GSC MODULE 36 - NICODEMUS [PART THREE], DEFENDER OF THE MESSIAH

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 36

NICODEMUS [PART THREE]

DEFENDER OF THE MESSIAH

Objectives: By the end of this Module you should;

• Know about Nicodemus
• Have insight into how Nicodemus used his influence
• Know who Annas and Caiaphas were
• Have knowledge about the trial of Jesus
• Be able to preach a sermon about Nicodemus

Contents:

1. Concern of Caiaphas

2. Who was Caiaphas?

3. Raising of Lazarus

4. Ancient village of Ephraim

5. Jesus predicts His death

6. The trial of Jesus

7. Death of Jesus

1. Concern of Caiaphas
High Priest Caiaphas was deeply troubled. Attempts to curtail Jesus' activities in the Temple and in the countryside had failed.
  His own Temple guard had been persuaded by the teachings of Jesus to the point that they imperilled their own livelihoods by failing to carry out their orders to arrest the Nazarene.
  
  Now Caiaphas was sure that Nicodemus was a secret supporter of Jesus. 
  He had long suspected that this influential member of his Sanhedrin was turning to belief that Jesus was the Christ.
  Now he was sure. Caiaphas and Annas further suspected that Joseph and Arimathea and others among the Pharisees were secret admirers and supporters of Jesus.
  
Temple laws were being flouted, the populace was following Jesus and the status quo of the temple tax was in jeopardy.
  Added to that, the high priests were dependent upon Roman goodwill for their appointments within the Temple.
  If they proved unable to control the people, Rome would be swift to remove them from office.

  Into this volatile mix, the Pharisees were now in the process of splitting into two opposing camps; one, secretly championing Jesus as Messiah.
  The other, loyal to Annas and Caiaphas, integrally opposed to the claim of Jesus.

Caiaphas shrewdly suspected that the number of followers of Jesus within the ranks, including Nicodemus and influential Jews, was growing. 

  This made him very worried indeed. 
If the number of followers of Jesus continued to escalate, a very real possibility existed that temple leadership could be undermined.

  Caiaphas decided the time had arrived for action before temple authority was completely eroded.

2. Who was Caiaphas?
Caiaphas was high priest of the Jews in Israel in the latter years of Jesus' life.
  According to the historian Josephus, Caiaphas was appointed to the office in AD 18 by the Roman Prefect who preceded Pontius Pilate, Valerius Gratus.
  
  Joseph Caiaphas was the latest in a line of successive high priest appointments.
  His father-in-law Annas, the son of Seth, had been deposed in former years from the high priest tenure.
  His five sons served in succession thereafter, until his son-in-law was granted the post.

The family of Annas had a strong grip on the high priest position, and were in no mind to give it up lightly.
  Jesus had been threatening the status quo of the temple administration for some time.
  
3. Raising of Lazarus
When news of the raising of Lazarus from the dead reached Jerusalem, a gathering of the Sanhedrin in reaction to the explosive news.
  Nicodemus gathered with his brethren and heard account of the spectacular happening.
  
During the meeting, the Sanhedrin members considered the words reported as spoken by the Rabbi.
  Jesus clearly stated ' "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." ' [John 11:25]

 This was an explosive statement. Jesus was going further than merely claiming He was the Messiah.
  He was claiming to be Son of God, and offered proof of His claim by raising a dead man a full three days after burial.
[John 11:38-44]

  There was no doubt about testimony to the resurrection, as many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary after the death of Lazarus witnessed the wonder.

The Sanhedrin further heard that Martha, a follower, had publicly professed belief in the Rabbi.
  ' "I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, Who is to come into the world." ' 
[John 11:27]

The parting of the ways had come between Nicodemus and those partisan to Jesus' cause, and those against.
  Nicodemus realized that, if the eyewitness accounts proved true, the wonder had arrived. 
  The longed for Messiah had come to Israel.

  Caiaphas and other Sanhedrin members held a different viewpoint.
  They feared the power of the sway Jesus now had over the populace.
  This latest miracle had people flooding from all over Israel to follow Jesus.
  As the power of Jesus grew, that of the temple hierarchy was on the wane. 
  Even more tellingly, there was no indication as to how Rome would react if Jesus was proclaimed Messiah and King of Israel.

  Heated debate ensued at the meeting.
' "What are we accomplishing?" they asked.
"Here is this man performing many signs. 
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation." ' 
[John 11:47-48]


Caiaphas, then spoke up.
  ' "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." '
[John 11:49-50]

With that political calculation, the stage was set.    When next Caiaphas and Jesus were to meet, it was to be at a trial within the Sanhedrin which would ultimately lead to death penalty.

