Real Seekers Find Jesus : Pt 2

John 3:14-21

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Intro: The youth group had looked at John chapter three verses one through fourteen before I left about a month ago. In it we see a conversation involving Jesus and Nicodemus. We talked about how Nicodemus many times is credited with a lack of faith for not understanding the gospel message. For asking how its possible for a person to be birthed a second time. Not understanding that the life we are born through faith in Jesus is a birth not of the physical but one of the spirit. But understand what is happening. Nicodemus senses He has missed something. Something important that the Pharisees didn’t teach. That he along with the other Pharisees were about to miss the boat to heaven. And so we Nicodemus seek out Jesus with questions in his heart. One who Jesus is, and how he might be certain that he would have salvation. Jesus pokes fun at him a little bit being a Pharisee. Vs 10 says aren’t you a teacher of the law, yet you don’t understand this simple truth of the spirit. Yet Jesus doesn’t condemn Nicodemus for his unbelief. In fact Jesus breaks the gospel down Barney style for Nicodemus. He uses an old testament account that Nicodemus would understand in Vs 14. There is a truth that we see apparent in chapter three. That People that are truly seeking God, That Jesus find them. We don’t do that work. Jesus finds us. He finds us in a utterly helpless spiritual state. Incapable of any kind of righteousness before God. The Holy Spirit convicts us, and puts a desire for God in our hearts, and Jesus comes in and rescues us. And so in John chapter three Vs 14-21 we see Jesus answer three questions that are sitting in the heart of Nicodemus. One who Jesus really is. Two, why Jesus came. And finally that through and because of Jesus, YOU Christian would be a light pointing toward Heaven.

Transition: And so the question who Jesus is at its fundamental base level question saved and unsaved people need to decide. Because if you don’t know Jesus today then there is one outcome following death for you. That apart from Jesus there is only eternal death and separation from God.

One Who Jesus Really Is Vs 14-15: In part its understandable the first question Nicodemus. The question lies within the statement that Nicodemus asks. READ John 3:2. In other words are you more than a teacher. Are you the one we have been looking for since the prophecies foretold in the Old Testament? Jesus, are you more than a prophet. Are you the messiah. Are you the King of Heaven we have been waiting for? And so Jesus being ever patient, and giving grace because of unbelief. Jesus breaks down the gospel in a way that Nicodemus would understand. READ John 3:14. Jewish culture would have understood the analogy Jesus used in Vs 14. Jesus is referencing, READ Numbers 21:6-9. God had filled the land with Fiery Serpents. Scripture isn’t clear how many snakes God sent. Just that if you were bit by one you would die. But it was certainly more than a handful of people, because the people came to Moses and acknowledged their sin, and asked that God would intervene and save them. Man anyone who says the gospel message isn’t found in the old testament isn’t really reading it! And so God provides a way for salvation. Nicodemus would have understood this analogy. Jesus comparing the bite of a fiery serpent to the effect of a soul from sin would have been obvious. That salvation or deliverance from a certain death would only be through faith in the one to give forgiveness. Jesus is saying to Nicodemus. I’m the only option. Choose to put your faith in me Nicodemus or not and choose an eternal death. Choose to be separate from life. That’s the same decision we all make today. And so I ask you today. Whether you are sitting here tonight in the pews or watching remotely. Whether you watch this service two years from now. Who is Jesus to you? Hear me now! You need to be able to definitively answer that question. Its a question of life or death. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but there will come a day when it will be too late. When we will no longer have the option to choose obedience to Jesus. READ Matthew 24:36. When you will have made your choice. Is Jesus your savior? If you can definitively answer that question with a yes, then praise be to God. But heres another thing. Is Jesus your daily savior? I needed Jesus to save me from my sin. But I almost equally need Jesus on a daily basis. If I have any hope of living a life glorifying to God. A life without blatantly sinning against God. Well I need Jesus on an hourly basis sometimes. Jesus is very clear if you believe in Him, and therefore follow Him you will have eternal life as He says in Vs 15.

Transition: We can almost feel this conversation playing out before us. As we read the account of Nicodemus and his conversation with Jesus. How he desired assurance of eternal security. And so as Jesus clarifies to Nicodemus who He is. In Vs 16-18 Jesus establishes His purpose.

Why Jesus Came Vs 16 -18: Jesus basically comes out and says His purpose in Vs 16 to be sacrifice for the sin of the world. In order to save the world. The time of Jesus acting as Judge hasn’t come yet, but understand Jesus is taking notes of the ones that have placed faith in Him and belong to Him. Jesus came to seek, and save the lost. The reason Jesus is described by so many as the Prince of Peace. Although that verse is many times taken out of context. Is that this world hasn’t seen Captain and Commander Jesus. The King of heaven who will ride into battle against the enemies of God on a white war horse. We haven’t seen that Jesus yet, but understand that Jesus who is described a great and terrible Lord. READ Nahum 1:6 understand Jesus is the definition of love. He is patient, and kind. The one true God that is most worthy of our devotion. But Christians should not dismiss that Jesus is also the King of Battle, and while it is not our place to fight the enemies of God in the same way Jesus does. Jesus does masterly things. Both parts of His nature though is still very real, and His judgement will be reality one day soon. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but lets not forget that he also came to bring a sword. READ Matthew 10:34. Jesus isn’t promoting violence. He’s not saying we should take up arms and kill unbelievers. He’s saying placing faith in Him will cause division. Families will be divided over the issue of faith in Jesus. Because many of the lost don’t want to be saved. They want to be validated in their sin. Jesus came to be a light to the world, as Vs 19 makes reference too. Jesus is the light of the world. But its important to consider what light does to someone who is steeped in sin is obvious. Light to someone who has lived in spiritual darkness is offensive. If we are like Jesus some people will find us offensive. I’ve heard it said before that Christianity is a religion of condemnation. About a week ago I was having a conversation with a guy I’ve known for over a decade. We’ve trained together. I’ve helped him get promoted. He said the reason he doesn’t go to church is that most churches in his experience is based on guilting people to live better. That’s not exactly how he put it, but essentially that was it. There is a significant element of condemnation that is alluded to in vs 14-21. Jesus wasn’t condemning Nicodemus though. Thats important, because even though Jesus is Judge that will decide where people go after death dependent on the choice people regarding Him. Jesus basically says this exact thing. Believe in Jesus, follow Him in faith. And He will take care of the sin account. READ John 3:18. Think about that! We enter this world born into sin. By our very nature we are not suitable for a relationship with God. It is only through placing faith in Jesus that we are made right with God the Father.

