is doubtless, like so many Jewish names at this period, derived from the Greek. It also seems like following Jesus would create significant issues in his marriage with Zohara. In medieval paintings revolving around the Deposition, he prominently appears alongside Joseph of Arimathea, bringing the dead Christ down from the cross, often with the help of a ladder. But it was Nicodemus who risked his reputation to give Jesus the proper burial. It seems clear that Jesus saw Nicodemus as a receptive listener. Nicodemus is shocked that an unknown man would perform miracles and not want the credit. He is venerated by the eastern Churches on two different days, the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers (the second Sunday after Easter) and 2 August, the date when, according to traditions, his relics were discovered. When his wife becomes terminally ill, Nicodemus seeks out Jesus, a radical teacher rumored to heal the sick. When the officers returned without Jesus, the chief priests and Pharisees demanded, Why have ye not brought him? (v. 45). He had insights into the law and was willing to take risks in public. What did you observe about the way Jesus interacted with Eden and her mother? For example, some traditions relate that he was ostracized by the Pharisees for his Christian sympathies. [25] David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), s.v. 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. The Middle Ages witnessed the formation of several pious legends about both of these men. The 40 Days with Jesus series helps readers connect the events of The Chosen with Scripture and their own everyday lives. 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. Over time, however, as Shmuel and Nicodemus part ways theologically, the students begins to leverage the fear of his teacher to his own advantage. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus. And that's it for our exploration of The Chosen Season 1 with youth! Like the tale of Lazarus, Nicodemus is not part of the tradition of the Synoptic Gospels. In the Gospel of John, he appears three times. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. We hear nothing of Joseph during Nicodemuss defense of Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles. However, the discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus reveals more about Nicodemus than it does about Jesus. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. This was a risky move for both of them. 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. Ibid. At Passover time great numbers of Jews camped outside the city proper, but within the limits of a Sabbath days journey.[4]. February 8, 2022 New Testament mirabela Caiaphas was the high priest, considered the wisest of Jesus' time. At the expense of a little diversion it is worth trying to set out and sort out the evidence. The Greek church made her a saint and honors her on October 27th. But they were more fair and just than the laws that other cultures at the time had about women. 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. Nicodemus is a model of faith and courage for all Christians to follow. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. The Chosen should allow its characters to embrace faith in Jesus with a more incomplete or tentative understanding of who he actually is. While watching The Chosen, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching. 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). Jeremiah 9:23-24. About Ryan Nicodemus. 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. 2, appendix I. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. And the thing that happened in between, was Him." How can we know the Messiah would be God incarnate? Episode 8 returns Season One of The Chosen back to where it began, with a storyline that features female characters in much more prominent roles and explores the effect that Jesus' ministry brought to women in a variety of situations. . What follow is a summary of what the Bible states and what is available from sources outside the Bible. . 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. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. Brandon Potter as Quintus: a Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the Praetor of Galilee. Sellers of all possible wares beset the pilgrims, for the great feasts were, as has been said, the harvest time of all trades at Jerusalem. 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. Click here for my affiliation policy. 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. He tagged along with Joseph of Arimathea, another disciple of Jesus. We'll get to see whether Nicodemus follows Jesus and what happens to Matthew, now that he's left his tax stall. Despite being betrothed to a girl who insists on putting love before the law, he becomes a respected Pharisee. The Pharisees were a group of Jews who were fastidious in keeping the letter of the Law and often opposed Jesus throughout His ministry. It appears that Jesus did believe Nicodemuss belief. If so, the interview may well have taken place in the guest chamber on the roof, which would have been accessible via outside stairs.[5] If Elder McConkie is correct, it may have been fairly easy for an official with standing and influence in Jerusalem like Nicodemus to find Jesus, who was staying with an apparently well-known and well-connected John. 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). Add to this Elder McConkies speculation about the possible location of Nicodemuss dialogue with Jesus: We are left to assume the meeting took place in a house owned or occupied by John in Jerusalem. Most characters that encounter Jesus in the Gospels are either stubbornly opposed to him (the Pharisees) or already inclined to at least a modicum of faith. 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? Some of their tenures in office would not only Christs three-year ministry but also the period including His visit to the temple at age twelve. Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. What Does the Bible Tell Us About Nicodemus? Eden (Peter's wife) and Zohara (Nicodemus' wife) both have husbands who have been called to follow Jesus. Why do you think he did that? In the beginning of the biblical story, men and women are created to be in a loving and respectful relationship to one another. . Nicodemus struggles with the call but ultimately has cold feet and doesn't follow Jesus. [8] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 1981), s.v. 