Sermon Tone Analysis

We’ve begun a journey looking at people who encounter Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Today, we’re going to be looking at a familiar passage, in fact it contains one of the most familiar verses in the entire Bible.

We’re in Chapter 3 of the Gospel of John.

New Beginnings

Our topic today is new beginnings.

Let’s read the Gospel of John, Chapter 3.

Three “Truly, Truly’s” in this passage.

John 3:3

John 3:5

John 3:11

Let’s look at each of those closely this morning as it will directly impact our own understanding of this passage.

SEE the kingdom of God.

There has to be a change in our focus for us to even see the Kingdom of God.

The challenge here is who is in charge of the change.

We often think of ourselves being in charge, and that is one of the things that is interesting about the terms.

I am not responsible for my birth.

I am not the one who chose to be born, I am not the one that chose to be created.

There has to be a renewal that is happening, and that is really what is being discussed in the conversation here.

Nicodemus, an educated man comes to Jesus in the evening, at a time when they would not be disturbed.

This is an open conversation between a man of learning, a man that is not only a Pharisee, but a member of the ruling council of the Jews.

In other words, he is a member of the Sanhedrin.

He’s up there.

He is one who should have understanding.

It shows great humility and I believe a yearning in Nicodemus’ heart that he comes to Jesus in the night to have a conversation.

When Nicodemus arrives he refers to Jesus as Rabbi, which recognizes Jesus’ stature as teacher, and for a teacher of the Law (a Pharisee) and more than that as one of the Rulers of the Jews (a member of the Sanhedrin) to refer to Jesus as “Rabbi” is indeed high praise.

He talks to Jesus and says to him, “We know...” interesting, who’s the “we?”

It doesn’t say, but we can infer that there were other Jewish leaders that recognized Jesus as “a teacher from God,” and then he points to the signs that he did.

That’s when Jesus answers him with this.

Now we’re talking about being born of water and spirit, and not only to see the Kingdom of God, but to enter it.

What does he mean by “water and the Spirit?”

Water - there have been many views on this,

Some scholars have seen it as a nod to creation - we need to be born on earth and above by the spirit.

Others have seen it as the waters of baptism and the Spirit of God.

This idea of baptism is symbolic of cleansing as we read from Ezekiel these words in the Old Testament:

There is an idea of a change that takes place.

There is a cleansing from the past, but the spirit is a leading into the future.

Finally, the third “Truly, Truly” at vs. 11

These are some tough words to hear, these are words of correction, words of critique.

These words could be said of all of us.

In one way or another.

Jesus goes on to tell Nicodemus some things about himself, that he will be lifted up as the serpent was lifted up.

v. 14, and that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

This is a foretelling of what would happen at the end of Jesus ministry as he would be lifted up on the cross.

Going on from there he closes with these words to Nicodemus:

We don’t like people to point out where we need to grow.

It’s part of our sinful nature.

We don’t like people to point out our mistakes.

I’m convinced the reason that so many people would like to disprove that there is a God is that if there is exactly what I quoted Ravi Zacharias recently.

I shared with you that an atheist he was conversing with posed the question, “If there is a God then why is there so much evil in the world?”

Ravi’s answer was, “You say there is evil, if there is evil there must be good.

If there is evil and there is good, then there must be an objective morality by which to measure them.

If there is an objective morality then there must be an objective morality giver.

If there is no objective morality giver, then there is no objective morality.

If there is no objective morality, then there is no good, and if there is no good then there is no evil.”

AT the same time they don’t want there to be a God because without a God then there is no morality and therefore they cannot be judged for what they choose to do.

“The light has come into the world, and people (that includes you and I) have loved the darkness rather than the light.”

This is why we have confession.

You may have noticed that we skipped our prayer of confession this morning.

We’re going to take some time to do that in the next few moments

Jesus invites us to be Born Again, to start anew, and to know deeply that God’s steadfast love never ceases and his mercies never come to an end.

Each day is a new start.

AMEN.