Did Nicodemus Assist Mary Magdalene in the Bible: A Closer Look

There is much speculation about the relationship between Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene in the Bible. Some believe that Nicodemus helped Mary Magdalene in her hour of need, while others believe that he did not. In this article, we will take a closer look at the evidence to determine whether Nicodemus tried to help Mary Magdalene in the Bible or not.

Who was Nicodemus?

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council that ruled over the people of Israel during the time of Jesus. He is mentioned three times in the Gospel of John, and each time he comes to Jesus at night to ask him questions.

Who was Mary Magdalene?

Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus who is mentioned several times in the Gospels. She is often identified as the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and wiped them with her hair. She was also present at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified and was one of the first people to discover that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Did Nicodemus try to help Mary Magdalene?

There is no direct evidence in the Bible to suggest that Nicodemus tried to help Mary Magdalene. However, there are some indirect clues that suggest that he may have been involved in some way.

The Burial of Jesus

One of the main pieces of evidence that suggests that Nicodemus may have tried to help Mary Magdalene is the account of the burial of Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus in a tomb. This is significant because it shows that Nicodemus was sympathetic to Jesus and may have been willing to help his followers.

"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." - John 19:38-40

The Resurrection of Jesus

Another piece of evidence that suggests that Nicodemus may have tried to help Mary Magdalene is the account of the resurrection of Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning and found that the stone had been rolled away. She ran to tell Peter and John, who came to the tomb and saw that it was empty. They returned home, but Mary Magdalene stayed behind and wept outside the tomb. It was then that she saw Jesus, but did not recognize him at first.

"They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put him.' At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?' Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means "Teacher")." - John 20:13-16

It is possible that Nicodemus was one of the people who rolled away the stone from the tomb. If this is the case, then he may have been involved in some way in the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus.

Conclusion

While there is no direct evidence in the Bible to suggest that Nicodemus tried to help Mary Magdalene, there are some indirect clues that suggest that he may have been involved in some way. The fact that he helped Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus in a tomb shows that he was sympathetic to Jesus and may have been willing to help his followers. Additionally, it is possible that he was one of the people who rolled away the stone from the tomb, which would mean that he was involved in some way in the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. Ultimately, we cannot say for certain whether Nicodemus tried to help Mary Magdalene or not, but the evidence suggests that it is a possibility.