Asking Questions

Context

Story from John 3.

Jesus has been teaching, preaching, and working miraculous signs. Turning water into wine, healing the sick. Fame as a teacher and prophet on the rise. But also skepticism and even hostility from the religious establishment, because Jesus would often violate their norms…healing on the Sabbath, a day of strict rest, for example.

In our lesson today, one of the religious elite, Nicodemus by name, comes to interview Jesus.

Text

John 3:1–17 “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Introduction

This week. Water sprinkler pipe on the exterior of my house busted. Tried as I might I could not find the city water shut off valve. Had to call the city. Crew showed up. They worked on the problem.

I plowed them with questions:

How do you know where the main line is?

Is it made of brass? Will it break?

I was genuinely curious. They were happy to answer my questions..(but don’t do the work yourself!)

When we ask questions, we grow. We grow as home owner. Professionally. How do I do that? Get and answer, grow. Relationally, Honey, how do you feel about that? Get an answer and we grow.

When we are genuine curious, people are eager to share. They share and we grow.

Do you think the same principle holds in our walk with God? If we are curious, does God share with us so we can grow?

Hands up? Let’s look at Jesus and Nicodemus.

Exegesis 1: Jesus offers Nicodemus a nighttime audience

Among the crowds who heard Jesus and saw his signs were the elite religious leaders.

Often these religious leaders — the Pharisees — are appear in the Gospels as the antagonists of Jesus. But not always.

Nicodemus is an exception. He is a Pharisee. Even a senior pharisee. An elder of the people. Member of the governing council the Sanhedrin.

Yet he comes to talk with Jesus. One on one.

Not as an opponent, but with curiosity. He has heard Jesus, seen Jesus, and something about Jesus attracts him.

And so he comes to Jesus as a friendly inquirer.

And we can discern other characteristics of Nicodemus. He is tentative, respectful and spiritually alert.

Cautious, for he comes at night.

Likely, to guard himself against the criticism of the other Pharisees, whose minds were closed against Jesus.

Respectful. For he addresses Jesus as rabbi. Master.

Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God…

Spiritually alert

For you do the signs of God.

Nicodemus: curious, cautious, respectful, spiritually open.

How would you receive such a person? Probably with welcome. That is exactly what Jesus does.

Jesus receives his visit. Actively.

Nicodemus says,I would like to know what you are all about…

Jesus starts them off: Yes, you can get to know me: You must be born again to know what I am all about.

Nicodemus comes with a question. Jesus welcomes him.

Application 1: Jesus welcomes our curiosity

Simply but profound truth. God wants us to know him.

God has arranged all of creation to point us to him.

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.”

God has created our hearts to long for him

Eccl. 3. You have set eternity in our hearts, O God!

God especially us to know him through his Son, Jesus.

John 14:6–7 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. …

God wants us to know him. We are right to sense Jesus’ divine nature and to want to learn about God through him.

Since Jesus has come all the way down to earth to make God known, we can be sure he will welcome us when our questions lead us to him.

Jesus will meet with us where we are. Even if that means meeting after hours, in strange place or at night.

We feel foolish. He’ll meet us there.

Flawed. He’ll meet us there.

Worried that our emotions are too strong.

Cautious about what it might lead to.

We can always go to Jesus and he will welcome us.

John 6:37 “Everyone that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;”

Since Jesus, who is the Son of God so welcomes us, let us strive to come in a way that honors him.

Nicodemus called him Rabbi. Let us call him Lord also.

If we come in faith, curiosity, genuine desire to know him, he will welcome us.

Exegesis 2: Jesus teaches Nicodemus

Jesus says you must be born again or born from above. This launches them into their conversation.

When Nicodemus queries what Jesus means by being born again — for of course Jesus is not speaking about a physical rebirth — Jesus opens up to Nicodemus the very heart of his divine mission. He tells Nicodemus:

God loves the world.

God sent his Son to save it.

Which Jesus likens to an OT example., from Numbers 21.

The ancient Israelites sinned. They were punished by fiery serpents that bit them. God commanded Moses to make a golden serpent and place it on a pole. A symbol of their sin and God’s willingness to forgive the repentant. All who look to the serpent were saved.

Jesus says, That is what God is going to do with me. People have sinned. They have been bitten by evil. I will be lifted up on the cross, those who look to me in repentance and faith will be saved.