Nicodemus was deeply disturbed by the developing events within the Sanhedrin.
 In all likelihood he gave discreet warning to Jesus of the Sanhedrin plot.
  
  After this time, and probably on his guard as a result of warning, Jesus no longer moved about publicly about the people of Judea.
  The possibility of an assassination attempt with collateral damage and death to His followers, would have been foremost in Jesus' mind.

  He planned His greatest miracle, personal Resurrection: not wholesale decimation of innocent bystanders.
  Jesus withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where He stayed in safety with His disciples. [John 11:54]

4. Ancient village of Ephraim
Ephraim was a safe haven, sympathetic to Jesus and His followers.
  The local village people were probably tough and well able to protect their own.
  Added to that, they were able to keep their own counsel.
  So Jesus and His disciples could stay in relative safety.

The city of Ephraim or Ephraim in the wilderness is a city or village in Judea.
  Ephraim lay in the wild, uncultivated hill-country, thirteen miles in the north-east of Jerusalem.
  The village perched on a conspicuous eminence with an extensive view between the central towns and the Jordan valley.
  No-one could surreptitiously come up and take anyone by surprise.
  The village was a natural fortress by means of the very nature in which it resided.
  
Ephraim is considered to probably be ancient Ophrah [Joshua 18:23], Ephron [2 Chronicles 13:19], and the modern city of Taybeh. [1]
  
Now the chief priests and antagonistic Pharisees searched for Jesus without success.
  Orders went out that anyone who found where Jesus was should report it so that they could arrest Him. [John 11:57]
  This became common knowledge among the Israelites.
  Jesus' disciples realized at this stage how desperate the plight of Jesus had become.

The warnings of the Pharisees had appeared to fall on deaf ears.
  The situation had worsened even further.
Now the chief priests were not only plotting to kill Jesus - they were including followers of Jesus including Lazarus.

Lazarus, dead and resurrected, was to be killed 'for on account of him man of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.' [John 12:11]

  Judas came to hear of the order for arrest. Fear for his personal safety and future - a very real fear - began to prey on Judas' mind.
  He began to realize that he had hitched his star to a losing cause.
  If Jesus continued on His current path, death to both Himself and His disciples could prove likely.

Judas, after much reflection, decided not to go down with the rapidly sinking ship.
  He made the decision to go to the chief priests and find out if they would be discuss payment in return for information which would lead to the arrest of Jesus.
  As it turned out, they were; thirty pieces of silver.
'And from that time on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.' [Matthew 26:14-16]

  Many of the leaders now believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees would not openly acknowledge their faith 'for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.' [John 12:42]
  
Jesus knew His death was imminent. He had disregarded warnings against His life.
  He had continued to confront the temple authority with proofs that He was Messiah.
  He clarified that he had full control over life and death, and would bring about His own Resurrection.

  There were no nasty surprises. Jesus knew precisely what He was letting Himself in for.
  Death before resurrection. A horrible remedy for the even more horrible reality of the sin of humanity.
  And a ransom the Son of God was more than willing to pay for our freedom from the tyrannical rule of satan. . .

5. Jesus predicts His death
Jesus left the sanctuary of Ephraim and made His way to Jerusalem.
  The populace, heady with joy that the Messiah of Israel had come, welcomed Him into the city with the honour of a King.
  'Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus from the dead continued to spread the word.
  Many people, because they had heard that He had performed this sign, went out to meet Him.
  So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!" [John 12:17-19]

Jesus knew that His hour had come. He openly predicted His death.
  To Nicodemus' anguish Jesus appeared to court direct confronation with the chief priests and antagonistic Pharisees.

  Nicodemus had witnessed the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. 
  He also heard how many of his brethren were incensed at the acclaim of the populace of Jesus as King of Israel. [John 12:12-19]

Jesus had made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem in order to attend Passover.
  Some Greeks, who had come to worship at the Festival, asked Philip for a personal interview with Jesus.
  Philip in turn told Andrew about the request.
The two then approached Jesus.

Jesus said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
  Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.
  But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will also be.
  My Father will honour the one who serves Me.
Now my soul is troubled, but what shall I say?
  "Father, save me from this hour?" No, it was for this very reason that I came to this hour.
  Father, glorify Your Name!'
Then a voice came from Heaven, "I have glorified It, and will glorify It again." The crowd that was there said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him.' [John 12:20-29]

Possibly Nicodemus, his heart thundering, heard the Voice from Heaven.
  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Moses had clearly spoken within the temple.
  Nicodemus had received final proof that Jesus indeed was the Son of God.
  Yet from this moment of God's personal witness to the people, things went swiftly downhill. . .

