He may become a close associate of Jesus, able to witness firsthand various aspects of Jesus’ life on earth
He "may become"? That is future tense. Nicodemus is dead and gone. History has passed. So answer the question. Did he or did he not become a close associate of Jesus? There is no future "may become"!
This is more trick wording from WT. From scripture, there is no evidence that Jesus ever made any such overature to Nicodemus that he desired for him to become a close friend. As a matter of fact, the scriptural conversation implies Jesus was very reserved in his dealings with this man.
Nicodemus’ interest in this man from Nazareth does not seem to wane. Two and a half years later, at the Festival of Booths, Nicodemus attends a meeting of the Sanhedrin. At this time, Nicodemus is still "one of them."
What is Nicodemus' interest in him and why has this interest not waned? Is it because he still sees Jesus as a threat to his position?
What has Nicodemus done during the past two and a half years to establish a friendship with Jesus? Has he ever visited him again or invited him over to study? Has he shown any interest in learning spiritual things from Jesus?
Why does WT lead us to think that he "may become" a close associate? Does WT mean to imply that he did ...and without any evidence to support this?
Could Nicodemus still be "one of them" if he were a close associate of Jesus? Was "one of them" more than just membership in the Sanhedrin? Could "one of them" have referred to a corrupt inner circle? Was there perhaps an inner circle of corrupt merchants, politicians, and religious law givers?
There is absolutely nothing revealed in scripture or circumstance to establish any close friendship between Jesus and Nicodemus nor do scriptures give any implication of such!
Jesus put Nicodemus in his place by rebuking him. Perhaps Nicodemus was determined to get even with Jesus for seeing through his motives.
