Jesus and Nicodemus
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews, that came to Jesus at night. John 3:1-2. This is found only in the Gospel of John.
The Jewish religious leades were fixated on keeping the Law of Moses. They despised Jesus and would eventually have Jesus crucified.
Jesus’s message to Nicodemus includes powerful theology.
The New Birth leads to everlasting life through Jesus Christ. John 3:3-17.
Those that will not believing on Jesus as God’s redeemer remains under God’s condemnation. John 3:18.
Analogy of Light and Darkness. Jesus is the Light of the World. vs. 19-21.
The next time Nicodemus is mentioned in the Bible is John 7:37-38, 43-48-51.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Vs. 37-38.
Nicodemus is functioning in his official capacity as a member of the Sanhedrin as they consider what to do about Jesus. The Chief Priests and Pharisees wanted Jesus arrested. vs 45.
Nicodemus’s response: Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
Doth our law judge any man, before it hears him, and know what he doeth. vs. 50-51.
The final mention of Nicodemus in the Bible is in John ch. 19, after Jesus’ crucifixion.
We find Nicodemus assisting Joseph of Arimathea in Jesus’ burial. Joseph is described in John as a rich man and in Mark 15:43 as a member of the Council.
Joseph of Arimathea is described in John 19 as a disciple of Jesus in secret because he was afraid of the Jews. Joseph asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and took Him for burial. John 19:38.
Then Nicodemus brought 100 pounds of spices to use in preparing the body for burial and then assisted Joseph in wrapping the body and placing it in a new sepulcher, wherein was never a man yet laid. John 19:41.
The sheer amount of burial spices would seem to indicate that Nicodemus was a rich man and that he had great respect for Jesus.
Body of Jesus was laid in “a Borrowed Tomb” of Joseph of Arimathea. It is referred to as a “Borrowed Tomb” because Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day, and the tomb would again be empty. Luke 23:50-53
Nicodemus probably was a disciple of Jesus, as was Joseph of Arimathea, but had not yet declared his faith openly for fear of the Jewish Religeous Leaders. His actions recorded in the Gospel of John indicates that his faith was indeed genuine.
Below is the Message Audio
Below is the underlined link to the typed notes.