6. The trial of Jesus
The unthinkable had happened. Nicodemus, his palms sweating and his robes flowing as he hastened towards the Sanhedrin court, prepared his thoughts for the time ahead.
  The Master had been arrested, and even now was about to face trial for His life.

As Nicodemus entered the room, his heart involuntarily shook within him as he saw the state of the prisoner.
  Jesus had obviously been beaten; his nose had been broken out of shape and his eye was swelling.
  Nicodemus learned later that this had happened during questioning at the palace of Annas, the former high priest. [John 18:19-24]

Jesus, bound, had thereafter been taken to Caiaphas the high priest. 
  Now, his clothing full of mud, his demeanour battered, Jesus' eyes met those of Nicodemus.
  The wave of misery in Nicodemus' eyes smote Jesus.
  Not the least of the sufferings the Messiah underwent was to cause pain to those He loved.

Nicodemus hastily gathered the facts from his colleagues.
  Jesus had been arrested earlier that night at the Garden of Olives.
  Judas, one of the inner band of Jesus' most trusted disciples, had brought a large crowd of people armed with swords and clubs sent from the chief priests and elders of the people to Gethsemane. [Matthew 26:47-56]

  What on earth had Jesus been thinking to stay so close within the city walls when He knew the danger to His safety, Nicodemus privately wondered.
  
Nicodemus had met Judas when he negotiated private interview with Jesus.
  Nicodemus later found that Judas had been treasurer of Jesus and the disciples' finances.

  The chief priests and various of his brethren had, for some time and unknown to Nicodemus, negotiated with Judas in order to bring about the arrest of Jesus.
  In return for his collaboration, he was paid thirty pieces of silver.
  Thirty pieces of silver! thought Nicodemus bitterly as he surveyed the battered form of Jesus. Surely Judas must in some measure suspect the fate now facing Jesus.

  Nicodemus berated himself for not knowing of this twist in the plot. 
  It was now painfully clear that his brethren had for some time been aware of Nicodemus' complicity in protecting Jesus.
  Vital information had thus been discreetly kept from him.

  Nicodemus now prepared to fight for the very life of the Messiah in court.
  His personal path of discipleship had come to the crossroads.
  The Pharisee was about to go public in support of the Messiah.

  Nicodemus surely realized that public defence of Jesus would affect his career.
  He stood to lose even the right to synagogue worship.
  Yet the Pharisee never hesitated. As the trial went forward, Nicodemus fought for the life of Jesus against the Sanhedrin plot to destroy Him.

7. Death of Jesus
 As the trial wore on, Nicodemus began to hope there might be a way out for Jesus after all. 


  'The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death.
  But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.'  [Matthew 26:59]

However, Jesus signed His own death warrant when He forsook silence in order to answer the pivotal question:
  'Then the high priest said to Him, "I charge You on earth by the Living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God."
  "You have said it yourself", Jesus answered, "But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the Right Hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven." ' [Matthew 26:63-64]

  Caiaphas, rending his garments, found Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
  The Sanhedrin passed the death sentence on Jesus with a majority vote.

  Nicodemus tried to prevent the brutal beating and spitting into Jesus' Face which ensued.
  However, so few in the face of so many, failed to stop the torture of the Prisoner. 

As Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor, Nicodemus followed.
  His efforts, and those of his colleagues loyal to the Christ, had proved in vain.

  As events unfolded Nicodemus suffered deeply.
  The Man he knew and loved as the Messiah of God was tortured, beaten and crowned with thorns.

  All the prophecies of the ancient Prophets were being fulfilled as Nicodemus, Pharisee and believer, witnessed the dreadful sufferings of the Christ.

  As Nicodemus stood, defeated, at the foot of the cross on which the suffering Messiah was gasping His last breath, he may well have murmured the words of the Prophet Isaiah;

53 Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Rev Catherine
[1] Ephraim in the wilderness
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_in_the_wilderness

With thanks to wikipedia.org and youtube

GSC MODULE 35 - NICODEMUS [PART TWO] PATH TO DISCIPLESHIP

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 35

NICODEMUS [PART TWO] - 

PATH TO DISCIPLESHIP

Objectives: By the end of this Module you should;

• Know about Nicodemus
• Understand how Nicodemus came to belief in Jesus
• Have knowledge about scriptural texts regarding Nicodemus
• Have insight into the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees
• Be able to preach a sermon about Nicodemus

Contents;

1. Path to discipleship

2. Troubled times

3. Challenging Temple authority

4. Temple tax

5. Nicodemus defends Jesus

1. Path to discipleship

The life of Nicodemus the Pharisee is an extraordinary one of a man hesitantly visiting a preacher by night to becoming a public follower when the man was dead.

  Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were two influential men who had not yet dared to fully profess their discipleship.

  Nicodemus was a highly regarded representative of the educated class of Israel.

  He was a powerful Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.

  Nicodemus was known to be an immensely wealthy man and extremely influential in Jewish society.

  This Pharisee was both respectable and deeply religious.

The Pharisees and those in religious and political circles were well aware of the tremendous phenomenon that was Jesus' ministry in Israel and beyond.

  Jesus had shrewdly built a core band of disciples and also attracted the attention of followers such as Mary Magdalene.

  The Rabbi preached in the synagogues and manifested great signs and wonders in confirmation of His authority as Son of God.

Nicodemus realized that Jesus, an excellent strategist, was making use of the long established network of synagogues to preach and lecture, and spread His radical new message.

  God had come to earth in the form of a man who had the muscles and sweat of a carpenter, the mind of a genius theologian philosopher and the personality of a radical.

  Yet Nicodemus still considered he had grounds for doubt.

  Would God deign to incarnate in the form of a mere human?

  Would His Infinite Godhood not be insulted by the mere thought of such an incarnation?

  Would such incarnation not be grounds for absolute blasphemy?

  Was the Messiah not meant to be the long prophesied follower of God upon earth, not God Himself?

  Whatever his issues, Nicodemus appreciated how cannily Jesus had taken His preaching to villages on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the inhabitants of Nazareth decisively rejected both Him and His Message.

News of miraculous healings reached the Sanhedrin not only by popular report and rumour, but also by attested reports from synagogue priests.

  By the time Jesus performed His first public miracle in Cana, His organization was growing from its infancy into a recognizable structure.

  He now carried out a campaign of tremendous miracles. 

  Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus led a simple lifestyle. His mother, expert in weaving, had woven Him a garment in one piece - no seams - which kept Him protected from the dust and sun as He tramped the long roads.

  A cloak served as blanket by night and covering by day.

  This simply dressed Man walked from town to town. 

  The band of male and female disciples who accompanied Him caused occasion for scandal and comment.

  It was unheard of for decent women to consort openly with unmarried men in a band of people.

  Yet this is just what Jesus' disciples did - at His express instigation.

  Men and women are equals, and as equals they are called and follow Him.

  

  Jesus had no horse, no litter to carry Him as the rich did. 

  He had no home to call His own, no family to be His earthly descendants, no wife or children to bring Him comfort.

  Nicodemus had heard of the words Jesus spoke about His life.

  'Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head.' 

[Luke 9:58]

  Jesus brought a powerful message, enshrined in His simple lifestyle.

  True wealth is the truth of being a human son or daughter of the Most High God.

  Great beauty does not lie within evenness of form and face, but inner holiness of spirit.

  Jesus was showing society that we are all one human family.

  We can confidently call everyone brother, or sister.

  Our loyalty and love is not only meant for close blood and familial ties.

  They are also meant for everyone we meet.

Jesus had brought the message that the Kingdom of God is, indeed, among us.

Jesus proved troublesome.

  He was overturning the status quo, changing the course of events.

  Satan and his followers were by now in a state of emergency.

  Jesus was casting out demons from their unlawful habitation of humans by means of exorcism.

 Jesus was deliberately, and effectively, threatening satanic rule upon earth.

Whispers flew to all corners of Israel concerning Jesus.

  As Jesus' influence grew, so did Palace and Temple nervousness.

  Hannah, wife of Herod's steward, left the steward's side to follow Jesus and to help care for Him. [Luke 8:3]

  Rumours circulated as far as the Roman palace. Pilate's wife heard rumours about the holy Rabbi Who healed.

  The Sanhedrin followed Jesus' career closely.

One member of the Sanhedrin - the highest Jewish religious authority of Israel - had become deeply interested in Jesus, His teachings and works.

  Nicodemus the Pharisee had begun to believe that Jesus might, in fact, be the true Messiah.

  He sought after, and received, private audience with Jesus.

  Nicodemus returned from the interview a deeply thoughtful man.

  There was much he did not understand. He knew, too, that Jesus was treading on dangerous political ground.

  The carpenter from Nazareth had made powerful enemies among the Pharisees, as well as among Herod's court.

  A plot against the life of Jesus began to gain momentum.

  Nicodemus, skilled in political and religious circles, resolved to do what he could to safeguard the life of the Man he suspected to be the Messiah long awaited by Israel.

2. Troubled times

Jesus and His disciples were forging a troubled history with the Pharisees.

  Jesus constantly criticized many of the Pharisees, and in public at that.

  The Pharisees were, as a group, impeccably religious; and a number of their brethren ruled the religious and social life of Israel.

