Trinity (4)

John 3:1–15 NIV84

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

When one hears the word ‘Investigative Journalism’ the first person that comes to mind is Glenn Greenwald, the co-founder of The Intercept and the journalist who was the first to break the Snowden leaks.

He is a legendary IJ advocating aggressive adversarial journalism challenging those in power.

Then obviously Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein the reporters who covered and exposed the Watergate scandal. Of course they no longer work in the field and are editors still they must be mentioned.

Geraldo Rivera (born Gerald Riviera; July 4, 1943)[1][2] is an American journalist, attorney, author, political commentator, and co-host of The Five on Fox News Channel. He hosted the tabloid talk show Geraldo from 1987 to 1998. He gained publicity with the live 1986 TV special The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults. Rivera hosted the news magazine program Geraldo at Large, hosts the occasional broadcast of Geraldo Rivera Reports (in lieu of hosting At Large).

Nicodemus fits the category of an investigative journalist or reporter in my opinion.

He was a person in authority and whose opinion was respected.

He represented a group in authority.

He investigated Jesus to unveil details about Jesus.

Arguably, the most well known and beloved of passages in the Bible is John 3:16. It has been called “The Gospel in a Nutshell” because it summarizes God’s plan of salvation. The context in which this passage appears in the Bible involves a private meeting between Jesus and a man called Nicodemus.

What do we know about Nicodemus?

He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.

John 7:50–52 NIV84

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Nicodemus in the Gospel of John

John 7:50–52: Nicodemus somewhat defends Jesus before the Pharisees at the Festival of Booths. When other Pharisees speak against Jesus and seek His arrest, Nicodemus argues that Jesus should receive a fair trial according to Jewish law. The text does not clarify his motives. Borchert suggests that, as a fair-minded member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus is urging just treatment for the accused (Borchert, NAC, 294). Tenney, while acknowledging that Nicodemus’ question “was not an open declaration that he had faith in Jesus,” allows more room for the possibility that Nicodemus sympathizes with Jesus: “Nicodemus may have felt that if he championed Jesus’ cause unequivocally, he would lose his case; but if he raised a legitimate legal objection, he might prevent drastic action” (Tenney, EBC, 88).

He was present at the death of Jesus and along with Joseph of Arimethea saw to the burial of Jesus.

He most likely came to believe in Jesus but kept it secret.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Talmud

Talmud

Some have tried to identify Nicodemus of the Bible with Nicodemus ben Gorion of the Talmud. Nicodemus ben Gorion was a wealthy first-century member of the Sanhedrin who lost his status and fortune later in life. Some believe his losses were tied to his possible conversion to Christianity (Bauckham, “Nicodemus and the Gurion Family”).

Why did he investigate Jesus?

Negative: To debunk Jesus’s teachings? This is what an investigative journalist often attempts to do. I’m not so sure this was his motive.

To report back to the Sanhedrin more information on this man. Possible.

His own personal interest and seeking out answers. This is what he accomplished whether or not that was his initial motive.

What did he learn?

That those without the Spirit are “flesh” and outside of a true relationship with God and must be renewed by the Holy Spirit (born again) in order to have this true relationship — seeing the kingdom of God. This is Christ’s rule in our hearts by the word of God.

Jesus uses figures of speech to teach. Metaphors and similies.

Jesus identified himself as the Messiah who had come from God and through whom people would have eternal life.

John 3:13–15 NIV84

13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

The saving work of the Triune God.

The Father loves the world and sent his Son to save the world by being lifted up.

Jesus is the Son sent from God the Father to bring light to the world.

The Holy Spirit connects with the word of God to people’s hearts to bring them to faith.

What impact did that knowledge have on his relationship with God?

He would defend Jesus and assist in his burial. We wish we knew more of the rest of the story.

What do we learn about Jesus, God—the Father, and the Holy Spirit? (see above)

What impact does that have on our lives?

We acknowledge that by nature we are born sinful, that we need salvation, and that the Holy Spirit works that in us through the Gospel.

How is this shown when we baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”?

This statement that teaches that our God is in three persons is not just a formula that is spoken at a baptism or to invoke our God but summarizes what we believe our God has done for us and our salvation.

The Father created us and preserves us and is full of compassion for or bodies and souls.

The Son is Jesus who was sent by God to reveal the Father to us and to die on the cross for our sins and was raised again to ascend into heaven where he rules all things for our benefit.

The Holy Spirit is a real person sent by God to bring us to faith and to lead us in godly living.

Through the years the church has summarized our belief in the Triune God and what he does with the three ecumenical creeds. The most extensive of which is the Athanasian Creed adopted around 600 AD which confesses our faith in our God. Amen.