Most people do not realize that the Sanhedrin – the name for the Jewish high courts of ancient Judea were located in every city.
Most of us assume there was but one Sanhedrin and that it met in Jerusalem.
The truth of the matter is that there was a “Great Sanhedrin” (The Highest Court or the Great Supreme Court) – the ancient Jewish equivalent of the US Supreme Court had 71 members and it met in the Temple proper. The reason for the 71st member was so that no ties would take place in their voting.
The Sanhedrin was the highest legal and religious authority in Jewish life.
The “lesser courts” or the “Lesser Sanhedrin” consisted of just 23 justices. They were situated through Judea and presided over local civil and criminal cases. Note they were not located in “lawless Galilee…”
Those crazy Galileans!!!
Two Talmudic texts cite the necessary qualifications for Sanhedrin appointees: they must be well versed in the Torah and in the general sciences, including both medicine and mathematics. Although Jewish law forbade witchcraft, Sanhedrin judges had to be familiar with its ceremonies, so that they would be qualified to judge a case involving witches.
They also had to be affluent in many languages to avoid relying on interpreters. Aged men and eunuchs were not appointed to the court, because it was feared they would be lacking in tenderness. The same was true for men who were childless.
Seven additional qualifications were later added to this number: “wisdom, humility, fear of God, hatred of ill-gotten gain, a love of truth, love of one’s fellow man and a good reputation.”
Nicodemus was a prominent member “and leader” of this Great Sanhedrin – located in Jerusalem, proper.
The purpose of the court was to interpret all Biblical laws for the nation… The justices met daily from morning until mid-afternoon.
It was the Sanhedrin that stood in direct opposition to the ministry of Jesus. They were constantly watching him.
As a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus wanted to know more about this radical rabbi from Galilee. But Nicodemus felt it was best – to meet him only under the cover of darkness…for his good and for the good of the Court.
The discussion did not go well. There was a great deal of sparing back-and-forth and some misunderstanding that took place.
This Jesus character “did” make sense. He was articulate. He was knowledgeable. There were no blasphemous statements or comments. So much so, that Nicodemus was surprised! It was not at all – what he expected or anticipated.
He wasn’t sure what to expect…but Jesus exceeded any and all expectations.
The whole discussion about “being born again” was a bit confusing…but Nicodemus thought he was starting to understand what the man was saying.
Whatever the phrase was supposed to mean it seemed to boil down into – taking “conscious steps” towards the Kingdom – which Jesus was pointing to – A Kingdom of Heaven…
It required giving ourselves to God, blessed be he. Returning to the Lord…
He was talking about submitting to the almighty one. Surrendering, acquiescing and yielding…nothing radical there!
But people are afraid of losing control. They want to be in charge. They think “it” is a sign of weakness.
Jesus is right – to give ourselves totally to God is a sign of strength. Strength that we dare to trust him with our very lives… Strength that we acknowledge the grace of God… Strength that we believe in the “invisible” that moves the “visible…”
And then in this brief little encounter Jesus said he was summarizing all of his teachings by saying: God did not go to all the trouble of sending his Son into the world – merely to point an accusing finger at it – in essence telling the world – how bad it is.
Instead, he came to help, to put the world right again. To put people right again, especially in their relationship with God. Now, Nicodemus assumed “the son” was the “son of man” mentioned 107 times in the Hebrew Bible. (93 times in the Book of Ezekiel alone) and in that famous section of Daniel – chapter 7. This Jesus was not bad, not bad at all…a little obtuse maybe…but he left you feeling you wanted to hear more.
And so out – into the outer darkness – Nicodemus went…feeling somewhat satisfied…and certainly justified…