Nicodemus
Pronounced nik-oh-DEE-mus
- Meaning
- "Victory of the people"
- Origin
- Greek
Nicodemus means "victory of the people" in Greek. He was a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council (Sanhedrin) who came to Jesus by night, initiating one of the most famous conversations in Scripture about being "born again." Jesus told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" — a statement that confused this learned teacher. From this conversation came John 3:16, perhaps the most quoted verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." Nicodemus appeared twice more in John's Gospel — defending Jesus before the Sanhedrin and helping Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus' body for burial with seventy-five pounds of expensive spices. His journey from secret night-time inquirer to bold public supporter mirrors the growth of genuine faith.
Spiritual meaning
Nicodemus' journey from darkness to light — from coming by night to publicly honoring Christ — models the gradual but genuine growth of faith. His story assures us that intellectual seekers can become devoted followers.
Related verses (KJV)
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3 (KJV) →"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."
John 19:39 (KJV) →