If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! Nor was this all. She had either heard about Jesus or seen Him and maybe heard Him herself. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. . Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. I found this to be a very affecting moment. Nicodemuss legends generally link him to the monumental crosses. Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. Scholars remain unclear on the overall polemical purpose of either the Acts of Pilate or the Gospel of Nicodemus, but the contrast of Nicodemus as a righteous Jew against an obstinate crowd of Jews, along with his alleged authorship of the texts, is considered by many as providing literary reinforcement to anti-Jewish views held by contemporary Christians. The most elaborate mention of Nicodemus, in chapter 3 of John, maintains that mystical approach. 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). 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. [26] The name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews . In this context, Nicodemus decides to utilize the literal over figurative meaning of anthen (definition: from above, from a higher place) and presumes that the meaning undermines the importance of the word. Commenting about Nicodemus and Joseph on this occasion, Farrar writes: However much he had held back during the life of Jesus, now, on the evening of His death, his heart was filled with a gush of compassion and remorse, and he hurried to His cross and burial with an offering of truly royal munificence. It will be remembered that blasphemy was the very charge the Sanhedrin would use three years later to justify Christs death (see Matthew 26:6368; Mark 14:6165; Luke 22:6671; John 19:7). . Nicodemus is one of the few Pharisees who believed in Jesus. But Jesus wasn't like most rabbis. He referred to Jesus as a man of God and sought to investigate his character. 1. If Farrar and McConkie are correct in their assessment that it is not just possible but rather extremely probable that the Nicodemus of the Bible and the Nicodemus ben Gorion of the Talmud are the same individual, then the story of Nicodemus is one of the most dramatic stories of conversion and sacrifice in scripture. There's also a lot of fear at work in the back and forth conflict that Nicodemus has with Shmuel. I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1981, and grew up in Southwest Ohio by way of Upstate New York. Thank you! [8] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 1981), s.v. Thus the dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus begins with, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him (John 3:2). Moreover, later on, when the other Pharisees display a reckless disregard for investigating the claims of Jesus, it is Nicodemus who presses them with exactly the kind of point an ideal seeker would make: "Does our law judge a man before first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" So what does Nicodemus have that John doesn't? PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. The reason for such a reaction becomes clear when one understands the pharisaic reasoning and laws which they themselves had established. According to theologian Charles Ellicott, following the methods of Rabbinic dialogue, Nicodemus stresses on the improbable meaning of the words to bring out the real meaning. The officers only recorded response was, Never man spake like this man (v. 46). I've always been intrigued by how the Gospel of John cuts way from the Born Again conversation before we can see how Nicodemus' response to Jesus' teaching. The Copts and Christians of . Nicodemus may seem like strange choice for a primary POV character in a show about the life of Jesus. He wanted badly to understand, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer. As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. 185 Heber J. He was afraid of what might happen if he spoke to Jesus in broad daylight, where people might report him. Characters of the Sanhedrists who Tried Jesus, 291326. What would it look like for us as a community to demonstrate this? On both sides of the east Temple gate, stalls had for generations been permitted for changing foreign money. Obviously John was no stranger to the high priest and perhaps to others in power. In The Chosen, Nicodemus is played by Erick Avari. During first several decades after Jesus' resurrection, Christianity was known as a religion predominantly of women and slaves. However, the discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus reveals more about Nicodemus than it does about Jesus. After wrestling with the question in Episode 8, Nicodemus does not accept the invitation to follow Jesus. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. In the Catholic Churchs current Roman Martyrology, Nicodemus is honoured on 31 August, on the same day as Saint Joseph of Arimathea. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. Well also examine the consequences of his actions. The Franciscan Order built a place of worship named Saints Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea Church in Ramla, Israel. What is the story of Nicodemus? Modern evangelical culture has a particularly strong attachment to the idea of a personal relationship with God. One has to wonder what was happening or what motives were driving this interview, for if Nicodemus were the least bit open to offense, this would have given him ample reason to feel injured. Jesus is the source of all truth, the meaning of life. