Gospel of John 09.vp

Sess ion 2: The Word Made F l esh, Glory and S igns , and the New Bi r th 43

a. A “wealthy and prominent” Nicodemus is known in Jerusalem in this period, although scholars are unsure if this is that Nicodemus.

b. As a “ruler” in the community, it is safe to assume educational stature, prominence, and leadership in the Jewish community.

2. Nicodemus sought an audience with Jesus at night in secret, probably to avoid attention. ( Note the allusions in the text to darkness and light – what might this suggest in Jesus’ dialogue with him [John 3.19-21]?)

B. Who were the Pharisees?

1. “A highly trained and dedicated group of men who sought to honor God by an elaborate system of observances and rules that affected behavior in all of life. They held that the OT was God’s word but that the right way to approach the God of the OT had been handed down over the centuries in the form of traditions. These were called ‘traditions of the elders’” (Yarbrough, John , p. 68).

2. Like our Lord, they believed in the resurrection, the authority of the Scriptures (Hebrew Bible), tithing, and the existence of angels. Paul the apostle was a former Pharisee (Phil. 3.5).

3. Jesus critiqued them for making their tradition usurp (overthrow) the authority of the Bible (Mark 7.8), and for preaching things from Scripture they failed to practice (Matt. 23.3).

C. The interview, 3.2-8