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. The most elaborate mention of Nicodemus, in chapter 3 of John, maintains that mystical approach. In some depictions, such as Filippino Lippis Piet, he is the lone figure bearing the body, flanked by two angels. Even so, a degree of ambiguity could still have been retained. As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Known for: Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee and well-recognized religious leader of the Jewish people. Jesus identifies Nicodemus as a prominent Pharisee and a leader of the Jewish people. Elder James E. Talmage observed: Apparently [Nicodemus] was impelled by a genuine desire to learn more of the Galilean, whose works could not be ignored; though pride of office and fear of possible suspicion that he had become attached to the new Prophet led him to veil his undertaking with privacy. 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. After all, there are plenty of other minor characters in the biblical accounts that are arguably more significant in the story of Jesus. But we cannot be sure it is true since scripture speaks truth but we cannot be confident about other sources of antiquity. (John 3:4, NIV), For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have. https://www.learnreligions.com/nicodemus-seeker-of-god-701080 (accessed March 2, 2023). [18] Faulring, Jackson, and Matthews, Joseph Smiths New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts, 448. Spiritual & Religious Leaders Can you think of some stories about Jesus' interactions with women? They were regarded as enemies by the Sanhedrin. Claudia Procula What does the Bible say about Pontius Pilates wife? [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. We see this especially in the veiled threat that Shmuel makes toward the end of season 1. The problem would be to locate this one person among the millions in and around Jerusalem. On that occasion, He sat in the midst of the Doctors, and they were hearing him, and asking him questions. Today, what are some ways that women might have their lives disrupted by Jesus' kingdom? Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/nicodemus-seeker-of-god-701080. 1. In John 3:1, he is described as a Pharisee. It is profitable for one man to die to save the whole people. [28] Tenny and Barabas, eds., Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, s.v. 8. p. 426. A lone voice spoke in Jesuss defense in that hotbed of hatred. 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. 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 (, In the Bible, it isn't completely clear when Nicodemus began to follow Jesus, if he did at all. [18] Elder McConkie explains, Our Lord is speaking in the early days of his ministry. If the two be one, then perhaps because of Nicodemuss previous personal experience with miracles, he was drawn to One who was reputed to be able to perform miracles. What did you notice about how Jesus interacted with Photina? That evening Nicodemus learned from Jesus that he must be born again, and he was. This makes these creations examples of acheiropoieta. . Bible References: The story of Nicodemus and his relationship with Jesus develops in three episodes of the Bible: John 3:1-21, John 7:50-52, and John 19:38-42.; Occupation: Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin The following outlines Nicodemus' actions and response to Jesus. 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. . This must have caused some uneasiness among those whom we know were or may have been in this meeting of the Sanhedrinpeople such as Nicodemus (himself a Pharisee), Joseph of Arimathea, and others among the chief rulers who also believed on him.. In The Chosen, during Season 1 Episode 5 Nicodemus visits John the Baptist in jail and asks him questions about miracles and the coming of the Messiah. [20] Faulring, Jackson, and Matthews, Joseph Smiths New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts, 176. Elliott was a subpar student who would never find his career in studies. At this Feast of Tabernacles the scriptures next mention Nicodemus as he sits in this meeting of the Sanhedrin. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. In visual art, Nicodemus most frequently appears within the context of the deposition and entombment of Jesus after his crucifixion. 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). . After the Crucifixion, he acted as one of the Holy Myrrhbearers. His wife, Jenny Smith Fletcher, became the first postmistress and schoolteacher and one of the original charter members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When he heard about Jesus' ministry, he grew disturbed and confused by the words the Lord was preaching. Click here for my affiliation policy. It is important to note the Gospel of Nicodemus is the earliest source that refers to Claudia Procula. The Gospel of John clearly associates Nicodemus with the fear of man. The creators of The Chosen have published interactive Bible Studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired Season 1 and help viewers apply them to everyday life. Or he may have been responding to the initial spiritual stirrings of a mighty change of heart. Peter doesn't even make his triumphant confession that Jesus is the Messiah until a significant way into each Gospel. Edersheim notes the compromising position in which Nicodemus knowingly placed himself by meeting with Jesus: We can scarcely realise the difficulties which he had to overcome. In 1937, Ernst Pepping wrote an Evangelienmotette (motet on gospel text), titled Jesus und Nikodemus. Although they had nothing to gain by being associated with him, they still had everything to lose. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Because Nicodemus was a wealthy man, he would have had plenty of people to assist him. Of course, the most significant moment we see fear at play is in Nicodemus' decision to not accept Jesus' invitation to follow him. But the Bible never gives us her name. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! But The Chosen must have other reasons taking interest in Nicodemus. And then, he met his girlfriend Mariah Schneeberger. Two and one-half years after Nicodemuss visit, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, I like the faith vs. fear arc in Nicodemus' character. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," Jesus said. 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. He grew disturbed and confused by the Pharisees were a matter of public record, he have. 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