Preparing for Easter John
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning everyone, so nice to see you all here today. What a blessing it is to gather together, I pray you will never take this joy lightly. It is a blessing and joy.
Here we are at the beginning of a new month. It is so hard to imagine that we are already at March. Time fly's so to speak....
And with March, next Sunday will be the time to change our clocks, so Spring forward next Saturday night as you prepare for bed and you will not be late for church.
This week at we begin a new sermon series… We are 6 weeks away from Easter, a special time in our lives as we prepare to celebrate the great love of God in our lives.
So this morning lets look at the Gospel of John as we begin this series of making our way to the cross and the glorious salvation we are blessed to enjoy. I love the gospel of John because He is allowed to give us some of most special pictures of our Lord as he ministers and makes his way to the cross.
Now this morning we will investigate one of the most special meetings Jesus has with a member of the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling body there in Jerusalem. His name is Nicodemus.
So if you have your Bibles this morning lets turn to John chapter 3 and see this important meeting.
1 Now 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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 its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
So lets investigate the text and see what the Lord would say to us today. So lets start with this thought this morning...
1. A Clandestine Meeting...
1. A Clandestine Meeting...
There was a clandestine meeting that night as Jesus was there in the city, we find that someone was determined to meet Jesus.
This man was named Nicodemus. Now Nicodemus is special for a lot of reasons. If you look at the text, the Bible tells us in verses 1 and 2 that this man came to Jesus by night.
Now here is Nicodemus, and the Scriptures tell us that he is a ruler of the Jews. What does this mean exactly, we the that the use of the word ruler, he is not just a concerned citizen or a community leader. he holds a much higher position.
Nicodemus is one of the 70, those 70 men who made up the ruling body of the Jews that we would call the Sanhedrin.
This group of men, along with the High Priest formed what we night consider as a Jewish Supreme court if you will, and they are mentioned in many places in the Scriptures. For example let me share this reference with you from
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
This council is at the heart of the decisions that are made in the Jewish community and nation as a whole, so anything troubling the Pharisees or the High Priest was brought to them and we know many of them were troubled by Jesus.
Now this man will have
And then consider the time of the meeting… It was night. Not taking place in the day speaks to the secrecy of the meeting and suggests a much deeper issue.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night to prevent detection from others , He has a desire to see Jesus, He hopes to talk to him but he is uncertain. He is struggling with disbelief, he is struggling with doubt and he is struggling with what others think as well.
Nicodemus journey began with a clandestine journey that night… I believe God himself has been at work in this man’s heart and this night he follows the Father’s leadership in His life.
Why do I think that? God is always at work in this world and leads those who are ready to receive the word of God into their heart. It is special that Nicodemus came, this meeting could have cost him everything if discovered but soon He will gain everything...
Let me ask you a question? Is God at work in your life in a way that is pulling you to reach for the unknown that He has planned for your life?
Are you willing to follow no matter the cost?
Remember Jesus always brings life and not death....
And this brings us to our second thought today...
2. An Important Discussion...
2. An Important Discussion...
Nicodemus has gone to great lengths to speak to Jesus, and I would imagine these topics have been on his mind for some time.
Now I say that because he risks being seen by others, He could be in jeopardy of persecution from others if they see him talking with Jesus.
So it happens, He is able to speak to Jesus and lets listen to the conversation.
Lets begin with verses 2-8
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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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 its sound, 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 approaches Jesus and greets him with a respectful greeting by addressing Him as Rabbi. He is speaking to Jesus as a teacher, as one who is respected by many.
And he greets Jesus and speaks to him saying… verse 2 “...“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.”
Nicodemus understood something right off the bat… These “signs” that Jesus preformed where the works Jesus was doing to authenticate the message.
So those healed, those who were dead and brought back to life, and His teachings were the signs, they were flags of God to get the people’s attention… Hey, I am going something great here… pay attention… pay attention.
So Nicodemus knew something was happening, he probably didn’t see it all nor understand it all.. but he knew God was at work...
There is something special my friends, when we recognize God is doing something around us… pay attention and see what He is doing… and as Henry Blackaby says.. “...Join Him there....”
So Jesus knows the heart of Nicodemus, remember He is omniscient… He knows all… and listen to what Jesus says to Nicodemus… verse 3
A. A Thought Provoking Reply....
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus reply was important… those words are there.. Truly, Truly signify that what He is about to say is ultimately important...
So while Nicodemus is talking about signs and the miraculous, Jesus points to the true need of a mans heart, conversion. Hence Jesus says...
“...So unless a person is born again or born from above they cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Just a person comes into this world as new person when they are born by earthly mother, so there is a need for a change (a new birth) in order to enjoy the Spiritual inheritance of God. His kingdom....
The Jews my friends had been conditioned by their teachers that the observance of the law ( the Torah) and the Levitical law the offerings and sacrifices were just as important as the heart of man.
But that is in contrast to what Jesus has said.... He didn’t mentioned the law, just the necessity of a heart felt change.
But Nicodemus doesn’t understand… there is a
B. A Point of Confusion.... look at verse 4...
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?”
Nicodemus just doesn’t understand at all … His mind is upon the physical and not the spiritual…
The Jews hadn’t really faced or dealt with a theology based on regeneration at this point, what Jesus was teaching was a newer idea to them.. So it was natural that there would be some confusion, but not entirely...
C. A Clear Explanation...
Jesus responds to Nicodemus question… He provides a more further explanation to His objection and frustration...
look at verse 5-8
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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 its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
So what does Jesus mean here...
