Sidney R. Sandstrom, "Nocodemus: Coward or Convert?" 2, appendix I. The meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus occurs at the very beginning of Christs public ministry, at the first Passover of that ministry. Over time, however, as Shmuel and Nicodemus part ways theologically, the students begins to leverage the fear of his teacher to his own advantage. In Michelangelo 's sculpture of the entombment, Nicodemus is assisted by the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, rather than Joseph of Arimathea. 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. How so? In these conversations, he expresses his theological questions and worries, but his wife squashes them. Pontius Pilates wife appears in only one passage in the Bible, which is Matthew 27:19. In spite of the loathing the Sanhedrin had for this Galilean and their determination to arrest, condemn, and put Him to death, Nicodemuss defense of Jesus in that setting is characterized by some authors as cautious and as a voice of mild protest. Being a Pharisee himself and a member of that esteemed council, he probably would have been privy to their planning. 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. [11], Considering the standing of Nicodemus, and the standing of the people with whom he associated, such as the revered Gamaliel, we expect that Nicodemus was not haphazard in addressing Jesus as Rabbi. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! 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.[1] Because the John discusses him as one who came to Jesus by night (John 7:50; 19:39), his every action thereafter seems to be colored by the timing of this first visit. . One of these cantatas, O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165, is the most faithful to the gospel. Claudia Procula must have had a difficult time in the days, months and years that followed Jesus death. With Jesuss public challenge to the Jewish aristocracy in cleansing the temple, with so little known about the man and his intentions, with other messiah figures having come and gone, caution could be seen as a wise approach, especially for a person of position. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of the Old Testament story of Moses and the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-8 ). John says that many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. The truth is that these carvings were created at least a thousand years after Nicodemus life. Nina Leon as Salome: the wife of Zebedee and the mother of Big James and John. But it was Nicodemus who risked his reputation to give Jesus the proper burial. Jesus responds with surprise, stating, probably in an ironic manner, that a teacher of Israel does not comprehend the idea of spiritual rebirth. [9] The Revised Standard Version (RSV), the New English Bible (NEB), the Jerusalem Bible (JB), and the New International Version (NIV) all translate pisteuo as trust. The New American Standard Bible (NAS) translates pisteuo as entrusting (Strong, Key-Word Comparison, 157). That evening Nicodemus learned from Jesus that he must be born again, and he was. . He seems to show genuine respect for Jesus' miracles and he has real interest in what Jesus has to say. With that first bold purgation of the Temple a deadly feud between Jesus and the Jewish authorities had begun. [27] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:291326. Although Nicodemus wonders about the probability of being actually reborn from one's mother's womb, most theologians hold the view that Nicodemus was aware that Jesus was not talking about literal rebirth. Nicodemus last appears in the Bible after the death of Jesus. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Meanwhile, Zohara discourages Nicodemus from his spiritual struggle and questioning. . 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? . From the very first moments of The Chosen, fear exerts a powerful influence over Nicodemus' character. This amount of spice was enough to fittingly bury royalty, signaling that Nicodemus had recognized Jesus as King. 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. The rents of the sheep and cattle pens, and the profits on the doves, had led the priests to sanction the incongruity of thus turning the Temple itself into a noisy market. While other Pharisees remained skeptical, Nicodemus faith in Jesus grew. or the need to stream it, you can find it. McClintock and Strong. 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). [26] The name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews . Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Brandon Potter as Quintus: a Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the Praetor of Galilee. He brought with him a large amount of spices, including myrrh and aloes. That lone voice was Nicodemuss, he that came to Jesus by night. Only Nicodemus dares to ask, Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? (v. 51). One of the town's first settlers, Zachary Fletcher, became the first postmaster and the first entrepreneur in Nicodemus, establishing the St. Francis Hotel and a livery stable in 1880. But The Chosen must have other reasons taking interest in Nicodemus. Nicodemus may seem like strange choice for a primary POV character in a show about the life of Jesus. [17] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:316. 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 does not appear in The Chosen Season 3. