There are situations where prudence is the best witness: Think of Christians in closed countries, working to slowly plant seeds of gospel witness. Bible Verses, Quotes, Christian Answers, Songs and More. Copyright 2023. Skin is wrapped around people who have time limits, hidden agendas, and buried secrets. arms, gently and cautiously, as if carrying a beloved and very severely wounded friend, Jesus Christ did not Die on the Cross - A Cardiologist's Perspective But the mysteries of God and the wonders of His kingdom are not always apparent or understood in purely literal or physical terms. The piercing of the spear in the chest aimed at the heart created a rent in the outer layer of the pericardium. To be seen with Jesus carried enormous risk for such a prestigious religious leader. Jesus said to Nicodemus: "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For 2,000 years, people of different eras and cultures have marveled at her faith in God. Nicodemus and Joseph both saw him physically dead, a lifeless corpse leaking blood and water. Magdalen's reverence for Jesus did not permit her to approach her face No longer under the veil of the darkness of night, Nicodemus advocates for Jesus in public. 3:19-21). The Sadducees were much more sophisticated, preferring accommodation with the Romans, even purchasing power through corruption and backroom deals. What does the Bible say about Nicodemus? The Pharisees were a group of Jews who were fastidious in keeping the letter of the Law and often opposed Jesus throughout His ministry. And we can then imagine the terrible discomfort each would feel as Jesus was arrested and stood trial before their august body. Jesus explains: One must be born anothen (from above, again) and from pneuma (wind, spirit) to see and enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5). However, I never considered that my false self would have a life of its own. Jesus never rebuked Nicodemus for his slow, secret quest. Who helped Nicodemus take Jesus' body down from the cross? Did they reiterate Nicodemuss plea that his fellow religious leaders resist the rush to judgment and give Jesus a fair hearing? What Do We Learn about Salvation from Jesus' Meeting with Nicodemus? We dont know much about Joseph, but what little we know matters. The request caught Pilate by surprise. Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. What is it, then, that you do mean?'" [7] In this instance, Nicodemus chooses the literal (rather than the figurative) meaning of anthen and assumes that that meaning exhausts the significance of the word. Also see What Does It Mean To Be Crucified With Christ? Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.. How powerless these two powerful men must have felt! Was he still a seeker just pleading for a full hearing for Jesus? The actual cause of death varied with each case. Thus, with knowledge of both anatomy and ancient crucifixion practices, it is not difficult to reconstruct the probable medical aspects of crucifixion from a cardiologists perspective. The Pharisees would soon cast off anyone from their synagogue if they professed faith in Jesus (John 9:22), something Jesus would later warn his disciples of in his Upper Room Discourse (16:2). Scholars remain unclear on the overall polemical purpose of either the Acts of Pilate or the Gospel of Nicodemus, but the contrast of Nicodemus as a righteous Jew against an obstinate crowd of Jews, along with his alleged authorship of the texts, is considered by many as providing literary reinforcement to anti-Jewish views held by contemporary Christians. other bands, which they hung on two of the lower hooks. By these words, many smoldering wicks, many Nicodemuses, have met Jesus in their own dark nights of the soul and have emerged as children of the light. Is There a Sin That Leads to Death? He seems so only because his strength is gone.' [15] Having carefully laid the body of Jesus Christ (as) on the ground, Nicodemus spread strong spices and healing salves, making out that he was doing so to keep the body from decaying. Sabbath was near. We are not the total of the labels we acquire over a lifetime. Did Nicodemus take Jesus off the cross? ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONSThe Care TeamRealm LoginOpen PositionsNeeds and BlessingsPartner Organizations, DISCIPLESHIPGet To Know Jesus Being Human ConferenceSacramental MinistriesWhat does it all mean? It isn't possible. Who Was Nicodemus In the Bible? - Christianity FAQ Nicodemus was Honestly Seeking God. He brings along a mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint him for the entombment. Taking Jesus from the cross Conclusion Nicodemus' name The name Nicodemus, (Nikodemos), is comprised of two parts, the first "nike" means victory and the second part "demos" means people or common people. 15:19, KJV). The bones of the breast, as well as all the nerves, were [9] In the case of Jesus Christ(as), scourging was mild and blood loss minimal. We cant know exactly what they were thinking as they performed this thankless taskwhether, for instance, fear and doubt were creeping into their hearts. