He Did it Anyway

Not for the Faint of Heart

End of life is hard. Not for the faint of heart.

Both, for the elderly, and the family.

We’re going thru it right now w/ Sara’s dad. He’s 91. He’s not dying. But, he’s not living real well right now either.

His heart is functioning at about 30%. He has a pacemaker. But he keeps going into A-fib. That is risky. He had a valve replaced this week. We hope that improves his heart function.

2 weeks ago, he fell and broke his hip. He had surgery, pins put in. But hasn’t been able to go to rehab b/c of his heart. He’s been in the hospital just about the entire time, off his feet, his hip still hurts.

He can’t go home until he can get out of bed and pivot into a chair on his own. Maybe a wheel chair, may the toilet.

Home is where he desperately wants to be. He’s tired of the the hospital. He’s tired of being tired and in pain.

Last Sunday night, we had a nurse problem. 99.9% of all the nurses we’ve been involved w/ have been great. But, there was this one. No details. But the family got a call from Sara’s dad who sounded awful and said they needed to get up there right away. It was almost 10 pm. Everyone had gone home to get some sleep.

All the issues, we didn’t need this one.

If you knew what was coming, would you do it?

Honest conversation. I understand doc assisted suicide, euthanasia.

Let me be clear. Unbiblical. Ungodly. Sin. Only God has the right to give life and end it. If it happens, it is not the unforgivable sin. God’s grace covers it. But, there’s a big price to be paid by the survivors.

I’ve been called in a few times when someone chose to end their life b/c they either got a bad diagnosis or got caught doing something bad and were facing serious prison time.

You understand the question. We don’t know what the end of our days will look like. But, if you know it’s going to be hard, would you go thru it?

Yes. God will give us the strength to face whatever comes w/ grace and dignity. Jesus overcame his most difficult situation and makes it possible for us to overcome ours.

Speaking of Jesus. He knew. He knew from the beginning how his life on earth was going to end. And He did it anyway.

Because Jesus did the hard thing, we can do the easy thing and get to heaven. Whatever hard things we face, we can overcome them because Jesus overcame the hardest thing for us.

We get this from His conversation w/ Nicodemus.

He had just cleaned out the temple, chased the money changers and animals out of the courtyard. His authority to claim t/b the Son of God and do that was challenged by the religious leadership.

He then did things, performed miraculous signs to prove He is who He said He is and can do what He said He can do. Som people believed. Others struggled at that point of belief.

That was Nicodemus. He came at night b/c he didn’t want his fellow leaders to know. He could avoid the circus and have an honest, private convo w/ Jesus about Who He is and what Nic should do about it .

Nic at Night

John 3:1–8 NIV

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

In John’s writing, darkness implies a sinister motive. Light is good, you’ll see that in a minute. Darkness is bad.

Nic was a Pharisee, a teacher, leader, and part of the Sanhedrin, ruling counsel. The Sanhedrin tried Jesus and found him guilty of blasphemy. They ruled on issues like this. He was an expert in the law and what the prophets taught.

But he didn’t want anyone to know what he was doing this night.

The Sanhedrin had discussed Jesus already and considered the signs they saw. They were perplexed. The signs had to have been from God. But if they admitted that, then had serious implications and consequences to their religious beliefs and traditions.

Nic was respectful. Not only was he a teacher, he was a student. He wanted to learn more about Jesus.

After Nic’s opening statement, Jesus replied with an answer to a question He knew was on Nic’s heart. If Jesus really is the One from God, then He holds the keys to the kingdom. We get heaven when we die. But to the Jews, the belief was the Messiah would come as a general and militarily defeat Rome and rule the world from Jerusalem. The Jews then would have the special position of ruling w/ Him.

But, that’s not what Jesus came to do. Kingdom yes. But heaven when we die.

The big question on Nic’s heart was, Am I in? Do I have a place in the kingdom?

He knew the law. He kept it to the best of his ability. And, probably, better than most. He knew the traditions and kept time. But his bottom line belief was b/c of his bloodline, He was born Jewish, then he was guaranteed a place in the kingdom. Right, Jesus!?

Jesus told him, yes, you were born once, but you must be born again, born from above, to get into heaven.

This blew his mind. Biology? Physiology? Literally, how? His mom was probably long since dead. Been born once the natural way. Can’t do it that way again.

Jesus is like, you’re right. Now you need to be born the supernatural way. What?