  On various occasions Jesus robustly condemned their lives and teaching as being misleading.

  Jesus was the master of direct insult, and stung many an ego and conscience.

  Nicodemus stroked his beard thoughtfully as he heard of some of the insults.

  

'Woe to you, teachers of the law, and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

  You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill, and cumin.

  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness.

  You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.

  Blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!' [Matthew 23:23-24]

Jesus called the Pharisees full of greed and self-indulgence. [Matthew 23:25]

  He went so far as to call the Pharisees whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead bones and everything unclean. [Matthew 23:27]

  This was fighting talk; and the Pharisees were not slow to respond.

  The Teacher scandalized scribes in His audience when He forgave the sins of a paralyzed man in Capernaum. 

  Jesus' assumption of the authority of God in the sphere of forgiveness of sins was perceived as blasphemy.

  Jesus thereafter healed the man, attesting to His authority to forgive sins. [Mark 2:1-12]

3. Challenging Temple authority

Jesus' public ministry had grown in intensity and His followers in numbers.

  His public profile increasingly affected the Sanhedrin meeting agenda for a variety of reasons.

  Jesus confronted Temple laws such as those pertaining to work on the Sabbath.

  

One instance was at the Pool of Bethesda, an ancient pool within the very shadow of the Temple itself.

  Jesus was in Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews, when He spent some time at the pool.

  

Bethesda was located near the Sheep Gate and was surrounded by five porticoes.

  The arched colonnade sheltered large numbers of invalids; blind, lame, paralyzed.

  One man had been lying there, praying for a cure, for thirty-eight years.

  Those lying there in such misery were excluded from Temple worship by reason of their condition.

  The pool waters were troubled from time to time when an angel visited the pool.

  It is believed that the angel in question was Archangel Raphael. [1]

  Whoever managed to get into the pool first after the angel troubled the waters, was immediately healed of their disease.

  The paralyzed man had waited at the pool for thirty eight years. As he had no-one to put him into the pool waters, someone else had always got into the water ahead of him, and so he never received healing.

  

  Jesus - touched by the sad story - healed the man.

The healing occurred on the Sabbath, and Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk.

  The man did so. This action of Jesus caused offence because the healing and the carrying of the bed occurred on the Sabbath.

  These actions were deemed as work, and thus not allowed on the holy day.

  

  Yet Nicodemus pondered. If Jesus indeed was the Messiah, then Divine authority was in the process of changing the understood construct of religion.

  Temple change was in the air.

4. Temple tax

Over the years, Jesus had observed temple taxation.

  Not only were men of Israel subject to tax by the Romans, but there was also the temple tax to pay.

  Special officers were appointed over the temple treasury.

  It was their duty to collect the half-shekel, or tax levied upon the male heads of Israel for the upkeep of the temple, which the officer at Capernaum asked of Jesus. [Matthew 17:24]

  The Temple further had its own currency, so visitors were obliged to change the Roman coins in current usage into Temple currency - and were charged for the service. 

  This hit the poor very hard, and Jesus started pushing towards radical reform.

  Temple tax should become a burden belonging to the past.

  

  Income of the Chief Priests, Sanhedrin, temple priests, guards and servants were all influenced by temple taxation.

  The controversy around temple tax boiled over when Jesus drove out the money changers, and knocked over their tables and the chairs of those selling doves.

  Through this decisive action, Jesus directly challenged temple authority and signalled that Jews should no longer pay prescribed taxes.

  By doing so, Jesus sealed His own death penalty as temple leaders were not prepared to accept this challenge to their leadership.

5. Nicodemus defends Jesus

The secret nocturnal meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus was not without results.

  Nicodemus left Jesus' Presence resolved to do all within his power to protect the safety of Jesus.

In effect, a dangerous turn had occurred in the events of the life of Jesus.
  His claim as the prophesied Messiah had split the until then united society of Pharisees into two distinct groups; those who discreetly supported Jesus and those who were directly antagonistic to Jesus.
  Jesus' message was now directly affecting temple leadership; and the High priest and chief priests were not slow to perceive the threat.

  

When the latter group of Pharisees sent guards to arrest Jesus in the temple, Nicodemus used his influence and knowledge of Jewish law to protect Jesus.

  He challenged his fellow Pharisees, 'Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?'

  Stung, they retorted, 'Are you from Galilee, too?

Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come come out of Galilee.' [John 7:50-52]

Influential Pharisees partisan to the Rabbi - and possibly, Nicodemus among them - warned Jesus of the plot against His life.

  Pharisees 'came to Jesus and said to Him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else, Herod wants to kill you." ' [Luke 13:31]

  Jesus disregarded the warning, informing those concerned that He had to press on, for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem.

