Who is Nicodemus and why was his visit to Jesus intriguing?

Who is Nicodemus?

Nicodemus was a member of the ruling Jewish Council known as the Sanhedrin.  He was a member of one of the three major societies of Judaism known as the Pharisees. He was well learned in the scriptures and was known as a leading bible teacher.  Of the four gospels, Nicodemus is only mentioned in the book of John.  John 3:1 describes Nicodemus as a leader of the Jews.  The Romans were in authority however they allowed the Jews to handle some of their own situations. In light of this, the Sanhedrin was the final authority for Jewish law and religion. Given his position, it is a natural assumption that Nicodemus was highly respected in the Jewish circle and would be considered an authority on any subject dealing with the kingdom of God.

What did the Pharisees represent?

The word "Pharisee" itself is believed to be derived from a Hebrew word that means "separate" or "detach." The question then arises, "from whom or from what did they separate?" Referring to several scriptures in John, the Pharisees seem to look down upon certain classes of people and certain positons held by a class of people.  For example in John 7:49, the Pharisees consider the crowd as ignorant or unlearned in the law of God.  In Matthew 9:11, they question the company that Jesus was keeping.  In these instances, we can see that the Pharisees clearly viewed themselves "above" others. Although they were not God, they saw themselves as his authority/voice where the Jewish nation was concerned.

Who was Jesus in the eyes of the Pharisees?

The Sanhedrin, which included the Pharisees, was the established teachers of the law; then comes Jesus, a carpenter's son.  Jesus began to teach from the scriptures and this did not sit well with the Sanhedrin.  Not only did Jesus teach the law, but in the eyes of the Pharisees, he did things contrary to the law! In the story found in John 5, the lame man that Jesus healed was questioned by the Jewish rulers as to why he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath day.  The man told him that the man, not knowing his name was Jesus, healed me and told me to take up my bed and walk.  This infuriated the rulers and they sought to destroy Jesus because in their eyes not only was he in violation of the law but he was putting himself in a positon equal to God.  These conflicts with Jesus and his teaching continue throughout the book of John.  The Pharisees were constantly at odds with Jesus mainly because he pointed out how they were actually the ones not adhering to the scriptures and how they were teachers of the law but did not abide by the law themselves. In John 8:13-18, Jesus talks about himself and this was just another reason for the Pharisees to desire his death. 

Why did Nicodemus come to inquire of Jesus?

The Pharisees hate Jesus.  He was a threat to their place in the Jewish society and his teaching as one with authority was more than the Sanhedrin's were willing to accept.  Nicodemus should have avoided Jesus like the plague but he did not.  Nicodemus came to visit Jesus at night. Why at night? Jesus presented himself on a daily basis in various places in the public eye so why did Nicodemus visit him at night? Scholars have speculated that it was out of fear or that he was ashamed to be seen talking to Jesus. As a result, Nicodemus has been labeled an ambiguous character. The scripture gives no reason for the nighttime visit but it does record the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus.  Nicodemus represented the highest authority on the knowledge of scriptures yet we see him inquiring of the very man who threatened that position. It is worth noting that Nicodemus begins his conversation with acknowledging Jesus as a man who had to be sent from God.  He praises Jesus as if to somehow make him more pliable to the questions which were to follow. John 3 reveals that Nicodemus seems to have a desire to just understand the sayings of Jesus. Ironically we have the unlearned Jesus being questioned by Nicodemus, an accomplished scholar of the law. Something in Jesus' presentation and demeanor piqued Nicodemus curiosity to the point he had to know more. Maybe he came at night to not be interrupted.  

In conclusion

Nicodemus visiting Jesus is intriguing because knowing who Nicodemus is and how Jewish rulers viewed Jesus, one would wonder why?  If anything it would seem that Jesus should have sought Nicodemus out.  More than likely this is also how the Sanhedrin felt.  Jesus should have recognized them and came to inquire of them. Nicodemus had to go against the establishment. Whatever the reason Nicodemus inquired of Jesus we find out in later scripture that it was enough to convince Nicodemus that Jesus was more than he appeared to be.  According to scripture, the Jews were waiting for their Messiah and possibly in the eyes of Nicodemus, he had arrived.  John 7:51 has Nicodemus defending Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus full conversion is solidified in John 19:39 when he assists in his burial.