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. And the thing that happened in between, was Him." Claudia Procula What does the Bible say about Pontius Pilates wife? This letter is placed in the keeping of his synagogue administrator, Jairus, to give Yussif time to reconsider his words before sending it. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. If any one quarrels with his rabbi, it is as if he contended with the living God. Jesus counseled Nicodemus personally and privately. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Similarly, fear is at work in the conflict between Nicodemus and Shmuel. He was afraid of what might happen if he spoke to Jesus in broad daylight, where people might report him. . The Heal-Face Turn is a very popular trope in Christian fiction. Nicodemus has not been identified with any known historical figure, in part because of the lack of information regarding his identity in the Gospel According to John. Because of this, he is commemorated on the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women, two weeks after Pascha. The word commit is translated from the Greek verb ? (pist??). In some accounts he is buried with his wife and two children next to the tomb of Jesus - the ultimate martyr's sepulchre. Some laws in the Old Testament might sound unfair to women - and they might not be as fair as some standards we have today. Jesus could then respond, "I know you have many more questions and doubts. Either the wife believes or the husband believes but not both. Regardless of any reticence or motives that may be assigned to Nicodemus for seeking the interview at night, one must also take into consideration the effect of Christs teachingthe Touch of the Masters Handon Nicodemus that evening and in succeeding days. After Jesus crucifixion, Nicodemus assists Joseph of Arimathea in laying Jesus body in a nearby tomb (John 19:3942). The next time we encounter Nicodemus, he is trying to convince the Sanhedrin to give Jesus a fair hearing and is accused of sympathizing with him (John 7:45-52). Have you ever been concerned about how women are sometimes treated in the Old Testament? [20] Nicodemus had personally heard Jesus say in unmistakable language that He was the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. There might have been some furtive glances at fellow believers before Nicodemus asked his question. In order to understand what was happening when she is mentioned in Scripture here is Matthew 27:15-19. 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. Because Nicodemus was a wealthy man, he would have had plenty of people to assist him. She had either heard about Jesus or seen Him and maybe heard Him herself. Nicodemus is mentioned only three times in the Gospel According to John (and nowhere in the Synoptic Gospels). 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. The Chosen begins with two episodes that follow the arc of Mary Magdalene (Lilith) very closely. Nicodemus knew from personal experience what the officers meant when they said that never man spake like this man. On that night years earlier, Jesus had used phrases like I say unto thee, we speak, we know, we testify, I tell you, and we have seen. His authority derived not from quoting others but originated from Himself. How would you describe the way that Jesus treated women? 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. And he certainly showed more courage at the Cross than did the absent Disciples of Jesus.[25]. John said this discussion happened at night, probably because Nicodemus had his reputation to protect since Jesus was a controversial figure . Nicodemus would not rest until he found the truth. During Jesus trial and crucifixion, Nicodemus was one of the leaders of the Jewish religious leaders. Luke 23 :55-56 states that the women "who had come with him from Galilee" prepared the spices and ointments. The dream must have been a bad dream for the Greek, pascho polys, states that she suffered great pain during the dream. As a product of evangelical culture, The Chosen presents us with a Jesus who is distinctly intimate and personal. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. (John 3:3, NIV), "How can someone be born when they are old?" But this fact may be due to his great wealth. 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), 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, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Jesus identifies Nicodemus as a prominent Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. Can you think of some stories about Jesus' interactions with women? Much later, after Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter and John followed the arresting party to the palace of the high priest. Certainly Christs actions at the temple had struck a nerve among members of the Sanhedrin, particularly the Sadducees, because of their intimate involvement in and their responsibility for the temple. 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. . 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? Nicodemus was not the only one who sought a private audience with Christ. What a wonderful turn of events if the executioners wife became a believer and a follower of the one her husband rejected. Your youth might not have a good sense of history and context, in which case they won't fully appreciate the uniqueness of Jesus. Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. He publicly defended the Messiah, but was later mysteriously missing. In the Catholic Churchs current Roman Martyrology, Nicodemus is honoured on 31 August, on the same day as Saint Joseph of Arimathea. 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