God will send the Holy Spirit who will move people to turn to Jesus and be saved.

Nicodemus asks, What are you about Jesus? Jesus tells him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

When we step back and take John 3 as a whole, we see that this is one of the most beautiful and important Scripture passages in all of the gospel and indeed the NT.

Centerpiece: John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” If you know that verse, you know the Gospel!

Amazing! Jesus discloses to Nicodemus the very plan of salvation Why? Because Nicodemus asked.

Application 2: Jesus will lead us into truth

When we come to Jesus with our questions, he will give us answers.

Sometimes he will lead us into study and research…

where did Cain get his wife?

Whatever happened to the Ark of the Covenant?

When will the Lord come back?

Do I need to be baptized?

Jesus may say those are great questions…let’s go to Sunday School; let’s listen to a sermon; let’s take a class or even go to seminary.

Other questions are of a more relational nature. And those questions he takes his time with us.

How do I know the love of God through you?

Is there really a plan for my life?

How do I hold onto my faith right now?

Let’s talk about that.

Time and experience become our teacher.

I daresay: he will one way or another lead us back to what he told Nicodemus.

I’ve done a lot of school and a lot of Christian living.

John 3:16 a new beloved place in my heart: God is love. He sent Jesus. Have Faith. You will be saved. IF you really know that and believe that…what else do you NEED to know?

Exegesis 3: Nicodemus becomes a disciple

Jesus gave Nicodemus a teaching that he would mull over for the years ahead, and indeed for the rest of his life.

We see Nicodemus again later in the Gospel.

John 7. The Sanhedrin was plotting to put Jesus to death.

Nicodemus stands up and says, John 7:51 ““Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?””

He was standing up for procedure, and he was standing up for Jesus. The other elders call Nicodemus on this. What, are you from Galilee?! Are you one of his disciples? Nicodemus was silenced.

Then we see Nicodemus again after the crucifixion. John 19. He provides the spices and ointments to anoint the body of Jesus. In partnership with Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb, he buried Jesus body,

an act of love and honor.

Later tradition suggests that Nicodemus became a public Christian. He was baptized by John and Peter. Expelled from the Sanhedrin, persecuted for his faith. Became a servant leader in the early church. May have been buried next to St. Stephen. He is honored in August on the calendar of saints.

Nicodemus began as a tentative seeker, but his questions revealed a calling, and he died as a bold disciple of Christ.

Application 3: Asking questions leads to becoming a disciple

Jesus welcomes our Christians. He offers us answers.

But Jesus is not neutral. He wants to bring us into a relationship with himself. He wants to make us his disciples.

I recently read a book by a “cold case” detective. “cold case” is a crime case which has been sitting for a while. The clues are old. The trail has grown cold. This detective, J. Warner Wallace, wanted to investigate the gospel. Was it true? He applied all the principles of detective work. Result: He became a Christian. Shares his experience with others. Much to their encouragement.

Lee Strobel, award winning legal editor, launched a two-year investigation into Jesus Christ, intending to disprove the gospels, instead became a Christian because he found the evidence compelling.

Most famously C.S. Lewis - Oxford Don. An atheist, whose exploration of mythology, eventually led him to becoming Christian, he later wrote writing the beloved Narnia series. He wrote about deeper issues of faith:

the problem of war

navigating grief over the death of his wife

By the end of his life, CSL enjoyed a deep relationship with Christ based more on wonder and love than intellectualism.

The more we go to Jesus with our questions, the more he draws us into a relationship with himself.

Questions. Faith.

New Questions. Deeper faith.

Yet deeper questions. Even deeper faith.

You’ve got questions….you’ve got a calling. Jesus is calling you forward through your questions.

One of the things that make a mature Christian valuable is not that they have no questions, but that they have worked through so many of them…and they have begun to appreciate hat the real answer is Jesus himself. The relationship.

When I was young, a mature Christian, blew up my mind! I said: I am not sure that I believe in Jesus…he replied: have you talked with him about that?

Conclusion

Nicodemus. Shows us a pattern.

When we are curious the Lord welcomes us.

When we ask questions, he offers us answers.

When he gives us answers, he is also giving us a calling.

Lent is a time to engage. Come with your curiosity. Learn from Jesus. Follow him into the life God has for you.