Untitled Sermon
How do you get to heaven?
Nicodemus comes with the best of credentials, a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee (and therefore a zealot for the law and pure religion (1)) and a highly regarded teacher in Israel
(The ‘the’ in the original Greek may imply that Nicodemus was the leading theologian of his day)
Essentially therefore the new birth is from God; it is supernatural, beyond human control or exhaustive human knowledge. Like the wind, however, and despite its mysteriousness, its effects can be experienced at first hand.
For entry to this kingdom, racial inheritance, circumcision, energetic law-keeping, acts of piety or scriptural knowledge, avail nothing. What is needed is the receiving of a new spiritual life from God (cf. 1:12–14) through personal faith in Jesus himself as the one who had come from God (3:14f.), and was to be lifted up as the object of faith.
This verse presents a concise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world He created. The statement is remarkable in its depiction of divine care for the entire world—not just His chosen people, Israel.
one and only Son The Greek term used here is monogenēs, meaning “one of a kind.”
Salvation, Day of
The story is told of a time when Satan held a strategy session for subverting those who were close to salvation. “What shall we do?” asked Satan. A daring demon stood and shouted, “I have it! I know what we can do! We can tell men that there is no life after death, that they die like animals.” Satan’s face fell as he answered, “It will never work. Man is not ignorant; even atheists admit of times when they sense a tomorrow after death.”
Another demon spoke, “Here’s the solution! Let’s say there is no God or if there ever was, he is dead—because even if he started the universe, he has left it now.” Satan replied in dismay, “That won’t work either; most of them know there is a God, even though they don’t seek him.”
Other ideas were presented, but none brought hope to Satan and his underlings. Finally, as they were about to give up, one demon leaped in glee, “I have it! A sure solution!” The other demons crowded around to hear the plan. “Go tell them that God is real and the Bible is God’s Word.” A gasp came from the audience as the demon continued, “And tell them that Jesus is God’s Son and frees men from sin.” The other demons were horror-stricken, thinking that their associate had gone bananas, until, with a smile, he added, “Then tell them that this is not the best time to choose Christ. Help them make excuses for delaying their decision. Tell them there is no hurry!” The demons danced in delight, realizing a workable plan had been discovered.1165
Muslims do not believe that Jesus is the unique Son of God. According to the Koran, “No son did God beget, nor is there any God along with him” (Surah 23:91). But on nine occasions the Bible refers to Jesus as begotten of the Father. Not only did God declare Him to be His Son at His baptism (Lk 3:23), but also He proved it by raising Jesus from the dead (Rm 1:4).
The unfathomable depth of the love of God is stressed: God so loved.… In his love, God went so far as to ‘give (up)’ his one and only Son (we should probably see here a reference to incarnation as well as crucifixion). The ‘giving up’ of Isaac by Abraham may lie in the background as a faint foreshadow of the sacrifice made in the heart of God. If the depth of love is measured by the value of its gift, then God’s love could not be greater, for his love-gift is his most precious possession—his only, eternally beloved Son. He could not love more. ‘The true looking of faith is placing Christ before one’s eyes and beholding in him the heart of God poured out in love.’34
The Burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
The unfathomable depth of the love of God is stressed: God so loved.… In his love, God went so far as to ‘give (up)’ his one and only Son (we should probably see here a reference to incarnation as well as crucifixion). The ‘giving up’ of Isaac by Abraham may lie in the background as a faint foreshadow of the sacrifice made in the heart of God. If the depth of love is measured by the value of its gift, then God’s love could not be greater, for his love-gift is his most precious possession—his only, eternally beloved Son. He could not love more. ‘The true looking of faith is placing Christ before one’s eyes and beholding in him the heart of God poured out in love.’34