NICODEMUS
[nik o de'mus]
A Pharisee and a "ruler of the Jews." He was impressed by Jesus' teachings, but being afraid to seek Him openly, paid a visit by night to receive further instruction from the Master and was taught the doctrine of the New Birth. There is no record of his having openly declared himself a follower of Jesus, but that he remained in sympathy with his work is evident in his de fence of the Lord before the Sanhedrin and in his assisting Joseph of Arimathea in Jesus' burial.
John 3: 1-13
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
John 7:45-53
Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders
Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” 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?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
John 19:39-42
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. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Side note:
The Pharisees have attempted to have Jesus arrested (John 7:32). However, the men sent on this mission came back commenting on how unique Jesus' words were (John 7:46). This sends the Pharisees into a rage—they are incensed at the idea that anyone could doubt their opinions. In more or less direct terms, these religious authorities claim that anyone who disagrees with them must, by definition, be wrong (John 7:48). And, those who lack their level of knowledge are cursed into spiritual error (John 7:49). However, one of their own, Nicodemus (John 3:1–2), points out that Jesus should be given a fair hearing before being dismissed as a fraud (John 7:51). Rather than accepting their own law, which makes that very demand (Exodus 23:1; Deuteronomy 1:16–17; Proverbs 18:13), the other Pharisees turn on him.
The comment about Nicodemus being from Galilee is meant to be an insult. As prior verses showed, the Pharisees considered themselves well above the common people, mostly by virtue of their education. However, there was a cultural basis to this, as well. Most of the Pharisees were from the (relatively) urban Jerusalem, and they instinctively saw people from the surrounding (relatively) rural areas as backwards, low-class hicks. Suggesting that Nicodemus is "from Galilee, too," is the equivalent of calling him a rube or insulting his family. This is how hatefully arrogant the Pharisees are with respect to Jesus: they are willing to ignore their own laws while calling each other names.
Also, it should be noted that Scripture does, in fact, refer to a prophet from Galilee. Jonah, according to traditional accounts, was from that region. Jesus has already pointed out that the Scriptures point to Him as the Messiah (John 5:39–47), but those who are determined not to believe will never be convinced by evidence
(John 7:17).
"Most of the Pharisees were from the (relatively) urban Jerusalem, and they instinctively saw people from the surrounding (relatively) rural areas as backwards, low-class hicks."
Interesting...
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