Who is Nicodemus from The Bible?

Answer 1

Nicodemus was a cautious Pharisee who displayed faith in Jesus, but didn't want to be seen with Him.

"...the same came to Jesus by night..." (John 3:2).

During the arrest of Jesus, Nicodemus was only one who seeing unlawful treatment had to remind the others of a fair hearing under the law (John 7:45-52).

In fact, we are informed that it was "two Pharisees," Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, who laid Jesus in the tomb (Joseph's own unused tomb).

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there." (John 19:38-42)

"...there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed." (Matt.27:57-60)

These separate accounts speak of the same event, both omitting some details that the other provides. Matthew informs us that the tomb was Joseph's, and makes it sound like he buried Jesus alone. John, on the other hand, doesn't mention whose tomb it was... but tells us that Nicodemus assisted Joseph.