Why Was Nicodemus Important?

The encounter with Nicodemus and Jesus holds a significance that is often overlooked. It has prophetic implications as well as legal importance. In the end you will see that what was done to Jesus was not out of blatant ignorance but rather rejection of Christ by the Sanhedrin. This is important.

The man Nicodemus himself appears a few times in Scripture yet most of what we learn of him comes from John 3. In the opening of the chapter he comes to Jesus at night. Some have claimed this was out of fear or being a coward. This we do not conclusively know. He may have simply finished his day. Too often the role of this mans life is misrepresented by the world.

The Jewish day would end at Shekiah as the last portion of the sun would set on the horizon. It is possible that Nicodemus found Jesus at twilight which is called Bein Hashmashot or early evening as stars were first visible Tzeit Hakochavim.

Who Was Nicodemus?

He was a Pharisee yet his position was prominent. It is his position which will remove any ability for those who condemn Jesus to claim ignorance to their actions. This encounter with Jesus would give Nicodemus the needed information that we later see come before the court in John 7:51. He was a member of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

The legal system of the Jews in this time still functioned although they were under Roman rule and law. Each town would have its own Sanhedrin that functioned as lower courts.

Appeals could be made which would then arrive at the highest court in Jerusalem. It is within this court that Nicodemus was a member of and this same court which would condemn Jesus.

It is clear that this encounter with Jesus was not by chance. We do not have information as to whether or not this meeting was in secret or within an official capacity. It has been assumed that it was in secret for the meeting was at night. Nevertheless this is an assumption.

We do know that among the responsibilities of the Pharisee’s and the Sanhedrin was to seek out teachers and evaluate them. In this way they would name false teachers. It could also be that this may have been the initial focus. Yet the Pharisee’s had less insight to the life of Christ than Simeon many years before.

Prophetic Importance To Nicodemus

Isaiah 53:3 detailed how Christ would be despised and rejected of men. Another famous passage of prophetic importance can be found in Psalm 118:22-23 which states:

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Psalm 118:22-23

If one were to look at Matthew 21 we find where Jesus enters Jerusalem and from the moment of His entrance prophecy is being fulfilled. We come to two parables which Jesus gives the Pharisees. The second parable is rather significant in implication.

From verses 33 to 46 the parable is about a man who has a vineyard. This man went to a far country and allowed a caretaker to tend this vineyard. At the time of harvest the man sends servants to the caretaker yet the caretaker kills the servants. The man then sends additional servants a second time believing the caretaker will acknowledge them but these servants are also killed.

These servants represent the prophets which were sent to Israel across the generations. To be a prophet often meant certain death. Even the more known prophets such as Elijah were at risk of losing his life on a daily basis.

The man in the parable then sends his son believing that surely the caretaker would acknowledge and receive his son. Yet the caretaker also rejects and kills his son. It is here that Jesus Himself quotes Psalm 118:22-23. It is interesting that the Pharisees condemn themselves in this conversation.

Jesus asks them what they would do to this caretaker. They respond that they would destroy him and put in his place a new person to tend the vineyard. After they hear Jesus quote Psalms Christ then tells them that the Kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a nation which will bring forth fruit.

For the Sanhedrin to condemn Jesus is no small matter legally within their courts just as it is significant prophetically. This rejection of Christ by Israel would be done with full knowledge of who He was. There is no way that there could be a claim to ignorance.

Here enters the significance of Nicodemus in John 7. At verse 51 we find Nicodemus doing what he can to defend Jesus before the court. The Sanhedrin wishes to condemn him without hearing Jesus speak. Nicodemus states that their law is supposed to allow every man to state their case and be heard.

His contemporaries then look at Nicodemus and ask him if he is also from Galilee. It is as an accusation and threat to not get in the way of the wrongdoing of the court. They then state that no prophet can come from Galilee. While their actions were wrong it was not in ignorance.

Not only was Jesus rejected as being the Christ but He was also denied a voice. In His place was Nicodemus to ensure that what the Sanhedrin did was known and recorded. Some may find this a minor footnote. Yet its impact is significant. While the Gospel would grow through the Gentile Church and Israel rejected Christ the story would not end here.

God would ultimately remember His promises to Abraham in the latter days. Israel would return as a nation and promises will be fulfilled. They will remember and know Christ as their Lord before the end.

The Education Of Nicodemus

In the encounter of John 3 we find Nicodemus immediately getting to the point. He states that they know that He is from God for there is no other way that these miracles could be performed. Jesus wastes no time in getting to His point as well.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that no man can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. Immediately Nicodemus attempts to rationalize this saying he cannot come from his mothers womb a second time. Jesus then moves forward in explaining that men must be born again in the Spirit.