  Jesus thus knew with certainty that if He continued on His chosen path, He was going forward to death.

  Yet the loyalty and concern of these Pharisees must have warmed the heart of the Son of David.

  Nicodemus defended Jesus on another occasion, at the Feast of Tabernacles.

  Jesus boldly went up to the temple courts and taught as was His wont.

  During the course of His preaching, He challenged the crowd as to the reason they wanted Him killed.

  They responded by insulting Him.

' "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered, "Who is trying to kill you?" ' [John 7:20]

  The Pharisees antagonistic to Jesus then sent the temple guard to arrest him - without success as it turned out.

On the third and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and shouted in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.

Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.

[John:37-39]

When the temple guards came back to the Chief priests and the Pharisees without having arrested Jesus, they were questioned as to the reason.

  ' "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!" ' [John 7:47-49]

  They then called a curse down upon the crowd.

Nicodemus defended Jesus by means of Jewish law - "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?" [John 7:51]

The Chief priests and antagonistic Pharisees thereupon insulted Nicodemus.

  They were now alerted to the fact that Nicodemus was sympathetic to the cause of Jesus.

  It was clear that any attempt on the life of Jesus would encounter stout legal opposition from within their own ranks.

  

  They deliberated on the best way forward. The result was a special trial by night, and a swift sentence of execution before both became widely known among the followers of Jesus.

  

  As Jesus' life was winding towards an inexorable denouement, Nicodemus was maturing in his discipleship.

  Soon events would find Nicodemus fighting in court for the life of Jesus. . .

Rev Catherine

[1] Patrons of Healing Part Two; Archangel Raphael
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2016/04/good-shepherd-church-seminary-doctor-of_9.html

  

  

  

  

   

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY, MODULE 34. NICODEMUS [PART ONE] - THE SACRAMENTS

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 34

NICODEMUS [PART ONE] -
THE SACRAMENTS

Objectives:  By the end of this Module you should;
1. Know about Nicodemus
2. Have knowledge about the visit of Nicodemus
    to Jesus
3. Be equipped to teach about the Sacrament of
    Baptism
4. Know that the Spirit gives birth to spirit
5. Understand that God loved the world so much
    He gave us His Only Son
6. Be able to give a sermon on Nicodemus with
    reference to New Testament sources
7. Understand that Jesus instituted the Sacraments
8. Be able to testify to the teaching of Jesus 
    regarding the lifting of the snake in the 
    wilderness by Moses

Contents;

1.    Who was Nicodemus?

2.    Burden of Proof

3.    Baptism and the Spirit
4.    Sacrament of Baptism
5.    Holy Spirit and Sacraments
6.    Prophecy of the Sacraments
7.    God's gift to Humanity

   8.    Parting

1.     Who Was Nicodemus?

As the night owl swooped, the hurrying figure of a darkly cloaked man cast shadows on the Jerusalem house walls.

  As Nicodemus came to the place where Jesus sat with His disciples, it was illuminating to realize that Jesus so trusted this man that He gave him knowledge of his whereabouts.

  Nicodemus was both a powerful Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin; the Jewish ruling council.

  This leader, a respected, wealthy and influential member of Jewish society in Jerusalem, came to talk with Jesus in private.

  Nicodemus had first become aware of Jesus’ ministry as rumours and reports of His teachings and healings filtered back to the Temple.

  News had most likely reached Jerusalem about a failed stoning in Nazareth. 
  A carpenter’s son had proclaimed Himself the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the local synagogue; thus laying claim that He was indeed the Messiah promised by God.
  Nicodemus had probably heard that this Man had been taken up for blasphemy in the synagogue, and had managed to escape the stoning.

 That alone was unusual. What was more remarkable was His age; the same span of years which the boy-children of the royal Davidic bloodline would have been if they had not been massacred in the region of Bethlehem

  Somehow this young man appeared to have escaped the Bethlehem massacre.

Nicodemus was keenly aware that the timeline of Jesus' life fit exactly with a number of events which had excited discussion and comment within the Sanhedrin within the previous decades.
 The priest Zechariah had received angelic vision in the Temple, been struck dumb and thereafter the unexpected birth of the infant John took place.

  This predestined boy was the cousin of Jesus of Nazareth, and had been preaching and baptizing while making public announcement of the coming of the Messiah.
  He was acknowledged as prophet of the Lord by the people of Israel.

  The holy Simon and Anna, prophets within the Temple, had witnessed that the Messiah had been born and dedicated within the Jerusalem Temple itself.

  Furthermore, a stir had been experienced within the Temple years before when a twelve year old genius village boy had been involved in lengthy discussions with the top teachers of the law.
  Nicodemus had learned that the boy - instead of attending rabbinic study within the Temple - had returned home with His parents.
  To Nazareth. The town of Jesus. Everything was falling into place for Nicodemus.

