May 5, 2024
Morning Service

John writes this Gospel with a purpose that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and through believing we may have life through Him. We come this morning to one of the most famous scriptures in our Bible; John 3:16. John is the only one who shares this meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus.  Last week John told us of the first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine and mentioned “the many signs which He did” at the Passover in Jerusalem.  Remember Jesus is not like a traveling circus that advertised for all to come and see the show.  He always kept a low profile and was led by the Spirit to know when to do miracles and certainly did not do it on demand for attention.  He is seeking those who are hungry for what God is offering, not those who want to be entertained.  The same is true today.  God is seeking those who are seeking Him.  John introduces us to Nicodemus this morning who was a Pharisee, one of the strictest sects of the Jewish faith. He lived a life devoted to God as a well-respected teacher of the scriptures.  Through his position he had power and influence and lived a comfortable life.  But inside there was this emptiness that there was something more to life and God that he was missing.  Most Jewish leaders like him were offended by Jesus and resented Him and the attention He was getting from the people.  Nicodemus was different.  He saw God moving in the ministry of Jesus and had the desire to investigate what was happening.  He follows Phillip’s advice to Nathaniel as he invited him to “Come and See!”  Nicodemus saw God moving and rather than automatically dismissing it, he came to see.  Because of his stature as a leader, he has asked to meet Jesus in a private place at night.

Joh 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  (2)  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

            Nicodemus was in tune with God moving and could not ignore the works Jesus was doing.  He knew they could only come from God and confesses that belief right off the bat with Jesus.  He did not come condemning, but seeking the truth with a pure heart.  We know those who seek Jesus in this manner will find what they are looking for.  Jesus immediately throws him a curve ball that sets him back on his heels.

 

John 3:3-8Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  (4)  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"  (5)  Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (7)  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'  (8)  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

            This is a very important subject for us to understand, the difference between the physical and the spiritual world.  In the physical world we can see and touch those things.  In the spiritual world it resembles the wind.  We cannot see it or touch it, but we know it is there because we can hear it, see what it is doing and feel its presence around us.  Spiritual things are the same way as we see the impact upon lives and often feel the Spirit’s presence among us.  It is proof that through faith, we don’t have to see and touch something to know it is true.  Jesus tells Nicodemus this about being “born again.”  We all came from our mother’s womb at physical birth, but we came to spiritual rebirth through the water and spirit.  Being placed under the waters of baptism was our spiritual death and rising from the waters was our spiritual rebirth (born again).  Paul tells us this:

 

 2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

            We are born again in Christ, through baptism.  We have no physical proof of this happening, but through the receiving of the Spirit we are “Born again!”  Nicodemus struggles to understand this spiritual side of things as do many around us.

 

 

Joh 3:9-15 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"  (10)  Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?  (11)  Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  (13)  No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  (14)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

          Jesus rebukes him slightly here for being a spiritual leader and not understanding spiritual things.  To understand earthly things, we can see and believe, but heavenly things take faith- “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  It is through faith that we are saved (Eph. 2:8).  Jesus then prophesies that He will be lifted up upon the cross so the entire world may be saved as it was in the days of Moses with the serpent on the pole.  The Israelites had sinned against God and He sent in serpents that would bite them and they would die.  BUT GOD made a way out.  He had Moses to make a pole with a serpent upon it and he lifted it up and when they looked upon it they were saved from the serpent’s bite.  See how that OT event was a “shadow” of what God would do later with Jesus.  Those who are bitten with the deadly venom of sin must only look to Him for salvation. Jesus now reveals to us God’s plan and the motivation behind it in a most familiar way.

 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

            We must be very careful to not become “gospel hardened” to the true meaning behind these scriptures.  There is a depth here that we must search out.

Why did God do this?  Because He loves us.

             How did He do this?  Through the giving of His Only Son for our sins.

             Who is this for?  Whoever believes

 What is given?  Eternal life (fellowship with God).

 The mission of Jesus (His life’s work) was not one to condemn us, but to offer us a chance to be saved through Him (a rescue mission).  They key to this is we must believe it was for me He did this.  “God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son that when I believe, I will not perish but have eternal life.”  Do you grasp that God is pursing you and desires you to believe in Him and be saved?  He created you and knows you and He loves you!  He calls you from this scripture to come and follow Him.  He has something better for you.  He is what you have been searching for.  He completes you!  Jesus explains deeper:

 

Joh 3:18-21 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  (21)  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

            We are condemned or saved by our faith.  Do we truly believe or not?  If not, we are already condemned as we are not seeking the Light but prefer darkness.  Those are happy and contented in this life and have no vision or desire for something better.  But we who come to the Light (accept Jesus as Savior) are seeking a deeper truth one that satisfies our soul and completes us beyond what this world offers. It is not only believing faith, but a life changing faith that makes us a “new creation.”

 Nicodemus knew there was more to God and sought after it.

 How about you?