Introduction
Nicodemus is remembered as the man whom Jesus urged to be ‘born again’. Some scold him for his hesitation, much as they scold Thomas for his ‘doubt’; but the Byzantine churches honour both for letting love carry them through, and remember Nicodemus on the second Sunday after Easter, together with the women who brought spices to Christ’s tomb.
NICODEMUS was a Pharisee, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Temple in Jerusalem.* Having heard wonderful stories, he was sure that Jesus had been sent by God, and came looking for him – at night, since controversy was already swirling.
Jesus told him that a man must be ‘born again’ to enter God’s kingdom, meaning that one must be utterly renewed by God’s Spirit in baptism. Surely, Jesus added, detecting scepticism, Israel’s governing council still believed in the power of God’s Spirit?
The council perhaps did not. When they were asked for a preliminary judgment on Jesus, they mocked Nicodemus merely for wanting a fair hearing; later, they condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion. But Nicodemus defied them, bringing a king’s ransom in spices for Jesus’s burial; and it is also said that he was a frequent visitor to the grave of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, which lay near the home of Rabbi Gamaliel.
The Pharisees (‘separate ones’) were a rather diverse movement in Roman Judaea, which sought to limit contact with contemporary Greco-Roman culture, and live instead by traditional Hebrew language, religion and law. Whether this was as a matter of individual choice or government policy, and whether it involved violent or non-violent resistance, was a matter of controversy among them.
Précis
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who paid a clandestine visit to Jesus, conscious that as a member of the Sanhedrin he was courting controversy. During that visit, Jesus made his famous appeal to be ‘born again’. Although he was outvoted in the Sanhedrin, following the crucifixion Nicodemus showed his enduring respect for Jesus by bringing spices to his burial. (58 / 60 words)
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who paid a clandestine visit to Jesus, conscious that as a member of the Sanhedrin he was courting controversy. During that visit, Jesus made his famous appeal to be ‘born again’. Although he was outvoted in the Sanhedrin, following the crucifixion Nicodemus showed his enduring respect for Jesus by bringing spices to his burial.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, just, or, otherwise, ought, since, until, whether.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Bring. Preliminary. Rabbi.
2 Lay. Look. Skepticism.
3 But. Mere. Visitor.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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