  He himself had witnessed signs and wonders, healing and teaching of Jesus.
  He had even seen dead people raised again to life by Jesus. 
  Various of the Sanhedrin and Temple staff were annoyed by the contretemps the ministry of Jesus created within the Temple; they elected to believe that Jesus was under demonic influence.

  Nicodemus believed differently. It was wholly possible - he concluded - that based on evidence, it was not inconceivable, but probable, that Jesus might be the long promised Messiah.

2. Burden of Proof

A cautious and religious man, Nicodemus followed Jesus’ career with ever increasing interest.

The reported witness of Simeon at the circumcision of Jesus was 
'Now, Lord, let Your servant go in peace as You promised:
for my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of Your people Israel.' [Luke 2:29 - 32]

The prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, came along as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph.
  She began to praise God, and talked about the Child to everyone who had been awaiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. 
[Luke 2:38].

John the Baptist had witnessed that Jesus is the Messiah, saying;

'Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world.
This is He of Whom I said 'A Man comes after me Who has surpassed me because He was before Me. 
I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.'
  John had given further testimony with the following words, 
'I saw the Spirit come down from Heaven as a Dove and remain on Him.
And I myself did not know Him, but the One Who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The Man on Whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the One Who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One.' [John 1:29 - 34].

These were powerful witnesses; yet were they enough?
  Nicodemus reasoned that in Jesus, he had found one who spoke with authority and power.

  Yet was Jesus the Messiah? Israel had known false prophets before, and when a member of the Sanhedrin spoke, only measured and factual evidence should be presented to the people of God.
  Yet Nicodemus became more and more convinced that Jesus might indeed be the promised Messiah.

  Nicodemus personally witnessed varied of Jesus' preachings, teachings and healings: particularly those carried out within the Temple.
  Reports flooded in from synagogues all over the country and from regions beyond of healing wonders carried out by Jesus.
  A number of official reports had been received by the Sanhedrin from synagogue priests detailing successful healings at the hands of Jesus.
  This had been done at the request of Jesus, and in accordance with the Law. [Luke 17:14].

All the evidence pointed to one fact: Nicodemus had to put the claim of Jesus to the test.
  There was only one way he knew to begin this process; that was to meet with Jesus for discussion.
  However, so much controversy was swirling in religious and political circles as a result of Jesus' ministry, that Nicodemus resolved to ask for a private meeting.

Nicodemus approach in secret for a nocturnal meeting had various benefits.
  The two men would be able to discuss various issues without the pressure of public crowds, heckling or public dissension. 
  Pressure and threat from the Sanhedrin and the Temple guard would be avoided.
  Jesus and the safety of His disciples would be assured. He would have sufficient time within peaceful circumstances in order to explain His position with clarity to the Sanhedrin representative.
  Nicodemus could assess the claim of Jesus and His teachings, with  no compromise to his personal position and standing within the Temple and societal circles.

  Away from the public eye, the two were able to talk freely – Nicodemus, to explore Jesus’ teachings. 
  Jesus, to explore Nicodemus’ search for truth.

 Nicodemus was aware of various issues surrounding Jesus' claim to be Messiah.
  Not least among them was the dichotomy which Jesus presented.
The carpenter from Nazareth turned rabbi did not fit the profile of a Davidic king of warrior tendency and military leaning.
  What then, was His plan to fulfil the destiny of Messiah and to win the support of the people of Israel?

3. Baptism and the Spirit
Nicodemus courteously greeted Jesus with honour as Rabbi. 
  He affirmed that he was member of a group who knew that Jesus was a teacher who has come from God.

  The reason Nicodemus gave for their belief was that no one could perform the signs Jesus was doing if God were not with him. [John 3:2]

  As time wore on, the discussion between the Pharisee and the Christ took a most unexpected turn.
  Instead of Nicodemus leading the discussion, Jesus took the opportunity to explore deeper theological realities with the powerful Sanhedrin member.
  He challenged Nicodemus to fathom the reality of the great Sacraments He was forging on earth.
  Rather than raise up earthly armies and pitting military might and causing suffering on earth, Jesus had laid celestial military campaign.
  He was going to storm the very foundations of demonic holdings on earth and wrest humanity from the dominion of satan.
  This would be done through divine sacraments of baptism, water, Holy Spirit, eucharist, crucifixion leading to redemption and eternal life.
  God's master plan was not strategy leading to earthly rule.
  He planned a new Kingdom, a new Heaven; with everlasting Davidic rule by Jesus Christ as Emperor of the cosmos.

