Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with Nicodemus from the Bible

Have you ever played the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"? The idea is to connect any actor in Hollywood to Kevin Bacon in six or fewer steps. But what if we played this game with a Biblical character? Let’s try it with Nicodemus.

Step 1: Nicodemus to John the Baptist

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus at night seeking answers (John 3:1-21). John the Baptist was a prophet who preached repentance and baptized people in the Jordan River. He was the one who baptized Jesus and proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:29-34).

Interesting fact: John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. His mother, Elizabeth, was the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:36).

Step 2: John the Baptist to Jesus

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and testified that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:15, 34). Jesus began His public ministry after He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17).

Interesting fact: Jesus was baptized in the same river where the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17).

Step 3: Jesus to Peter

Jesus called Peter to be one of His disciples and later appointed him as the leader of His Church (Matthew 16:18-19). Peter was one of the twelve apostles and is known for his passionate personality and his denial of Jesus before His crucifixion.

Interesting fact: Peter’s original name was Simon, but Jesus renamed him Peter, which means "rock" (Matthew 16:18).

Step 4: Peter to Paul

Paul was originally a persecutor of the early Church, but he had a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus when he encountered the risen Jesus (Acts 9:1-19). He became one of the most influential apostles and wrote many letters that are now part of the New Testament.

Interesting fact: Paul was originally named Saul, but he changed his name after his conversion to Christianity (Acts 13:9).

Step 5: Paul to Timothy

Timothy was a young pastor whom Paul mentored and trained. He was one of Paul’s closest companions and co-workers in the ministry (Acts 16:1-3). Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, which are now part of the New Testament.

Interesting fact: Timothy’s mother was Jewish, but his father was Greek (Acts 16:1).

Step 6: Timothy to Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon is a famous actor who has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. He has won several awards for his performances and is known for his "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game.

Interesting fact: Kevin Bacon has a band called "The Bacon Brothers" with his older brother, Michael.

Wrap-up:

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who was curious about Jesus and sought Him out for answers. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). This verse reminds us that we cannot earn our way into heaven by our own efforts or good works. Instead, we must be born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Let’s take this lesson from Nicodemus and trust in Jesus for our salvation.