Nicodemus (John 3:1–15; John 7:45–52; John 19:38–42)

A Ruler of the Jews, Who Came by Night

A Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night, spoke for a hearing for him among the rulers, and after the crucifixion brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes for his burial.

Nicodemus appears only in the Gospel of John, in three places. He is introduced as “a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1), who came to Jesus by night (John 3:2). He said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). Jesus told him, “Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3), and Nicodemus asked, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9).

When the officers returned without Jesus and the Pharisees asked whether any of the rulers had believed on him, Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus before and was one of them (John 7:50), said, “Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). They answered, “Art thou also of Galilee?” (John 7:52).

After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathæa asked Pilate for the body (John 19:38). “And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds” (John 19:39). They bound the body in linen cloths with the spices and laid it in a new tomb (John 19:40–42). The text does not say what Nicodemus believed or did afterwards.

Strengths

• Seeking
• Fairness
• Costly devotion

Weaknesses

• Slow to understand

Themes

• Born anew
• Seeking by night
• Fair hearing
• Burial of Jesus

Nicodemus comes by night (John 3:1–15)

A Pharisee and ruler of the Jews comes to Jesus by night; Jesus tells him he must be born anew.

Nicodemus comes by night

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God” (John 3:1–2).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4). Jesus answered, “Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

When Nicodemus said again, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9), Jesus replied, “Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?” (John 3:10). He spoke of the Son of man being lifted up, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14–15).

A word for a fair hearing (John 7:45–52)

When the rulers dismiss the officers' report of Jesus, Nicodemus asks whether the law judges a man before it hears him.

A word for a fair hearing

The officers sent to take Jesus said, “Never man so spake” (John 7:46). The Pharisees asked, “Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?” (John 7:48).

“Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them), Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?” (John 7:50–51). “They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet” (John 7:52).

The burial of Jesus (John 19:38–42)

With Joseph of Arimathæa, Nicodemus brings myrrh and aloes, and they bind the body of Jesus in linen cloths and lay it in a new tomb.

The burial of Jesus

“And after these things Joseph of Arimathæa, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave” (John 19:38).

“And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury” (John 19:39–40). “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid” (John 19:41).

Jesus (John 3:1–15; John 19:39)

Came to him by night calling him a teacher come from God; was taught by him; brought spices for his burial.

The Pharisees (John 7:45–52)

His fellow rulers, among whom he spoke for a hearing, and who answered, Art thou also of Galilee?

Joseph of Arimathæa (John 19:38–42)

A disciple of Jesus who asked Pilate for the body; Nicodemus came also and they laid Jesus in the tomb.

Major sections

• John 3:1–21
• John 7:45–52
• John 19:38–42

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