Transition: And so if Jesus didn’t condemn sin it certainly isn’t our place either. Our purpose is similar but also different from that of Jesus. Our purpose is to point the way to Jesus. Anyone who will listen tell them your testimony. It’s powerful! Your testimony is part of Jesus Biography. In other words. Christian listen to me! Live a life defined by faith acted out! Where people that are seeking God will seek you out, because you seem to have answers. To be clear Christian. You SHOULD!

You Would Be a Light Pointing Toward Heaven: And so we come to the final point. You should be a light pointing toward Heaven. Not everyone will desire Jesus. But John 4:35. We haven’t gotten to chapter four yet. Understand though, The Holy Spirit is active and working. He will continue to be alive and working until Jesus comes back. As workers and Servants of Jesus are we busy about the harvest? READ John 3:21 again. You ever think about that there is only one time when evangelization is hard? I’ve heard a number of reasons why people don’t evangelize and share their faith. That they cant remember specific verses when the conversation turns to that. Two things about this. One are you sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and are you obedient to that calling. If so sharing the gospel become one of the most natural things you will ever do. A couple people have asked me how my trip to Michigan went? The last month I was gone with the Guard. I can tell you now. It was horrible. It’s not the kind of camping I like doing. 3-5 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Get up at around 9AM. Mission plan and prep until 9Pm. Step off to the objective at 10Pm. Walk through dense forest under night vision. Side note the way night vision work. You can see close or far, never both. So you either loose the guy in front of you, and see what your walking through. Or you see whats in front of you and trip and fall over branches that are laying there like land mines. Walk about 5-6 miles a night. Get back and lie down to sleep at around 4AM. Cots were unavailable. So we slept almost exclusively on concrete floors. My back is still recovering! But I can say with one hundred percent certainty. God was in it. The day after I got there. As the team leader for my group. I went and found the Special Forces team we were assigned to for the duration. To introduce myself. I found the Team Sergeant, and we started talking. He asked me what I did outside the Guard for work. I said I’m in school, and I work part time as the Associate Pastor at our church. He said really that’s interesting. Immediately after that, I became the Chaplain for both my team and His team of Special Forces guys. Almost daily guys would come up to me and ask me questions about what I thought about a certain issue. Or something they had heard a preacher say one time they didn’t understand or agree with. Sometimes multiple times a day one question would turn into a thirty minute conversation about Faith in Jesus. Sharing the gospel, and talking about the King was the easiest thing I think I’ve ever done. The last exercise we went on. My job was to travel with the Special Forces guys and drive back the van. I slept in the front seat of this guys truck. I slept from about 1130pm till about 3am. But in the drive he made afterwards having about a total of an hour and half sleep the previous night. This Special Forces Captain started asking me questions about Christianity. About things he had heard preached. The difference in the Bible and Christianity and every other religion. Prior the conversation I was tired. During the conversation my mind was alive and sharp. I had answers to questions that I don’t even remember I knew. I think what I said was accurate and true, as I was giving answers based on conversations with men of God I had over the past twenty years. From classes I had taken in Bible School. Of which I wasn’t a good student. Thirty seconds after the conversation ended I closed my eyes, and I don’t remember the following hour and half. I was OUT! Be obedient to Jesus. Not in your own ability, but that VS 21 might be true in your life. That the work of Jesus in your life might be manifested. That your life might bring glory to the living God.

Conclusion: To wrap this up. I can guarantee better preachers have brought better gospel messages from this pulpit. If you don’t know Jesus tonight. If you haven’t made it a personnel decision to follow Jesus and submit to the King as Lord of your life. To execute HIS mission objectives. There is no hope for you apart from Jesus. You have one and only one outcome. If you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit convicting your heart that you need Jesus. Act today on that leading. That conviction wont last forever. However if you settled that within your heart and Jesus is your savior. I would encourage you to decide who you will take orders from. Are you serving yourself? Recommit your life to service to Jesus. Decide within your heart who Jesus is in your life. Ask yourself if the things that are important to you are in alignment with His purpose for your life. And be obedient to His calling for your life. Share the gospel with anyone who will listen. We don’t know anything more of the life of Nicodemus. Sometimes this is the same way when we share the gospel with people. We have them for a moment. The question is in that moment. Are you obedient to the King?

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