Why Did Nicodemus Come To Jesus At Night ( John3:1,2) and did his actions show that he Became a Christian?

Question

Serious Answers Please...Thx.

Answer 1

First of all, John pointed out that the Jewish ruler “came to [Jesus] in the night.” (John 3:2) One Bible scholar suggests: “Nicodemus came by night, not out of fear, but to avoid the crowds that would have interrupted his interview with Jesus.” Yet, John referred to Nicodemus as “the man that came to [Jesus] in the night the first time” in the same context in which he referred to Joseph of Arimathea as “a disciple of Jesus but a secret one out of his fear of the Jews.” (John 19:38, 39) It is likely, therefore, that Nicodemus called on Jesus under the cover of darkness out of “fear of the Jews,” just as others in his day feared having anything to do with Jesus.—John 7:13.

Answer 2

The dicussion between Nicodemus and Jesus is meant to convey the conflict between the earthly/literal and divine/metaphorical and how the latter is what determines who is or is not holy.

Nicodemus, as a member of the Sanhedrin, follows a strict interpretation of the laws and codes and parables of the jewish tradition. But because he is too caught up with the literal details (How can a man be born again once he is old) as a way to salvation (and thus, to knowing God, doing his works and finding favor with such) his inability to 'see' (or understand, which is a metaphor Jesus uses alot, ex: 'Let them say he has made the sightless see and the lame walk.') is what makes him a 'failure' in both jesus and God's eyes.

In subverting the very literal traditions that Nicodemus (as a member of the Sanhedrin) upholds, Jesus is trying to demonstrate how he is not doing it in violation of tradition but in defense of it ("God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.") When you understand the metaphor, when you understand the symbolic language that Jesus is using, then you are able to see the connections, and it is those connections that are more important to God.

This passage can also link to the rebuke Jesus later gives to other leaders of the synogage who "polish the outside of the cup but ignore what is inside." Those who 'polish' the outside of the cup do so out of habit and ritual, yet fail to upkeep the spirit and/or reason behind such. If you follow the letter of the law, yet ignore the spirit or the details to which it pertains, then when someone says you must be 'begotten from above' then you will worry about being born again, or worried about what ritual you might have missed, and completely ignored the spirit of the message.

As for whether or not Nicodemus became a Christian, its a bit like Nicodemus asking "how can a man be born again?" What makes a Christian a Christian; according to Jesus, it means making a choice. And although Nicodemus made a divine choice to go visit Jesus, he did so under the cover of night, to hide his deed. Nicodemus does not need to become a card-carrying 'Christian', which is the whole point of the dialogue. By demonstrating his willingness to display his own ignorance before someone smarter, Nicodemus already manifests the nascent seeds of what Jesus is asking people to do. To fret about whether or not Nicodemus ever became or did not become a Christian is besides the point:

condemnation comes from the realization within one's own self.

Answer 3

John's gospel doesn't give the reason, just the facts that Nicodemus did come. It would be very interesting to find out why, and the other serious responders gave good opinions. Probably it was a combination of all of these, but again, you won't find the reason given in Scripture.

From the interview in John 3, the fact that he stood up for Christ when it seemed less than, shall we say, "politically correct", to do so, and from the fact that he took time to take down Christ's body from the Cross, I believe Nicodemus was and is a genuine believer.

Answer 4

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, according to John 3:1. Could you imagine the ridicule he would have suffered had he have came to Jesus by day?? In the open so everyone knew?? He was curious yet, didn't want anyone to know he thought there might just be something to "this Jesus." However, I believe that after he talked with Jesus, and even took up for him (John 7:50) that he was a believer, after all he came along and brought Myrrh to anoint the body of Christ after he was crucified....

Answer 5

Nicodemas was a leader in Israel (a Pharisee and a part of the religious governing council). He probably came at night to speak with Jesus so no one would see him (See John 3).
In John, Chapter 7, Nicodemas asked if the religious council was going to label Jesus as an imposter without checking Him out.
Finally, after Jesus' death, Nicodemas took expensive spices and things to prepare Jesus' body for burial and helped put Him in the grave (John 19:39).
The Bible does not directly say that Nicodemas became a Christian, but, if you define a "Christian" as a "follower of Christ", then I think his actions showed that he became a Christian.

Answer 6

I think he came at night because he was afraid to come during the day, due to possible persecution. Read further and in John 19:39 you will see that Nicodemus was involved in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. While this is not clear evidence that he was saved I think it is likely that he was.

Answer 7

There were no Christians until some 75 to 100 years after the death of Jesus.

Answer 8

Only point i have to make is that there were no christians until years later, they all still thought of themselves as jews, enlightened Jews. His actions showed he was becoming a better person yes.

ana

Answer 9

He was fearful of being seen with Jesus, because he knew Jesus was who he claimed to be.

Answer 10

Because he was scared sh*tless.
As I understand it, he helped prepared Jesus for burial. So I guess he hung around.