Nicodemus

*Nicodemus’s story is told in John 3:1-21; 7:50-52; 19:39-40

Who is Nicodemus?

  • Background: Nicodemus is a Pharisee, which means he’s a Jewish religious leader. He’s also described as a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.
  • First Appearance: Nicodemus first pops up in the Gospel of John, specifically in John 3.
  • Conversations with Jesus: He’s one of the few Jewish leaders who actually has thoughtful dialogues with Jesus. Most notably, he meets Jesus at night to discuss spiritual matters.

Strengths and Accomplishments

  1. Intellectual Curiosity
    • Nicodemus seeks out Jesus despite the risks and genuinely tries to understand His teachings.
  2. Courage
    • It took some bravery to break from the general consensus of the Sanhedrin and go meet Jesus.
  3. Evolving Beliefs
    • Over time, he seems to become more sympathetic to Jesus and his followers.
  4. Compassion & Ritual Respect
    • Helps prepare Jesus’ body for burial, an act of immense ritual and cultural significance.

Weaknesses and Mistakes

  1. Secretive
    • Nicodemus only meets Jesus at night, possibly because he’s afraid of what his peers would think.
  2. Initial Skepticism
    • At first, he doesn’t quite grasp the spiritual teachings of Jesus. He takes things a bit too literally (e.g., misunderstanding the concept of being “born again”).
  3. Limited Public Support for Jesus
    • Although he speaks up in defense of Jesus in the Sanhedrin, he doesn’t go all-out in his support when Jesus is arrested and crucified.

Lessons from His Life

  1. Questioning & Seeking Knowledge is Okay
    • It’s better to ask questions and seek understanding than to stay in ignorance.
  2. Courage to Diverge
    • It’s never too late to stand up for what’s right, even when you’re part of a group that disagrees.
  3. The Power of Incremental Change
    • Sometimes faith and understanding don’t happen overnight. They’re processes that evolve over time.

Key Verses (NIV)

  1. John 3:1-2
    • “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night…”
  2. John 7:50-51
    • “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?'”
  3. John 19:39-40
    • “He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.”