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Nicodemus

Portrait of Nicodemus

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, who sought out Jesus at night to discuss his identity and miracles. In their conversation recorded in John 3, Jesus taught him about spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit and declared God's love for the world, culminating in the promise of eternal life for believers. Nicodemus later spoke cautiously in Jesus' defense before the council and joined Joseph of Arimathea to anoint and bury Jesus' body with costly spices after the crucifixion. His account illustrates how even established religious leaders encountered Christ's message, underscoring themes of gradual faith, divine regeneration, and costly discipleship in the Gospels.

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Biography

Occupation
Pharisee, Member of Sanhedrin
Era
New Testament (c. AD 30)
Nationality
Jewish
New Testament New Testament Era Other John

Did You Know?

1

Nicodemus appears exclusively in John's Gospel across three scenes that chart his progression from nocturnal inquirer to public associate of Jesus, a narrative arc absent from the Synoptics.

2

His defense before the Sanhedrin in John 7 cites the Mosaic requirement that no one be judged without a hearing, revealing his strategic use of legal procedure as a Pharisee to shield Jesus from hasty condemnation.

3

The 100 Roman pounds (roughly 75 lbs) of myrrh and aloes Nicodemus supplied for the burial constituted an extravagant royal-scale quantity far beyond standard Jewish practice, signaling both his substantial wealth and deliberate public honor.

4

Jesus addresses him specifically as 'the teacher of Israel,' implying Nicodemus held recognized authority as a master instructor whose private questions exposed gaps in contemporary Pharisaic understanding of spiritual rebirth.

5

While many assume his nighttime arrival stemmed purely from fear, first-century rabbinic custom also favored nocturnal study to escape daytime interruptions, suggesting the visit may have blended discretion with scholarly habit.

Key Passages

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

John 3:1-21

This passage shows that even sincere religious seekers need a Spirit-given rebirth to experience God's kingdom and receive His gift of eternal life.

T1here was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, 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. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his motherโ€™s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Read full chapter: John 3 โ†’

Nicodemus Defends Jesus

John 7:50-52

This passage shows Nicodemus quietly growing bolder in his faith, reminding us that seeking Jesus leads to courageous witness.

N50icodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

Read full chapter: John 7 โ†’

Burial of Jesus

John 19:38-42

This passage reveals how Nicodemusโ€™s quiet seeking finally blossoms into courageous, public love for Jesus.

A38nd after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jewsโ€™ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Read full chapter: John 19 โ†’