Jesus said he had to be born of water and the Spirit. What’s that about?

The water. Remember, it wasn’t that long ago when Jesus walked into the river to be baptized in the Jordon River by John the Baptist.

John the Baptist taught that his baptism was representative of repentance. Washing away the old sinful ways. The water didn’t do it literally, but once someone repented, they were baptized as an outward expression of what they did on the inside.

Repent. Admit you’re a sinner. And you sins cause a problem between you and God. Admit it. Own it. Apologize for it. Take responsibility. Accept God’s forgiveness and everything that comes w/ it. Adapt to the new lifestyle.

Admit, apologize, accept, and adapt.

The problem for the Pharisees was, they didn’t believe they needed to repent of anything. They were offended that John the Baptist said everyone needed to repent and be baptized. Sure you do. But we’re us. We keep the law. We’re good w/ God and He’s good w/ us. So they thought.

But we all have to acknowledge our sin and it’s effect on us and our relationship w/ God. Something has to be done about it. 1 sin is enough to create a huge problem. Sin is defined by the law, the rules. For those who thought they kept the law, they were offended that anyone implied otherwise.

It’s humbling. Pride is a huge stumbling block. No one likes to admit their mistakes or the role in hurting someone else, even God. Even if I feel strongly I’m in the right, I could be wrong and need to be open to that possibility.

Jesus said both born of water and the Holy Spirit. Also, remember when John the Baptist intro’d Jesus. JB is the one who baptizes w/ water and Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Spirit.

Once you believe in Jesus, that moment you come to faith, He gives you the HS to live inside you and change you. The HS is who brings life into your dead body.

So, what He is saying is, water = repent and the HS = faith. Believe in Who Jesus is and what He came to do. You need Him and you need what He is about to do for your.

Then He compares the HS to the wind. Same Greek word, Spirit and wind. You can’t see the wind. You can see the dirt it picks up in a dust storm or tornado. You can hear the wind thru the trees. But the best way to believe in what you can’t see is to experience the changes that take place where the wind or the HS have been.

Jesus is telling Nic, once he repents and believes in Jesus, he will receive the HS and be changed from the inside out. Then, he will be certain Jesus is who says he is and can do what he says he can do.

In effect, your bloodline won’t get you into the kingdom. Jesus’s blood will. Your mother and father can’t save you. But when you become a child of God, Your heavenly Father will.

John 1:12 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Nic is trying. He’s trying to understand. Faith is a process.

All of Nic’s life he tried hard to do right by God. He worked hard. He stressed hard. He feared he may fall just short. He wasn’t certain.

And what Jesus was telling him that night was, you’re trying too hard at the wrong thing.

The right thing is easy. That’s why you’re missing it. You’re making this too hard on yourself.

Jesus was going to do the hard thing so Nic and everyone else who wants to get to heaven only has to do the easy thing.

Eyes on Jesus and believe He will save you.

Hard and Simple

John 3:9–15 NIV

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

You can almost hear the cogs and sprockets turning in Nic’s head. How? Help me understand.

Jesus scolded him at this point. Not that he should have known this already. But he had always been a student and capable of learning new, even hard things for him to grasp.

Jesus told him, I’ve been in heaven. I know what it’s like there. I know what it takes to get there. Listen to what I’m saying. Repent and believe. It’s easy to do.

Maybe it’s hard to understand, it’s hard to change what you’ve held so deeply so strongly for so long. But you’re making it harder than you need to. Your pride might be an issue.

Then Jesus used and illustration of something that Nic would have been very familiar w/ that happened to the Israelites when they were wandering between Egypt and the PL.

Israel was grumbling and complaining about wandering in the wilderness for so long. I get it now like I hadn’t before. After seeing the wilderness they wandered in for so long, it make the AZ desert between PHX and TUC look like a lush garden. Nothing but rocks on top of rocks.

It was supposed t/b a 2-week journey from Egypt to the PL. But b/c they sinned, God punished them by making them wander. The complained, grumbled, griped. It was awful.

God got to the point where He had enough and sent poisonous snakes to bite them to punish them for their sin. God punishes sinful disobedience.

The ppl cried out to Mo. He cried out to God. The snakes had done their job. The ppl infected w/ the venom were dying. They admitted their mistakes. Apologized and cried out to God.

God told Moses to form a snake out of bronze and put on a tall stick. Stand the stick up. Everyone who is dying from the venom, if they will simply look at the snake on the stick and believe, then they will be healed and live.