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Nicodemus does not appear in The Chosen Season 3. The planning to kill Jesus had begun a year and a half earlier in reaction to His healing a man on the Sabbath (see John 5:216). The faith which had once required the curtain of darkness, can now venture at least into the light of sunset, and brightened finally into noonday confidence. Because of this, he is commemorated on the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women, two weeks after Pascha. In Michelangelo 's sculpture of the entombment, Nicodemus is assisted by the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, rather than Joseph of Arimathea. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The blacks in America, after the Civil War, saw him as a source of inspiration for them, as they discarded their previous identities as slaves. Nicodemus struggles with the call but ultimately has cold feet and doesn't follow Jesus. . Your email address will not be published. Nevertheless, Nicodemus came. Jesus could then respond, "I know you have many more questions and doubts. [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. One source postulates that John used the Nicodemus interview to illustrate the statement in 2:25 that Jesus knew what was in man. Jesus saw in Nicodemus a sincere seeker after truth to whom He could reveal a clearer and more complete knowledge of His mission than He could to many others.[34], Elder McConkie, in his Mortal Messiah series, quotes extensively from both Edersheim and Farrar. Early traditions of the Roman imperial church, which held Nicodemus in high esteem, and apocryphal biblical literature both offer detail that informs the modern reception of Nicodemuss identity and biography. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This makes these creations examples of acheiropoieta. Taking these cues from the Gospel of John, The Chosen uses Nicodemus' story to explore the tension between faith and fear. Other Pharisees argue that no prophet could hail from Galilee. Nicodemus had a family. The reaction was so predictable that John informs us that those of the Sanhedrin who believed on him did not dare to have it known lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42). According to the Bible, Jesus was strongly opposed by the Pharisees, a group of Jewish scribes who followed the letter of the law. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/nicodemus-seeker-of-god-701080. Among the most influential representations of Nicodemus is that in the apocryphal Acts of Pilate, a 4th/5th-century work that expounds on the sentencing and crucifixion of Jesus. What did you notice about how Jesus interacted with Photina? He may have been present but remained silent. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (John 2:2325). Nicodemus, like other seekers, had a deep feeling that there must be something more to life, a great truth to be discovered. John continues, Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught (v. 14). . If you want to avoid the ads (there's a lot!) [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. She is an invented character, but she represents a perspective that is historically plausible. has been identified by some with this man in the NT who came to Jesus by night. Required fields are marked *. In the crowded Passover confusion, and following a very public clearing of the temple, Nicodemus would have been faced with the problem of arranging a meeting with this Galilean at a time and place favorable for his purposes. 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. . Nicodemus was not the only one among the ruling classes who believed in Jesus; but of most of these we learn nothing to indicate that they had sufficient courage to come even by night to make independent and personal inquiry. From the very first moments of The Chosen, fear exerts a powerful influence over Nicodemus' character. Just think Claudia Procula was the first one we know of who was unequally yoked. Peter's decision to follow Jesus is encouraged strongly by Eden. [36] McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 4:239. Come and see what I am doing and all will be answered. [30] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:319; emphasis added. "I was one way, and now I am completely different. In the same conversation Nicodemus seeks to understand how a person might be born again after having left a mothers womb. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. . Nicodemus protested, urging the group to give Jesus a fair hearing. . Apparently Jesuss measure of the man, though Nicodemus came by night, was different from the masses who professed belief based on the same evidence. The Gospel of John says Nicodemus was a "Pharisee" and a "ruler of the Jews" (John 3:1). Jesus and the disciples did not agree with them, and this group of people was a major opposition to Him and His ministry. They also hold that he lived the remainder of his life in the home of Gamaliel, another member of the Sanhedrin who otherwise remained in good standing among the Pharisees (Acts of the Apostles 5:3439). Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? His own disciples often queried him privately, seeking clarification following his public teaching or doctrinal understanding (see Matthew 24:3; Mark 9:2829). Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. [13] The New Interpreters Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), 9:549; see also McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 1:471; Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 159. So the following information may not be true. 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. Jesus identifies Nicodemus as a prominent Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. Click here for my affiliation policy. On the one hand, he's a Pharisee, a group that the Gospel of John unequivocally associates with opposition to Jesus. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Spiritual & Religious Leaders The Pharisees were a group of Jewish people who strictly adhered to the letter of the law. Matthew confirms this principle, for he taught them as one having Authority from God and not as having authority from the Scribes. (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 7:29). This would be a major sacrifice for them. We can conclude that Nicodemus was a highly honored Jewish teacher who also happened to be very rich and very powerful. What did you observe about the way Jesus interacted with Eden and her mother? Eden (Peter's wife) and Zohara (Nicodemus' wife) both have husbands who have been called to follow Jesus. At Passover time great numbers of Jews camped outside the city proper, but within the limits of a Sabbath days journey.[4]. Several eastern Churches as well the Roman Catholic Church honour Nicodemus as a saint. [Nicodemus] became a professed disciple of Christ, and received baptism from Peter and John; that the Jews then stripped him of his office, beat him, and drove him from Jerusalem; that his kinsman Gamaliel received and sheltered him in his country house till death, and finally gave him honourable burial near the body of St. Stephen. His list, though obviously incomplete, contains only one member named Nicodemus. 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). "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," Jesus said. Nicodemus would not rest until he found the truth. . There is a rumor that Pilates wife was the woman named Claudia in 2 Timothy 4:21, but there is no solid proof of the claim. After Jesus crucifixion, Nicodemus assists Joseph of Arimathea in laying Jesus body in a nearby tomb (John 19:3942). Nicodemus ben Gorion later lost his wealth and position so that some have attributed this reversal of circumstance to his having become a Christian. However, the author then adds, The identification is unlikely.[28]. He had to know the vitriolic rebuke he would receive if he said anything in Jesuss defense. 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. After the Crucifixion, he acted as one of the Holy Myrrhbearers. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. The Gospel of John clearly associates Nicodemus with the fear of man. The failure of his character to follow out of his fear of societal disapproval sets up an interesting plot trajectory for his future development. I'm intrigued to find out and can't wait for season 2. However, it's important to keep in mind that the Bible does not give us a complete description of the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). He appears as a protagonist in the text and as one of several Jews who testify in Jesus favour before Pilate, in apparent contrast to the charges brought against him by an otherwise undifferentiated group of Jews. [17] Chandler, Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint, 2:316. They were regarded as enemies by the Sanhedrin. When Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus and Joseph were present. Grant Building Did Jesus' teaching back in John 3 already bring him to faith? His list includes forty-two of the seventy-one members of that body. Instead, Elliott took to fishing and had already begun angling by the age of 12. The Chosen should allow its characters to embrace faith in Jesus with a more incomplete or tentative understanding of who he actually is. 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? In either case, by the time Nicodemus participates in the burial of Jesus' body, it seems that his faith has grown, but we still don't know how well he understands who Jesus is. Hendrickson. [25] David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), s.v. He may have pursued an honest though cautious investigation of one who was reputed to possess miraculous powers, possibly the long-awaited Messiah. Unchecked, this fear can lead followers of Jesus to distance themselves from the Messiah and even fall away. Why do you think Photina sometimes responded a little harshly to Jesus? When he first sought out Jesus, Nicodemus went at night, so no one would see him. Today, what are some ways that women might have their lives disrupted by Jesus' kingdom? When we are born again, as Nicodemus was, we should never forget that we have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life because of Christ's sacrifice for us. . The theoretical goal of such side stories is to provide non-Christian viewers with an ideal model of what it looks like to wrestle with Jesus and embrace the faith. 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. Jesus calls him by an honorific title, "the Teacher of Israel" (John 3:10). 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. There is no explicit indication in the Bible that Jesus asked Nicodemus to follow him. Ancient Roman Men, See the events in life of Nicodemus in Chronological Order, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crijn_Hendricksz.jpeg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pietro_Perugino_cat39.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz_von_Uhde_-_Christus_und_Nikodemus_(ca.1886).jpg. It drives him to abuse his position as an esteemed teacher to serve the interests of Rome. . Despite the evangelical obsession with the Heel-Face Turn, there are actually relatively few stories in the Gospels themselves that follow this pattern. Some laws in the Old Testament might sound unfair to women - and they might not be as fair as some standards we have today. Punishment was mercilessly inflicted wherever there was open violation of any one of the following rules established by the rabbis themselves: If any one opposes his rabbi, he is guilty in the same degree as if he opposed God himself. 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