The insider

Good morning. My name is Dave for those who don’t know me.

I wonder if you have ever done something and thought I am really really good at this. Or maybe you’ve gone for something, perhaps a job interview or a role at church or in some other area of life and thought I am perfect for this. I once went for a job interview as a worship pastor. As I was writing my CV, I wrote of all the experience that I had and thought I am so employable. As I interviewed and was asked to share my passion for worship leading and creating team I sat convinced this was the role for me. I’m doing a tour of the place and you know somtimes when you go for a job and you don’t thik you’re going to get it. You sort of walk around and nod at various different points that seem acceptable. But I was visualising myself in this place, wondering what it would be like to work there.

Of course a day later as the phone rang and I knew it was the pastor I assumed it was the call of congratulations on getting the job. As you might tell from the progression of the story, I wouldn’t be telling it if that was the case. I didn’t get the job and I was humbled.

I wonder if this was how Nicodemus felt after hos encounter with Jesus. The past two weeks we have been following the opening to John’s gospel. Two weeks ago I preached on Nathaniel and coming with an open heart to Jesus. Last week Michelle spoke of the incredible generosity of Jesus through the wedding at Cana. And here we are today with the one we have dubbed ‘insider.’ We said at the start that this was going to be a series which builds on each week but are individual stand alone messages too. Well this is still true of today but also I think it holds even greater significance if we look at in our context of Johns gospel with next weeks passage, the woman at the well. The outcast as Tim Kellor calls it.

So our insider. We know that the Nicodemus is not just any Pharisee, but a leading one at that. Coming to meet with Jesus at night. Why the night? We aren’t sure. Does it have undertones of symbolic darkness that a Pharisee might stand in? Was it becuase he was ashamed to come to Jesus in front of the crowds? Perhaps he just wanted a bit of peace and quiet from the crowds.

What we can take is that this is probably not in a public sphere and that Nicodemus is asking genuine questions. His first interaction is a statement. Rabbi, I kow there is something about you because of the signs that you have done. It’s quite a respectful start to a conversation. I wonder if Nicodemus was expecting the response to be, oh fellow Rabbi. Aren’t you wonderful too, how can we work together? And then Jesus says this. Noone can see the kingdom of God unless they are born from above.. It seems to throw Nicodemus. Why?

What does this mean? Well Nicodemus was a Jew. As a Jew he would have believed that one day God will restore the world and restore the Kingdom to Israel. All Jews would have expected to see the kingdom of God by nature of being a Jew. Not only that if you were a good Jew, then you were certainly guarenteed to see the kingdom again as Nicodemus was.

Jesus says this thing about being born again and it throws Nicodemus. How can this be?

Jesus goes onto explain that everyone needs to be born of the spirit as well as the flesh. Being born by the spirit isn’t something that humans can do, it is only through the spirit. Essentially what this means is that everyone has to be born again to see the kingdom. Being a good Jew doesn’t cut it. Jesus goes onto elaborate that it is through what God has done that enables one to be saved. Nicodemus was certainly humbled by this encounter, similiar to how I felt at my job interview.

SO what can we learn?

What are your idols? What are your idols?

On the face of it this doesn’t seem to mention anything about idolotry. What is idolatry. When I think of idolatry I think of Pop Idol. I don’t know if anyone remembers Pop idol. A show, one of Simon Cowells first talent spotting TV shows that tries to find the best singer from ordinary people and turn them into a pop idol. Someone who will be worshipped by other people. You think of screaming crowds ecstatically welcoming their idols to a stage.

Maybe we think of ancient idols, physical representations of a god which people worship. I remember going to some peoples homes in Uganda and they have idols that they believe ward off evil spirits. I do not see any of this in this passage. Didn’t Nicodemus come by night? He certainly wasn’t trying to be an idol.

Well here it is. Jesus’s point is that Nicodemus needs to be born again by the spirit, through God and not through his own means. Tim Kellor says that ‘Sin is looking to something else besides God for your salvation, becoming your own saviour and Lord as it were. It’s idolatory. Something that you put before God is an idol.

