [3], Elder McConkie adds perspective to the crush in Jerusalem during Passover: In the days of Jesus, the walled portion of the city encompassed some three hundred acres of houses and streets and markets and shops. If you want to avoid the ads (there's a lot!) Sidney R. Sandstrom(cesnashville@juno.com) was a retired Church Educational System coordinator living in Smyrna, Tennessee when this was written. Obviously John was no stranger to the high priest and perhaps to others in power. He tagged along with Joseph of Arimathea, another disciple of Jesus. Some of the extra-biblical traditions about Nicodemus are based on conjecture. . A digest of Jewish traditions as well as a compendium of the ritualistic performances of the law, it was made up of formalistic minutae.[16]. Nicodemus first appears in the Bible in John 3, when he sought out Jesus by night. Genesis doesn't claim that these men are good examples of morality in every area of life. Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. 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. . James F. Driscoll considers Nicodemus to be a learned and intelligent believer but apprehensive and not easily convinced by the mysteries of the new faith. He was, for example (1) a Pharisee, (2) a member of the Sanhedrin, (3) wealthy, and (4) one of whom it was known that his attachment to Christ was great.. When he first sought out Jesus, Nicodemus went at night, so no one would see him. The episode also gives Nicodemus a wife, who seems to exist mainly to give him someone to express his ideas to when he isn't with his fellow Pharisees. Jesus answers that those who wish to see the kingdom of God must be born again in both water and spirit, a passage commonly interpreted as referring to the initiation rite of baptism. However, the discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus reveals more about Nicodemus than it does about Jesus. By this point, it seems like Nicodemus is participating in the Jesus movement. Kirk B.R. His reputation was at stake, so he took a step outside his comfort zone by challenging fellow Pharisees. Gamaliel mentions just two, Theudas and Judas of Galilee, who had gathered followers with claims of messiahship, only to be killed and have their movements fade away (see Acts 5:3440). The Talmud mentions a man from the period with a similar name: Nakdimn ben Gorion. Having missed the opportunity to arrest Him at the most recent Passover, the Jews sought him at the feast [of Tabernacles] (John 7:11). (2021, September 7). In this account Nicodemus joins with Joseph of Arimathea to wrap the body in a large quantity of burial spices and then place it in the new sepulcher. 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. The Copts and Christians of . The scriptures are silent about Joseph until the Crucifixion of Christ. However, the portrayal of him in the Gospel is generally positive. While watching The Chosen, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching. Yes, we see Jesus teaching crowds from time to time, but such moments are merely set pieces that provide context for more private interactions. 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