Nicodemus
maleNew TestamentMeaning: “Victory of the people”
A Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin who came to Jesus by night and heard that one must be "born again"; he later helped bury Jesus’ body.
Biography
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and "a ruler of the Jews" — a member of the Sanhedrin — whose three appearances in John's Gospel trace a quiet journey from cautious curiosity to open devotion.
Born again
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, acknowledging Him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus told him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3), and in that conversation spoke the most famous verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).
A voice for fairness
Later, when the authorities sought to condemn Jesus, Nicodemus cautiously urged due process: "Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him?" (John 7:51).
At the burial
Finally, after the crucifixion, Nicodemus came openly with Joseph of Arimathea, bringing about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' body for burial (John 19:39–40) — a public act of devotion from the man who had first come in the dark.
Life Timeline
Comes to Jesus by night and hears of the new birth
Urges the Sanhedrin to give Jesus a fair hearing
Helps bury Jesus with myrrh and aloes
Themes & lessons from Nicodemus
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Nicodemus appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
5 verses in 1 bookJohn5 verses
John 3:1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
John 3:4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 7:50
Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) to Jesus: Gr. to him
John 19:39
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Frequently asked about Nicodemus
Who was Nicodemus in the Bible?
A Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin who came to Jesus by night and heard that one must be "born again"; he later helped bury Jesus’ body.
What does the name Nicodemus mean?
The name Nicodemus means “Victory of the people”.
What did Nicodemus do in the Bible?
Nicodemus served as pharisee, ruler of the jews.
Where does Nicodemus appear in the Bible?
Nicodemus is mentioned 5 times across 1 book: John.
What can we learn from Nicodemus?
The story of Nicodemus touches on themes of nicodemus, life, aloes, burial — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Nicodemus's life.
Sermon Mate
Teaching on Nicodemus?
Organize your sermon notes, link Scripture passages, and build your outline in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.
Open Sermon Mate →