AS SEEN ON TV: NICODEMUS

All this week, we're looking at the various historical figures portrayed in the 1977 mini-series 'Jesus Of Nazareth', directed by Franco Zeffirelli and written by Anthony Burgess. It's all in commemoration of Holy Week. Today, the spotlight is on Nicodemus. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about him:

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, who, according to the Gospel of John, showed favour to Jesus. He appears three times in the Gospel: the first is when he visits Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21); the second is when he states the law concerning the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:45-51); and the last follows the Crucifixion, when he assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial (John 19:39-42).

Though there is no clear source of information about this Nicodemus outside the Gospel of John, the Jewish Encyclopedia and many Biblical historians have theorized that he is identical to Nicodemus ben Gurion, mentioned in the Talmud as a wealthy and popular holy man reputed to have had miraculous powers. Christian tradition asserts that Nicodemus was martyred sometime in the first century. BCnU!
Toby O'B