Jesus goes into a little detail and helps Nicodemus under the the nature of this second or new birth. It is not a rebirth of the flesh but it is a birth from above, one of water and the Spirit.
For the Jewish person, the words water and Spirit both speak to life. Consider water… for the people of Israel, they lived in a land that had portions of it that was desert like and thus water was essential for life. Both for the environment, the land, plants and animals and humanity as well.
And also for the Spirit, it was God who breathed into Adam, the breath of life and he became living being, but one with a soul/spirit. Also if you examine the prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 37, it is the breath/Spirit of God that brings life back to those dry bones...
Both are necessary for life and Nicodemus shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus brings this teaching to him.
The flesh is weak, limited and frail where as the Spirit of God is powerful, and mighty. The flesh is incapable in its own strength but with the Spirit of God it can be transformed into the agent God desires .
Jesus says in
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Jesus finished this section by switching gears just a little and speaking of the wind and the Spirit. The wind is something that we can sense in life, we feel it. But we do not know in ourselves where it comes from or why, nor where it goes.
Now of course with modern science we understand more… but at the very thought, we know it is there and we enjoy its presence in and around us.
So the same is with the Spirit of God, We know very little of the will of God in all the aspects of life but what we can sense is His presence and where He is at work because of that presence, and we enjoy that..
Jesus tells Nicodemus not to marvel in all of this just know it was necessary for him to see the kingdom of God.
And as you look at verse 9, we see that Nicodemus is still struggling a bit… And Jesus kind of scolds him a little bit, when Nicodemus says how can all this be.. Jesus says You are a teacher of Isreal, one of the religious leaders and you still don’t understand...
a
You know, having a great spiritual background isnt enough, you have to believe e in Jesus
You know we didn’t understand when we first heard no matter how much we thought we knew about the Bible or even how we were raised.. we had to come to term with the word of God and we have to believe.
Just one last thought my friends… There is a need for a personal response to God’s message, to the gospel.
3. The Message required a Decision...
3. The Message required a Decision...
As you finish looking at the conclusion of the conversation with Nicodemus we find that Jesus points out the necessity of a personal decision to the Gospel message.
You know when you look at the whole of the Scriptures, in fact God always calls for personal decisions to be made in light of a persons life in front of God.
So Jesus brings out two important thoughts for Nicodemus to consider ...
A. A Old Testament Example....
Jesus reminds Nicodemus of a time when the people had to have faith and act upon it from the Old Testament Scriptures, it is found in the Torah.
Look at verses 12-15
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
:
So Jesus conveys to Nicodemus, a time of grumbling in the Old Testament. The story is seen in the book of Numbers, but they complained against the Lord. This timing wasn’t good, the journey was to long and the food, terrible and God sent snakes among the people in judgment.
In their sin, the asked Moses to intercede on their behalf, and he did. And the Lord gave Moses a plan.. Make a brazen serpent, set it on a pole and lift it up. If anyone is bit, if they will look up upon the brazen serpent and believe they will live.
It was an action that dealt with their sin if they wished to have life. It required a personal response and it required faith, they had to believe to do it… In this they were saved from the death of the poison of the serpents…
Sin had to be dealt with, faith was needed and help was provided...
Jesus assures Nicodemus the same is needed for the Kingdom of God.
B. Jesus Must be Lifted Up....
The Old Testament serpent was a picture of Jesus upon the cross. God would send his Son that the hearts and lives of the people could be changed...
Look at verses 16-17...
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The world stood condemned already, it did then and it does for us today as well. It is a sin problem. Adam’s sin has ruined everything, it left this world and every person corrupt, defiled and ruined if you will.
As the people of this world we are condemned, that is why Jesus tells Nicodemus that man must be born again, born from above. There is nothing we can do, the law cannot save us, it just reveals are greater need....
God is the solution, just as he gave Moses a plan for the children in the wilderness, He was foretelling what he was doing in the future with His own son.
God so loved this world. As a Father he loves His creation and wants all world to believe on him and be his children. What is stopping them… Sin.
So he gave the son, His Son as a sacrifice for sin, a lasting, eternal, life giving sacrifice for sin. That whosoever… doesn’t matter if you are good or bad, old or young, nothing matters except that you believe. And if you would look to Jesus you would have eternal life.
The world is lost, Big Stone and east Stone.. Lost, Virginia..lost, the USA, it is lost the world, it is all condemned already… What is the hope of heaven, it is Jesus.
1 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient 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 we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And 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 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
10 And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth. 11 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,
“Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15 and the slope of the valleys
that extends to the seat of Ar,
and leans to the border of Moab.”
16 And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter and with their staffs.”
And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert.
21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the ballad singers say,
“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
let the city of Sihon be established.
28 For fire came out from Heshbon,
flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab,
and swallowed the heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, O Moab!
You are undone, O people of Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives,
and his daughters captives,
to an Amorite king, Sihon.
30 So we overthrew them;
Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished;
and we laid waste as far as Nophah;
fire spread as far as Medeba.”
31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.
You must look and believe, confessing Him and Savior and Lord. This is where kingdom life begins...
Jesus loves you.. do you know him?
Jesus loves the world… They need to hear about Him
Are you hear today and the Spirit is leading you to serve, to join, to act, to do something? what is keeping you?
Do you need prayer or do you need to pray for someone?
I want to invite you to come today....
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.”
1 Now 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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 its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.