SF133 - THE WORLD'S GREATEST TRAGEDY (John 3 1-10)

SF133

THE WORLD'S GREATEST TRAGEDY

John 3:1-10

INTRODUCTION

Great Natural Tragedies

San Francisco Earthquake

Floods In Texas

Floods in California

Greater Tragedy Than These Is The Spiritual Tragedy Of A Lost Soul

1A.      NICODEMUS AND HIS BELIEF

1B.       Who He Was (1)

1C.      Pharisee

Ø       Religious exclusive

Ø       Separatist by belief and practice

Ø       Maintained the oral law ‑ traditions of men

2C.      Ruler

Literally "great man"

Ø       Member of the Sanhedrin

Ø       One of the three richest men in Jerusalem

2B.       What He Believed (2)

1C.      He believed that Jesus was a good teacher

didaskalos = doctor

2C.      He believe that Jesus as only a teacher

2A.      NICODEMUS AND HIS BLINDNESS

1B.       The Need for the New Birth Expressed

1C.      Nicodemus was a good man (v.3)

Ø       He was the best that religion, education, and culture could produce

THE COURTIERS AND THE CAT

There is an old story about two courtiers of a certain king who wearied their monarch with the incessant arguments as to whether or not a person had to be born a gentleman, or whether he could become a gentleman by training, discipline, and ingrained habit.  The king finally dismissed them from court and ordered them to go out into the world and seek conclusive proof for their claims.  A year to the date they would each present their proofs and he would settle the argument once and for all.

The year passed.  The courtier who said that one could become a gentleman had traveled far.  He was in a distant land and still had not found his proof.  But one day, sitting gloomily in a wayside inn, he sat up with astonishment.  He had ordered a cup of chocolate, and to his amazement he saw that it was being brought to him by the innkeeper's cat.  This cat had been trained to stand up on its hind legs.  It had been dressed in a tiny uniform and it had learned to balance a tray in its forepaws.  The courtier watched spellbound as the creature, contrary to nature, walked slowly toward him balancing the tray with his cup of chocolate.

He saw the implications at once.  If a cat could be trained to do a thing like that, why couldn't a man be drilled into becoming a gentleman?  It proved his pint.  He paid a vast sum and secured the astonishing feline and headed for home.

News of the cat leaked out and courtier’s rival was plunged in despair.  He, too, had traveled far but was returning home empty‑handed.  He was sure he had lost.  Then, just a day, or two before the scheduled appearance in court, he saw something in a shop window that brought a smile to his lips.  He made a purchase but kept it well hidden from view.

On the day of the trial the first courtier presented the cat to the king as proof that a person could be so trained that he could over come all natural handicaps and become that most accomplished of civilized persons a gentleman.  As the king sat on his throne, the remarkable cat, attired in miniature court dress, walked carefully on its hind legs, made its way slowly don a red carpet, carrying a tray of chocolate to the king.  The court broke into applause, Everyone looked with admiration on the cat and with pity at the other courtier, the one who said one must be born a gentleman.

But the man was ready.  With a bow to the king he opened the box in which he had his proof.  The courtier released half a dozen white mice and instantly the cat forgot its training and education, its discipline and ingrained habit.  Its natural instinct surfaced and, in a flash, off it went after the scampering mice.  The discussion was settled once and for all.

2C.      Nicodemus asked a good question (v.4)

Ø       Notice he asked how not why.

3C.  Jesus gives a great answer (v.5)

Ø       Water and Spirit?

Ø       Nicodemus would have thought of John.

Ø       John ‑ water baptism = repentance

Ø       Jesus ‑ spiritual baptism = regeneration

Ø       Both = rebirth

2B.       The Need for New Birth Explained

Two Illustrations

1C.  Different worlds (v.6)

Ø       Two births ‑ Two worlds

Ø       Law of reproduction ‑ "after its kind"

Ø       Fleshly birth = fleshly life

Ø       Spiritual birth = spiritual life

THE MIRACLE

A minister was seeking to reach the heart of a dying doctor:  The minister had spoken to him about conversion, forgiveness, redemption‑all the themes a the heart of the Christian gospel.  Nothing seemed to reach the dying man.  Then he spoke to him of regeneration, of the need for being reborn, and brought enlightenment.

Over many years the doctor had attended countless births.  " new birth!" he exclaimed, "Why, that's what I need.  A baby has no past ‑ only future.  That's what I need."  And so do we all!

2C.  Different winds (v.8)

Ø       Same word in Greek and Hebrew used for spirit and wind

Ø       Both invisible

Ø       Both can be sensed

Ø       Both know by effects

Ø       Both can vary in intensity and effect

Ø       Both are independent of man's control

3A.  NICODEMUS AND HIS BEWILDERMENT (vv. 9-10)

CONCLUSION

The tragedy is so many know the facts without knowing the faith.

Many get the message but miss the point.