2.3.6 1.9.2022 Believing the Unbelievable John 3.1-15

Entice: It can be perilous to preach a text which is well known to virtually everyone present. We must deal with that issue the next couple of weeks.

Some preachers are tempted to skip the more difficult texts, for me the issue has been how to avoid turning familiar texts into cookie-cutter, ambiguous, feel-good exercises in reinforcing what we already believe. That is unfair, unfocused, and ultimately futile. God's Word, when we take the time to exegete it carefully always has a clear, compelling message, and speaks to us with God's own authority. It's immediate affect will not always be charming and idyllic. It should also be challenging and thought-provoking.

John 3:1–15 ESV

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.

Engage: We all know the names of the principles and the nature of their discussion. Don't we? Surely, we do? Right? A great many of us could pass an examination about the subjects Jesus and Nicodemus discuss, the questions they explore, and the conclusions they draw. However, the only real way to determine whether or not you have understood this passage of Scripture is to take inventory of your own faithful obedience.

Expand: What did Nicodemus and his comrades know, and when did they know it? If they were already drawing correct conclusions, why did they continue to keep Jesus at arm’s length? If their conclusions were wrong, why didn't they change? As it became more and more apparent that Jesus was more than just a prophet, or wiseman, or miracle worker, why did their hesitancy so quickly become hostility?

Often the thing we pursue most ardently repulses us when we achieve it. It is often the thing we desire the most which frightens us the most. The hoped-for reality is not the same as reality realized. That's one of the keys to this story...we are all Nicodemus' at one time or another.

Excite: It's not just information. It's not just a matter of "getting it. It goes beyond understanding the concepts discussed.

New Birth is God's work.

We spend way too much time trying to do God's part while ignoring ours. All we need to do is to have faith...It's about as hard as you want to make it. My friend Greg Payne and I used to stand near the time clock when we worked at Rockwell automation. We were both part of the generation that arrived for a 5.00 start @ 4.35-40. We would stand in amazement at 4.57 as a line of sleepy-eyed youngsters rushed and then waited to clock in. He’d often say “Getting up on the morning is about as hard as you want to make it.”

I thought of that when reading this text. Believing…is as hard as you want to make it. Understanding the concepts and yielding in faith…much of the choosing is up to us.

Explore:

Faith is about as hard as you want to make it.

Explain: Jesus nudges Nicodemus through the process of understanding a step at a time...

Body of Sermon: First, Jesus reminds us to...

Address the obvious question.

The dynamics in this text are interesting because Nicodemus begins with what seems to be a statement and Jesus responds with His own statement which answers Nicodemus' unasked questions. Questions like,

"Who exactly are you?

"What must I do to be kingdom person?"

Not a question of

credentials

Not what I do. Or say. Or my background. Not my degree or specific congregational affiliation.

But rather it is a question of

origins.

Kingdom people are born again.

Jesus continues the conversation by

Anticipating objections

Whenever we begin discussing faith people will voice a number of objections. Nicodemus, a leader and teacher within Judaism objected. It should not surprise us when we hear our contemporaries say some of the same things. Things like...

I don't understand.

This is too good to be true.

It is easy for us to be way too hard on Nick. He was there we are not. I have found in my life that most objections to Christian faith fall somewhere into those two basic categories.

So, Jesus reminds us that the answers come from

Acknowledging God's work.

To answer Nicodemus' objections Jesus uses pairs of seemingly unrelated concepts some of them that are expressed in a single word...

Above and Again

Water and Spirit

Unseen cause and seen effect.

Yes the information contributes. We all want to know that our questions are answered and that we can clearly see the difference between God’s work and our own.

In the end Jesus explains faith as...

Accepting the Witness.

Testimony offered and accepted.

When it is not accepted it may be thought of as

ineffective.

It does not have the impact hoped for.

That does not make it

invalid.

Because...

Understanding and believing are not exactly the same thing.

Saving Faith is IN the saving Son lifted up.

Shut Down:

I've know a lot of Nicodemus's They thought they understood. They were ready for the test. Quiz me Jesus!

There is really only one question. And a single answer...

Jesus

The brilliance of the Gospel of John is that he weaves the words and the deeds of Jesus into a beautiful story the plot of which is Jesus, the tension is Jesus, the central character is Jesus, the question asked is Jesus, the answer given is Jesus. The beginning and end is Jesus.

John 3:15 ESV

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

What a Word God has for us today!