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin. The one who left Heaven to make his way to Jerusalem is forming you and shaping you through his death, burial, and resurrection. So Joseph requested permission from Pilate, the Roman governor, to take Jesus body off the cross. Only begotten: The literal translation from the Greek of this expression is, special, beloved. The translation in English also makes it clear that Jesus was not created as other humans are created by God since He is the Eternal God, who took on human flesh. duties to the remains of her murdered Son. REMOVAL OF THE BODY OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS John 19:39 says that it was a mixture of aloes and myrrh that they used to treat the body of Jesus. Before they removed the cross, they would first remove the body. It is only in a beating heart of a living person that blood gushes out. Resource Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(ESV), Crossway Bibles. The wise men knew that Jesus was not only the Son of God, but they also knew that his death would be a very important one. Used by permission. Jesus had barely begun His ministry but according to v. 14-15, what did He already know about His mission? Joseph was loved before he left Arimathea to make his way toward Jerusalem, and we were loved before we ever started doing ministry. it from every trace of ill-usage. Therefore they gave the gift of myrrh as a token to their belief that Jesus death would be the final payment for our sin! The blood loss was minimal both during scourging and crucifixion making the possibility of shock due to the loss of a large volume of blood unlikely. Perhaps Pilate was relieved that this Jesus problem was finally taken care of. When I started out in ministry, I was eager to work hard and prove myself. He feared all these things might be stripped away if he were more vocal about his faith in Jesus. How is the Trinity God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit involved in this passage? You are once more surrounded by only a few followers. Although Jesus does tell us if we do not acknowledge him, he will not acknowledge us. It was important not only to get the body off the cross but also to bury it quickly before sundown and the start of Sabbath on Passover week, when work had to cease. Most commonly, the feet were fixed to the front of the cross by means of an iron spike driven through the first or second intermetatarsal space, (space between the first and second toe), just distal to the tarsometatarsal joint. by a kind of cushion made, perhaps, of mantles rolled together. The historical location of Arimathea is uncertain, although it has been identified with several towns. Shortly after beginning my ministry, everything false and secretive came up for air. Someone born of water, were converts went through a conversion process. In the case of Jesus Christ(as), scourging was mild and no mention is given in the four Gospel account. of heart and ardent longing, were stretched out to receive it. Something went wrong. Brother Andrew, known as Gods Smuggler, was responsible for sneaking millions of copies of the Word of God behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War and helping plant the seeds of hope in places bereft of gospel witness, places ruled by Communist governments that restricted Christianity and persecuted Christians. The arrival of Joseph of Arimethia and Nicodemus, an experienced physician, further lend support that Jesus(as) survived the ordeal of crucifixion. Joseph was someone your sons and daughters probably would respect and admire. with eyes riveted, and accompanying every movement with raising of hands, tears, and Which book in the Bible talks about Nicodemus? What if everything is stripped away from me? from the hair with sponges. link to How Old Was Mary When She Gave Birth to Jesus? Thus, the explanation does not find cardiological acceptance. When the blows of the hammer by which The Descent from the Cross (Greek: , Apokathelosis), or Deposition of Christ, is the scene, as depicted in art, from the Gospels' accounts of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus taking Christ down from the cross after his crucifixion (John 19:38-42). Fear was hindering his spiritual formation. them may have been kept as tokens of remembrance. How does Jesus describe the work of the Spirit? My identity was never in jeopardy. Also, the severity of scourging is not discussed in the four Gospel accounts[3] and it is not known whether the number of lashes was limited to thirty nine, in accordance with the Jewish Law. In my 15 years of ministry, Ive found that people discover who they are when those self-identifying labels are removed because of a painful job loss, divorce, rebellious child, or another difficult circumstance. Pastors are often described in the same manner as Joseph. Why is Nicodemus important? Typically, a criminal would be dumped into an empty grave or paupers field, buried ignominiously under a pile of rocks. First, during the day he was so busy that he could not free himself from his pressing leadership responsibilities. Nicodemus in the Bible - Jesus' Lesson on Being Born Again - Crosswalk They shuddered, as if expecting again to Why did Jesus include the story of the bronze serpent? Pastors often think about their ministry the way Joseph thought about his role as a disciple of Jesus. Nicodemus was a ruler of Jews, which suggests he belonged to the Jewish Sanhedrin (v. 1). According to one scholar, Nicodemus probably was impressed by the miracles of Jesus but was not fully convinced that he was the Messiah. - Quora. Her care was next directed to the neck, In the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches, Nicodemus is a saint. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. maltreated body of the Redeemer reach the ground. lower part of the body, which in death had sunk down on the knees, rested now in a sitting R. C. Sproul says this is in keeping "with our Lord's refusal to put out a faith that, being mingled with fear, seems to be a . The torn hair of the head to learn more. Nicodemus belonged to a group of Jews called Pharisees. The better answer is that Nicodemus, while not yet fully convinced of Jesus' divinity, had seen the miracles Jesus performed.

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