Jesus Encounters: Nicodemus
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The Outline Bible Section Outline Three (John 3)
SECTION OUTLINE THREE (JOHN 3)
Jesus meets with Nicodemus and tells him in order to be saved, all people must be born again. John the Baptist tells his disciples that Jesus is the Messiah.
I. JESUS EXPLAINS THE PLAN OF SALVATION (3:1–21): A man named Nicodemus visits Jesus by night.
A. The credentials of Nicodemus (3:1) : He is both a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and a Pharisee.
B. The confession of Nicodemus (3:2) : He acknowledges that Jesus is from God because of his miracles.
C. The command to Nicodemus (3:3) : Jesus says he needs the new birth.
D. The confusion of Nicodemus (3:4) : He confuses spiritual birth with physical birth.
E. The chastening of Nicodemus (3:9–13): Jesus chides him for not knowing these things even though he is a respected Jewish teacher.
F. The clarification for Nicodemus (3:5–8, 14–15): Jesus employs three illustrations to explain the new birth to Nicodemus.
1. A physical illustration (3:5–7): Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
2. A natural illustration (3:8) : Just as you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going, so it is impossible to explain being born of the Spirit.
3. A scriptural illustration (3:14–15): As Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
G. The conclusion for Nicodemus (3:16–21): Jesus now summarizes both the subjects of salvation and condemnation!
1. The persons (3:16)
a. The Father gave his Son (3:16a).
b. The Son will give his life (3:16b).
2. The purpose (3:17)
a. It is not to condemn sinners (3:17a).
b. It is to convert sinners (3:17b).
3. The people (3:18–21)
a. Condemnation for those who reject Christ (3:18b–20)
b. Salvation for those who receive Christ (3:18a, 21)
Q: How many of you have ever heard the phrase “Your Reputation precedes you”?
a. Meet Nicodemus
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
john
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
b. The Confession vs 2
c. The Command vs 3
d. The Confusion vs 4
e. The Chastening vs 9-13
6 Sundays till Easter > Journey to the Cross Looking at the Encounters of Jesus
It means that someone has already heard about you from other people who have formed an opinion about you.
F. The Clairification
You are known by your actions…
Physical Illustration VS 5-7
Caring, Compassionate, Encouraging, Self Centered. Jerk
&
Jesus certainly had a reputation.
An obscure carpenter from Nazareth
The Son of Mary & Joseph
One with a passion & Zeal for God
The one who speaks with authority & works miracles
The promised Messiah
That reputation precedes Him, everywere he goes
Intrigue & Curiosity
Optimism & Hope
Anger & Hostility
6 Sundays till Easter > Journey to the Cross Looking at the Encounters of Jesus
Natural Illustration vs 8
Scriptural Illustration vs 14-15
G. The Conclusion
We are going to be examining the encounters he had and discovering what we can learn from them and How they apply to me.
i. The Truth
Today we are going to look at one of the most famous encouters in the bible. - Nicodemus
The Father
The son
If you think Nicodemus is a patch to quit smoking, you might need to pay attention during church. - Jeff Foxworthy
ii. The Purpose
Not Condemnation
Optimism & Hope
Conversion
Anger & Hostility
iii. The People
Read John: 3:1-21
Condemnation for those who reject Christ
Salvation for those who receive Christ
Have you ever walked into a situation thinking you have it all figured out, just to be challenged and have your world turned upside down? (men who are married raise hand)
Exactly what happened to Nicodemus
Exactly what happened to Nicodemus
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Point out a few things:
He was a Pharisee
He was on the Sanhedren
He spoke on behalf of others
He came by night - Why? Fear of being seen or Wanted to really have an uninterrupted conversation with Him.
He knew about Jesus but Obviously didnt know who Jesus truly was.
A Theological Truth - You Must Be Born Again!
A Theological Truth - You Must Be Born Again!
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus dismisses The pleasantry and Gets strait to the heart of the matter.
Nicodemus was trusting in his heritage and Goodness to experience the Kingdom of God. Their faith and focus was not in the Messiah but in the law and self righteousness.
This truth is foundational in developing a christian worldview.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus isn’t a way to God, He THE WAY
Jesus isn’t merely a truth, HE is THE TRUTH
To belong into the kingdom of Heaven, one must be born into it.
Spend a few moments on this point cause there are many differing opinions on how one is saved.
So many people that are banking on getting to Heaven based on there “goodness”
Many others claim the “heritage” of there family and would say that they are Christians.
Not Good Works, Not Religious Duty, Not Being a Good person.
A Legitimate Question - How can this be?
A Legitimate Question - How can this be?
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
A Thorough Explanation
A Thorough Explanation
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
1. Birth vs 5-6
Natural Birth vs Spirtual Birth
That which is born of water is water… That which is born of spirit is spirit.
Point out the context - What is Required for Salvation?
2. Wind vs 7-8
You don’t have to be able to explain everything in order to experience it.
How would you describe wind before to someone who as never experienced it.
The point being is this. The supernatural act of salvation is not outwardly observable by men. Jesus is exhorting Nicodemus to put aside his intellectual misgivings and believe.
3. Object Lesson
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Jesus Points Nicodemus to something he would have been familiar with.
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14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
john 3.10, 14-15
Another example of Salvation by faith and not works...
Jesus is prophesying of his death and with his promise.
A Simple Application - Believe
A Simple Application - Believe
A Simple Application - Believe
A Simple Application - Believe
John 16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” 29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Object of Gods love - The World not just the jews
Cost of Gods love- His Son
The Recipient of Gods love - Whoever Believes
Intention of Gods love - (should not perish)Salvation
Duration of Gods love - Eternal life
A Challenging Task - Evangelism
A Challenging Task - Evangelism
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It’s the spirits job to convict.
An Encounter With Jesus Demands A Response
It’s Our job to Share and Show the Love of God.
An Encounter with Jesus alters your course
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Close with This
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Believe the Gospel - You must be born again
Share the Gospel
Welcome Questions
Allow the Spirit to do His Work