We must go all the way back to Genesis 3 where Noah is introduced to see a statement made by God. There He states that His Spirit will not always strive or be with men. The meaning behind this statement is significant requiring a discussion within its own right. Nevertheless within its meaning is that the Holy Spirit would be selective with who He would be with after the flood.

Additionally within the time of Moses we find the Ark of the Covenant where the Holy Spirit would reside. Upon its Mercy Seat is where the blood would be sprinkled signifying the blood of Christ which would redeem us from sin.

It is here after Christ was sacrificed and rose from the dead that the Holy Spirit would then reside within the believer. This thinking was revolutionary for Nicodemus. As Jesus uses far more simple symbolic language in conveying this message Nicodemus is still questioning how it is possible.

Jesus then questions him saying are you not a leader of Israel? How can you not know these things? Prophecy was about to be fulfilled yet so many could not yet see it. Jesus gives one additional explanation that Nicodemus would recognize.

Every Jew would know the story of how Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. This serpent was forged of brass and was made to hang on a wooden pole. The children of Israel had been plagued by poisonous snake bites due to their sin and unbelief. Those who would look on this serpent and believe would be healed. Those who did not would die.

This event with Moses was prophetic in speaking to Christ. Jesus would be lifted up on a cross to be hung and die for sin. As Jesus brings this story to remembrance in the mind of Nicodemus we then come to John 3:15-16. Every child who has spent any amount of time in Sunday School has memorized this passage.

It is here that Jesus fully discloses to Nicodemus His identity and that to be born again one must believe in Jesus. At this point there is no mystery concerning the mission of Christ. Nicodemus had his questions fully answered in terms of what the Sanhedrin would wish to know as well as Nicodemus in a personal way.

Actions Of Nicodemus Provide Proof Of Faith

Some have debated whether or not Nicodemus was a believer after his encounter with Jesus. I personally see no question as to whether or not he was a believer. If he were not a believer then Nicodemus would not have defended Christ before the Sanhedrin. This was not only a personal risk to his professional life but also he risked death.

These members of the Sanhedrin would be like a combination of our politicians, judges, and religious leaders wrapped into one. He stood to risk and lose everything. Other members of the Sanhedrin may have not liked the way that things were handled yet no one was as vocal as Nicodemus.

We then can look to John 19 after Jesus was crucified. Nicodemus was helping Joseph of Arimathea. This Joseph was not the father of Jesus but rather a wealthy man who was a believer. He kept his faith secret out of fear of the Jews. Nevertheless it is this man who requested the body of Jesus and gave Him a tomb which would become famous for the Resurrection of Christ.

The role Joseph and Nicodemus played here is critical. Typically after a Roman crucifixion the body would be removed and left to rot or be taken by animals. If executions were done in passing by the military in more remote places the bodies would often be left hanging where they were. There was no respect afforded for those who were crucified.

While Joseph provided the tomb Nicodemus prepared Christ’s body for burial. He brought with him 75 pounds of spices for this preparation. This was an extravagant expense for his time. Money was of no object for what Nicodemus was performing for Christ.

If he was not a believer then these measures would not have been taken. The very fact that he had a role in this burial also exposed Nicodemus to further risk by the Sanhedrin. I believe that if anyone were to question this mans faith then it is in ignorance to the important role in which he played and the risks which he took.

From this point forward we have no real canonical nor extra-Biblical account of his life. While he was a believer in secret much like Joseph of Arimathea there is no recorded account of public declaration of faith. There are those who would take this to mean that he was not a believer.

I do understand that Scripture is clear on those who deny Christ before men will be denied before the Father. Yet Nicodemus did not deny Christ. Rather he defended Jesus at one of the most pivotal points of life. If this is not a proclamation of faith then I do not know what is.

Add to this the threatening tone which his contemporaries used towards Nicodemus it is clear that they knew his thinking. He was essentially told to shut his mouth and follow or else. No one single man could alter the path of the court nor this prophetic ending.

Nicodemus displayed his faith by action when it counted rather than by words flying his Christian flag for the world to see. I am reminded of the words of Thomas Paine who stated that often the sunshine patriot will shrink from their service within crisis. It is easy to fly ones flag when all is good and beautiful. It is altogether a different matter to risk all for the life of another.

If one risked their position, wealth, and life for Christ before He was to die I would dare say it is more risked than we have done. That is a measure of faith we have never been tested with. We all came to believe after the fact of the death, burial, and His resurrection.