When we read this story in conjunction with the woman at the well. Sorry for spoilers but the woman at the well has had multiple husbands and the man she is not with was not her husband. In that context and culture that is scandalous. So when we read that story we could argue that she is putting her hope, her salvation into relationships. This is one way that people can make themselves their own lord. They break all the moral rules in pursuit of a salvation of sorts.

But then there is the way in which there is a religious way of of putting yourself or other things before God. That’s where we find Nicodemus. He’s putting his trust in his own position as both a Jew and the leader of the Jews as his way to eternal life. His own religious ways are his idol.

Here’s the thing. We love a good story about a sinner saved by grace. Who’s life was off the rails, they were as bad as bad can be. But then they met Jesus and they turned from their idols. In many ways the different is so noticeable. A close friend used to be a street pastor and one night as they were street pastoring they came across a homeless man and another man havng a conversation. The guy speaking to the homeless person says I can give you £10,000. I’m a millionaire and I can help you from this situation. He was slightly drunk but from all accounts this was a genuine offer. I don’t know what you would have said but I would have been tempted. The homeless man looks at the guy and says that is so kind, again very genuine, but I have a drug and alcohol problem and I know that if you give me that money I will spend it on that. Please give it to the homeless charities who help me. This person knew that he had idols and incredible wisdom to be able to acknowledge that. Maybe it is obvious hearing about the woman at the well that she has things in her life that are idols.

But for people like Nicodemus it is alot more subtle. On the surface he looks like he has it sorted. But the truth is, is that he is putting his trust in himself. And I wonder if for us today there are things in our lives that are idols, maybe we need to dig deeper. The issue is often they are good things. For Nicodemus, being a good Jew is not a bad thing in and of itself. For me at the start, being a worship pastor had become an idol. Something that I figured I was awesome at. Its a good thing, being a worship pastor I have faithfully served many people. But also it can become something I put before God. Maybe for you it’s a relationship, a job, an attribute you have, the health of yourself or a loved one, family a role you play in church. These are awesome awesome things. But sometimes they can become before God, rather that being blessings that flow from a relationship with God. I used to play football to a decent standard. As a Christian it is an amazing way to bring Jesus to a changing room of men who would never step inside a church. But also it has been something that I have put before God.

What is your idol?

2. It’s what God can do. This passage leads on to Jesus saying those famous words, For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son. Building on John’s master piece of incarnational ministry at the start. In context Jesus is saying that to be born of the spirit and to be saved it is through the son of man, who Jesus has already alluded to is him. It isn;t through good religion but through the incarnational ministry of Jesus. All you need to do to be saved is believe and trust in Jesus. What good news. What lavish love from God. It is what God can do.

3. Lastly, You can’t tame the spirit.

These amazing words in John 3: 8. The wind blows where it chooses and you hear the sound of it, but you do not where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. You can’t tame the holy spirit. To a great organised Jew like Nicodemus, this would have been dangerous.

I feel like I have to caveat this. Sometimes people intepret this as, well we can do whatever we want. Or the Holy spirit moving has to look like anarchy. It can be taken as an excuse to do anything in the name of Jesus because that is what the spirit says, and actually be quite messy. I also remember once when leading a worship team the worship leader saying to me they didn’t need to do a band practice because the spirit would show up. In context we used to have 2 hour band practices before the evening service. I remember thinking that isn’t the spirit, that is being lazy. God wants to partner with us, when I preach I dont just get up and speak. I prepare faithfully, hopefully, and prayerfully.

But the other side is we become too scared of the freedom of the spirit and we become rigid. We end up over organising and staying safe and bot being open to what the spirit might want to do in us. I think this applies to us individually as, but we as a community are entering into a new season. Steve has led this church so faithfully and prayerfully and will hear the call of well done good and faithful servant, not wanting to write his retirement speech with a while till that comes still. But there will be a new leader of this church. And with Failand and Wraxall joining that role, it might look different. I hope this is prophetic, I’m certanly not saying that this is needed. But I felt on my heart this is an encouragement and challenge to say God what are you doing? To faithfully and prayerfully discern whatever changes a new vicar might implement. That’s where we want to be isnt it? On the cusp of what God is doing? It doesn’’t have to look like HTB or Hillsong. But would you commit to being open to the spirit afresh in this season.