Many thought that was stupid. Too easy. C’mon. Look at the snake on the stick. Seriously. Their pride would not allow them to accept God’s offer.

Admit, apologize, accept, and adapt. They got stuck at accept. They died.

Those that accepted God’s offer lived and stopped grumbling. They adapted and changed their behavior.

Remember when Jesus is telling this story. He just started his public ministry. He’s not going to the cross for 3 years. Yet, he used this illustration knowing that the modern adaptation of the snake on the stick will be him. He will be the Savior on the stick. Anyone who looks to Him believing will be saved and live.

He knew from the beginning what He came to do and He did it anyway. He came to do the hard thing and die for us so we can do the easy thing and live.

And He did it just b/c he loves us. No greater love can anyone show anyone else than by giving their life for them.

For God so loved the world He gave his only son. And His son loved us, he obeyed and came to do what He had to do.

Jesus’s Motive

John 3:16–21 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Why? Why would God do this? And why would Jesus obey?

B/C they love us.

Jesus didn’t come to condemn anybody. We’re already condemned. He didn’t send anybody to Hell. He simply lets them go if they choose not to change course.

Nic, you need to change course. Admit. Apologize. Accept. Adapt. He is encouraging Nic not to pull away from God but draw close by accepting what Jesus is offering here.

No one chooses not to go to heaven. We are destined not to go. We are born in state of condemnation. When our parents pass on their traits thru their DNA, one of the things we get from them our sin nature. No sinner gets to go to heaven.

The choice we all have is not heaven or hell. It’s only heaven. The only choice that we face is whether or not to get off the path that’s taking us to Hell. If we don’t make that choice, then that’s where we go.

We get off the path by choosing to turn to the Light.

Nic came under the cover of darkness. PPL like darkness b/c it hides things. Nic was hiding from his fellow religious leaders. He wanted to have this private convo w/ Jesus and consider what Jesus was saying apart from the noise.

He could also accept the message and Jesus as Messiah w/out stirring up too much trouble.

Jesus is calling Him to come to the Light. Jesus is the Light of the world. He shines on what we try to hide. He doesn’t shame us, He cleans up the messes we’ve created.

The condemned are like those in the wilderness who were dying from the venom but refused to look at the snake on the stick.

For those who look at the Savior on the stick and believe in Him, we are saved. We live.

Romans 8:1 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

We don’t stand condemned any more. And the kingdom is ours.

If you knew what was coming at the end of your life, would you do it? Jesus did.

If you knew what was coming at the end of your life and it was going to be hard, but not for your sake but for the sake of the ppl you love, would you do it? Jesus did.

Don’t make this too hard. Getting saved is easy. Jesus did the hard thing and die for us. All we have to do is the easy thing and live.

Israel had to look at the snake on the stick and live. We have to look at our Savior on the stick and live.

Applications

Learn

Never stop questioning and learning. Don’t be afraid of what you might learn.

There may be things you feel strongly about and you may be wrong about them. Expose them to the light in God’s word. If they are wrong, Jesus will help you clean up the mess and make the change.

If change is necessary, Jesus will help you make it and come thru it. He overcame his most difficult situation and He will help you overcome yours.

They may not be as wrong as you think they are. Don’t be afraid to ask God tough questions.

He can handle your questions. Never stop learning.

Evidence

Recognize the evidence that the HS is real. Trust Him to bring life to your dead body, your dead marriage, dead heart, dead whatever.

You can’t see Him. But you can see the results of the changes He makes where He’s been.

Freedom

Let the guilt go. Whatever may be in your past, Jesus knew about it when He died for it. You didn’t surprise Him.

Even if you did it after you became a believer. His blood covers it.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Let the guilt go. Jesus died to set you free. Accept the gift of freedom today w/ the gift of heaven when you die.

If you knew what was coming at the end of your life, would you do it? Jesus did.

If you knew what was coming at the end of your life and it was going to be hard, but not for your sake but for the sake of the ppl you love, would you do it? Jesus did.

Israel had to look at the snake on the stick and live. We have to look at our Savior on the stick and live.

Jesus knew. He knew from the beginning how his life on earth was going to end. And He did it anyway.

Because Jesus did the hard thing and died for us, we can do the easy thing and live. Whatever hard things we face, we can overcome them because Jesus overcame the hardest thing for us.