Brandon Potter as Quintus: a Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the Praetor of Galilee. . After Jesus crucifixion, Nicodemus assists Joseph of Arimathea in laying Jesus body in a nearby tomb (John 19:3942). Together with his friend and fellow Sanhedrin member, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus lovingly cared for the body of the crucified Savior, placing the Lord's remains in Joseph's tomb. How would you describe the way that Jesus treated women? 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. or the need to stream it, you can find it. The Franciscan Order built a place of worship named Saints Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea Church in Ramla, Israel. The first-person plural implies that Nicodemuss community shares in his positive acknowledgment of Jesus.[13] As noted, among the chief rulers also many believed on him (John 12:42). 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. The Gospel of John also tells us Nicodemus was among the elite leaders in Jerusalem (John 7:45-52) and describes Nicodemus bringing an extremely expensive 75 pounds of spices to Jesus' burial (John 19:39). He chose to have been thrown out of the synagogue after it was revealed that he believed in the Savior Jesus Christ. He was afraid of what might happen if he spoke to Jesus in broad daylight, where people might report him. Click here for my affiliation policy. What does it look like to sit on the sidelines - of the opposing side - while you watch the Jesus movement take off, knowing that you could have been a part of it? Demetrios Troy as Lazarus: a friend of Jesus, Mary, and His followers. but that's actually one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Because of the carnival atmosphere in Jerusalem during Passover, it might have been difficult to have any kind of meaningful personal or private conversation with Jesus in the crowded streets or in the din of the temple courtyards. It intends for us to see these broken relationships as a consequence of the Fall. Nicodemus is often portrayed as a cowardly or vacillating person. In this account Nicodemus joins with Joseph of Arimathea to wrap the body in a large quantity of burial spices and then place it in the new sepulcher. Together, they sought permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus off the cross and bury it before the Sabbath began. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Zavada, Jack. 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 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. This prominent member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court, secretly visited Jesus Christ at night because he suspected the young teacher might be the Messiah promised to Israel by God. . 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. When he heard about Jesus' ministry, he grew disturbed and confused by the words the Lord was preaching. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Nicodemus protested, urging the group to give Jesus a fair hearing. That is, all that the Bible says about her. has been identified by some with this man in the NT who came to Jesus by night. 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. Nicodemus is clearly the perfect candidate for the role of the Heal-Face skeptic in The Chosen. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. [11] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1971), 1:381. I realize asking these questions might feel like opening up a can of worms. As the the bronze serpent was lifted up on a pole, all who . Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? As such, his character remains largely ambiguous within the biblical canon. [20] Faulring, Jackson, and Matthews, Joseph Smiths New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts, 176. There is no indication in the Bible that Nicodemus met John the Baptist, talked to him, or visited him in jail. 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. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Sometimes their conversation got a little tense. [5] McConkie, Mortal Messiah, 1:471. Yes, we see Jesus teaching crowds from time to time, but such moments are merely set pieces that provide context for more private interactions. He referred to Jesus as a man of God and sought to investigate his character. Genesis doesn't claim that these men are good examples of morality in every area of life. The possibility of seeing the Kingdom of God is also talked about. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. Religious Educator9, no. Nicodemus struggles with the call but ultimately has cold feet and doesn't follow Jesus. Corrections? "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" 76.9k Followers, 189 Following, 357 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ryan Nicodemus (@ryannicodemus) Although they had nothing to gain by being associated with him, they still had everything to lose. [26] The name, which seems to have been not uncommon among the Jews . It was an open secret in the streets of Jerusalem spoken in hushed voices behind Jesuss back, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? (v. 25). Case in point, The Chosen shows relatively little interest in exploring the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, even though the biblical account leaves a lot of unanswered questions about how well the messianic cousins know each other. 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? What did you discover about Jesus' heart for women who have their lives disrupted by the coming of his kingdom? He may have had a sincere desire to have a serious private conversation away from the crowded, county-fair atmosphere of the Passover-choked streets and temple precincts. But Jesus wasn't like most rabbis. Nicodemus last appears in the Bible after the death of Jesus. One feature that distinguishes The Chosen from other TV or film adaptations of the Gospel is how it introduces us to Jesus. John records Jesuss testimony to Nicodemus as follows: He who believeth on him is not condemned; but he who believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the Only Begotten son of God, which before was preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testifyed of me (Joseph Smith Translation, John 3:18). It suggests that he was genuinely committed to the message of Christ, even though he had not publicly professed his faith in Jesus. After wrestling with the question in Episode 8, Nicodemus does not accept the invitation to follow Jesus. Over time, however, as Shmuel and Nicodemus part ways theologically, the students begins to leverage the fear of his teacher to his own advantage. 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. In the first instance, he meets Jesus to converse about the latter's teachings. John said this discussion happened at night, probably because Nicodemus had his reputation to protect since Jesus was a controversial figure . After all, they reasoned, Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? (v. 48). Out of a typically evangelical concern for proclaiming accurate theology, the characters jump to the conclusion that Jesus is divine far too quickly. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who believed in the miracles that Jesus performed. [15] Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyers Standpoint (New York City: Federal Book, 1925), vol. And that's it for our exploration of The Chosen Season 1 with youth! Other scholars believe that the term (anthen) used by him serves as a double entendre that has been used as a plot device to guide the character as well as the implied reader to a better understanding of the true meaning. By having Nicodemus demonstrate that he clearly has faith in Jesus during their secret meeting, it emphasizes how his refusal to follow Jesus in public is due to his fear of man (more on that plot arc below). While there are plenty of other interesting topics in the episode, as we see several male storylines wrapped up, The Chosen Episode 8 presents a great opportunity to talk to youth about women, patriarchy, and the impact of Jesus on the gender dynamics of society. His list includes forty-two of the seventy-one members of that body. Typically the Bible only mentions figures who play a role in the narrative or who were well-known among the followers of Jesus. At Passover time great numbers of Jews camped outside the city proper, but within the limits of a Sabbath days journey.[4]. We know from John 3 that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night with a question. Nicodemus.. It is said that the relics of Stephen the Protomartyr, Gamaliel, and Abibas (Gamaliel's second son) were found on the same day. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. His noble position is more clearly marked in the Greek version.[23]. To begin your discussion, ask your youth: What did you think of the episode? As a more fully realized narrative, we expect it to fill in some of the gaps that are left by the Gospel. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. Sellers shouted the merits of their beasts, sheep bleated, and oxen lowed. But it seems like Nicodemus could have struggled with both skepticism and fear. In the Bible, Nicodemus died at a very young age, which makes the story even more intriguing. Turning to Photina (the Samaritan Woman at the Well), remind your students: In biblical times, getting remarried multiple times and living with someone you weren't married to were not common practices like they are today. Nicodemus speaks in subtle defense of Jesus, saying that Jewish law requires that a person cannot be condemned without first being heard (John 7:5051). When Nicodemus argues that the Pharisees need to investigate Jesus before judging him, it's unclear what his motivation is. [18] Elder McConkie explains, Our Lord is speaking in the early days of his ministry. Instead she sent a message to her husband and said that she had a dream about Jesus Christ. He is a member of the Sanhedrin and was obviously a wealthy man, because he purchased about a hundred pounds of spices to be placed between the folds of the cloth in . 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. He was, for example (1) a Pharisee, (2) a member of the Sanhedrin, (3) wealthy, and (4) one of whom it was known that his attachment to Christ was great.. In The Chosen, Jesus asks Nicodemus to follow him . . There might have been some furtive glances at fellow believers before Nicodemus asked his question. Furthermore, John 3:16 has become a frequently-quoted verse in relation to Gods plan of salvation. While Johns Gospel leaves many questions unanswered about Nicodemus, the main points of the story are clear: Nicodemus was a disciple of Jesus but was not publicly declaring his faith. 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. This makes these creations examples of acheiropoieta. Answer All that we know of Nicodemus in the Bible is from the Gospel of John. He seems to show genuine respect for Jesus' miracles and he has real interest in what Jesus has to say. 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. "Meet Nicodemus: Seeker of God." 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. In The Chosen, during Season 1 Episode 8 Nicodemus secretly leaves money for Jesus and his disciples instead of choosing to follow Jesus himself. 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. Why do you think women were treated this way? The story of Nicodemus relationship with Jesus begins when Jesus explains that in order to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born again. Some of the extra-biblical traditions about Nicodemus are based on conjecture. This episode brings a conclusion to Season One of The Chosen. However, despite his public challenges, other Pharisees openly disagreed with him and rejected his claims. The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara (Exploring The Chosen with Youth), Photina in the Market in The Chosen Season 2, Jesus with Mary Magdalene, Tamar, Ramah, and his mother, Mary, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Elliott was a subpar student who would never find his career in studies. Eden (Peter's wife) and Zohara (Nicodemus' wife) both have husbands who have been called to follow Jesus. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. After the Crucifixion, he acted as one of the Holy Myrrhbearers. You can find episode 8 on YouTube here. The Greek church made her a saint and honors her on October 27th. In the same conversation Nicodemus seeks to understand how a person might be born again after having left a mothers womb. Fear is a powerful influence on Nicodemus character. It appears that Jesus did believe Nicodemuss belief. 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]. Nicodemus.. 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. Nicodemus is one of the few in-betweeners present in the Gospels. I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1981, and grew up in Southwest Ohio by way of Upstate New York. 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. . But, even so, we cannot wonder that he should have wished to shroud his first visit in the utmost possible secrecy. It is profitable for one man to die to save the whole people. There was no dearth of self-proclaimed messiahs. Nicodemus does not speak to Jesus simply as an individual, but as a leader of his community. During Jesus burial, Nicodemus provides about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Click here for my affiliation policy. Finally, to conclude his story, the Gospel of John suggests that Nicodemus has indeed attained nascent faith, demonstrated through his willingness to side with the dead Jesus by burying him. 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). Your contributions mean so much. [8] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 1981), s.v. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Nicodemus is described in John 3:1 as a Pharisee and a member of the powerful Jewish high council called the Sanhedrin. This was a risky move for both of them. [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). In the Talmud it appears under the form Nakdmn (Farrar, Life of Christ, 1:197n1). The following outlines Nicodemus' actions and response to Jesus. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. John allocates over half of Chapter Three and several verses of Chapter Seven to Nicodemus. However, Yussif, a Pharisee that is interested in Jesus, writes a letter to Nicodemus about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. His burial cloths would have been made of linen clothes, which are sometimes referred to as sindon in Greek. 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