4. Sacrament of Baptism  
Jesus intended to begin the divination process of each human by means of divine infusion. 
  His first laid strategy was to infuse divine life - the very life of God Himself - into human beings.
  This would be effected by removal of the defacement of the Image of God within each person which had been wrought by the fall.
  The defacement - or removal of the stain of original sin - would be brought about by the action of the Holy Spirit of God.

  The Spirit of God would be called upon the person, and would carry out God's work upon the spirit.
  An earthly sign to witness to the inward reality of divine action, and one easily discernable to all humanity - and demonic entities - would be the sign of water.

5. Holy Spirit and Sacraments
  Nicodemus had attended the meeting with Jesus for the purpose of learning more about Him.
  To this honest man of integrity Jesus gave the honour of knowledge of the Sacrament of Baptism and the Nature of the Holy Spirit of God.

  Jesus explained to Nicodemus that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.

  Nicodemus assumed that Jesus was speaking in the literal, physical sense. 
  He enquired how someone could be born when they are old; surely they could not enter their mother’s womb a second time in order to be born. [John 3:3-4]

  Jesus' answer was that no one can enter the Kingdom of God [a heavenly Kingdom] unless reborn of water and the Spirit.

  Simply put, Jesus is speaking about spiritual rebirth through the Sacrament of Baptism.

  Jesus told Nicodemus that the body gives birth to another body, but the Spirit of God gives birth to the spirit.

  As our mother’s body gives birth to our physical form, so God’s Spirit gives birth to our spiritual form.

  In order for us to metamorphose successfully from our physical body on planet earth into our eternal spiritual being capable of existing eternally in Heaven, we have to undergo a new birth.

  Our spirits are born of God Himself through a mysterious process which we undergo through the physical symbolism of poured water during sacrament while here on earth.

  Nicodemus was utterly astounded. So much so, that Jesus responded to his surprised face with the words, '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.”'[John 3:8 - The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind]

  The Greek for ‘you’ is plural; so Jesus was speaking to the group of whom Nicodemus was the spokesman.

  The Greek for ‘Spirit’ is the same as that for ‘wind’. 
  So Jesus explained that the spirit is a force humanly unseen; yet, the spirit is reality nevertheless.
  Nicodemus asked how this could be; the teaching was unclear to him. 

  Jesus challenged Nicodemus as Sanhedrin member - foremost religious and spiritual teacher - as to his inability to understand these things.

  The Messiah then affirmed in most solemn terms that ‘we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen,’ [John 3:11]
  Jesus thus gave witness to His knowledge of the Godhood and the mysteries of God Himself.

6. Prophecy of the Sacraments 
Jesus further prepared Nicodemus for the miracle of His Resurrection, and for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
  He explained that as the great Prophet Moses had lifted up the snake in the wilderness, He as the Son of Man must be lifted up.

  As the fatally afflicted people of Israel looked upon the bronze serpent and lived, so humanity fatally poisoned by sin are destined to look up at the Figure of the Son of God upon the Cross, and to receive redemption and eternal life from Him.

  Jesus was explaining the steps towards the Sacraments of Eucharist, Forgiveness of Sins, Administration of Graces and Preparation for Eternal Life.

  Crucifixion, death and Resurrection would effect the background to the great Sacrament of the Eucharist.
  Furthermore, the sacrament of the forgiveness of sins would be effected at the foot of the cross where 'but one drop of blood which for sinners is spilt, is sufficient to cleanse the whole world of its guilt.' [1]
 In other words, the innocent Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus God's only Son, is the only means by which we could be reconciled to God after the complete rift in relationship between God and humanity.

7. God's Gift to Humanity

Jesus affirmed to Nicodemus that God loved the world [humanity] so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

  God did not send Jesus into the world to judge and condemn humanity, but to save the world through Him.

  Jesus further explained that those who do not believe in His Messianic status are in danger of not taking advantage of the opportunity for eternal life on offer.

  Jesus gave God's verdict. The Light of God had come into the world through His Person and teachings, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

  Everyone who does evil hates the Light of God, and will not come into His Light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

  But whoever lives by the truth comes into God’s Light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. [John 3:16-21]

8.     Parting

And so the two – Jesus, descended from Davidic royalty, sired mysteriously, birthed in an animal dugout and with the muscles of a hard-working carpenter – had met with Nicodemus, a Pharisee born into a privileged and comfortable lifestyle.

  After their parting, Nicodemus discreetly retired home with much to ponder . . .

Rev Catherine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jltKwX6ifzQ

[1] Good Night to Our Blessed Mother


With thanks to youtube

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS

HAPPY NEW YEAR
TO ALL OUR READERS