Sermon Tone Analysis

John 3:1-21

Intro: 

A while back I discovered a channel on YouTube that I’ve really been enjoying called TFL Off-road.

On this channel these guys take off-road vehicles on some of the most intense trails in Colorado and Texas and California to see how they perform.

My wife has been nearby reading while I’ve been watching some of these, and there are times when they will talk about the technical details of the vehicle–the front and rear lockers, the detachable sway bar, the articulation, etc.

After one of these technical explanations, without even looking up from the book she was reading, she says, “That’s not English that he just spoke there.”

Sometimes for the lost, that can be their response to the gospel.

It can be communicated to them with directness, it can be communicated to them in metaphors, it can come through parables, it can come through the four spiritual laws, but they just don’t get it.

We’re going to meet a man named Nicodemus in our passage this week, and at least initially, that was his response to JESUS.

Though he was conversing one-on-one with Him, face-to-face, Nicodemus didn’t really hear JESUS.

Last week we looked at how the Pharisees missed seeing Jesus and how we can avoid the same fate.

This week let’s make sure that we’ve not only seen Jesus but heard Jesus too.

Body:

This interaction with Nicodemus marks the beginning of a series of conversations that Jesus will have with people all in need of the same thing but coming from very different backgrounds.

Nicodemus the Pharisee (John 3:1-21)

The Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-26)

The Official from Capernaum (John 4:43-53)

The Paralytic at Bethesda (John 5:1-15) 

The first one we meet is a member of the ruling party of the Jews named, Nicodemus.

V. 1 “Now” Greek de

“And” = Nicodemus personified those who followed Jesus because of his signs; those who believed Jesus but who Jesus would not believe in return.

“But” = Nicodemus was distinct from those

“Now” = Nicodemus happened to come to Jesus around the same time as these other events John had been recording

What we know about Nicodemus: Not much

Pharisee (John 3:1)

Experts in the law who placed a great deal of importance on piety and observance

Emerged during the Hasmonean time period (135-105 B.C.)

Concerned about the rising influence of Hellenism, the Pharisees initially focused on preserving the law and the distinct nature of Judaism against what they saw as the corrupting influence of the Hellenistic culture

Ruler of the Jews (John 3:1)

A reference to his position in the Sanhedrin: the ruling party of the Jews made up of both the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Sanhedrin oversaw political, religious, and legal affairs for the Jewish people

It was purported (very questionably) to have roots as far back as Moses and his 70 elders (Num 11:16)

More likely, it had its birth during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah where there is a reference to a community of Jewish priests serving on a council (Neh 2:16)

Eventually, the Pharisees became the domineering body in the Sanhedrin replacing the influence of the priests (76-67 B.C.

Under Queen Alexandra)

In 47 B.C. Caesar declared that the High Priest and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem would have authority over the affairs of the Jewish nation

By the time of Christ, the Sanhedrin was the highest court and authority for a Jew and was made up of a combination of chief priests (Sadducees) and Pharisees.

Smaller governing bodies throughout Palestine were also referred to as the Sanhedrin, but here we are speaking of the main body in Jerusalem

Teacher of Israel (John 3:10)

A title of respect and accomplishment

Nicodemus was no bit player

“You’re the tenured professor and you don’t know this?!”

Advocates for Jesus (John 7:50-51)

Shows up at the tomb (John 19:39)

There’s some speculation involved as to why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, but I favor the position that he was uncertain of what his colleagues might have thought.

Though still not a convert even after this encounter with Jesus, I believe we are seeing the early signs of life beginning to emerge from Nicodemus’ heart.

(Carson: His own “night” was blacker than he knew)

“Rabbi” (John 3:2)

The same greeting from the disciples of John

“unless God is with him.”

(John 3:2)

Simply a recognition that based on his presence and the things he was doing, God must be “with” Jesus as He had been with the great leaders of Israel in the past.

Here you have one of the highest ranking religious officials in Israel coming to Jesus at least with some piqued interest or curiosity.

It seems likely, based on the rest of his life, that this was the beginning stage of God drawing Nicodemus to himself.

But if there ever was a person you would think would have it all together when it came to his place before God.

Nicodemus would have been that guy...

P1: Realize Jesus is for Everyone (vv.

1-2)

I think we understand this more easily when it comes to thinking of ourselves than we do about our neighbors, bosses, coworkers, family members, etc.

We allow the fear of man to keep us from sharing the gospel with someone and though we may doctrinally agree with this point that Jesus is for everyone, we functionally deny its practical application in our lives.

You may have a friend who is a nice guy and says he goes to church, but you’ve not ever asked him about his testimony.

You may have a coworker who you’ve written off as someone who would never be interested in the gospel.

You may have a neighbor who has made hostile comments about God or Christians, and so you’ve concluded that bringing up Jesus with him wouldn’t be helpful.

Everyone needs Christ.

END P1

Nicodemus had invited some response from JESUS.

He had alluded to the signs he had done and made the statement that God must be with him as he had been with Moses or Joshua or David or one of the prophets.

So he was begging the question: “Do you have some message for us?”

(Possibly looking to find out if he was the Messiah similar to the way the Jews had investigated John)

Safe to say, whatever he was looking for, the response he got from JESUS was not what he expected.

Some translations: “born from above” but context seems to favor “born again/anew”

The language of new birth is familiar to those in the church culture where it is talked about with regularity.

So we need an account like the one that follows to remind us of just how radical a doctrine regeneration truly is.

Nicodemus’ question seems absurd, but that’s only because the absurdity of JESUS’ original statement has worn off for us.

Nicodemus’ question is appropriate 

Like the woman at the well in John 4, while Jesus tries to get to the spiritual plane, Nicodemus stays put in the physical realm.

Jesus stays patient with Nicodemus the way he stayed patient with so many of us as we struggled to come to terms with our own need for him.

The concept of a divinely initiated birth was present in the OT:

Exodus 4:22 = Israel as God’s “firstborn”

Deuteronomy 32:6 = God created Israel as their Father

Hosea 11:1 = out of Egypt I called my son

The Spirit as life-giver was present in the OT:

Genesis 2:7 = the Lord breathed life into his nostrils

Genesis 6:3 = My Spirit shall not abide in man forever

Job 34:14-15 = if He should gather His spirit to Himself all flesh would perish

There was an eschatological expectation of a future bestowal of the Spirit in the OT:

Joel 2:28 = I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh

Isaiah 32:15-20 = until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high

Ezekiel 39:29 = when I pour out my Spirit on Israel

There was an association of cleansing or newness when water was paired with spirit in the OT:

Isaiah 44:3-5 = pour out water and Spirit on the dry and thirsty ground

Jeremiah 2:13 = they have forsaken God the living water for broken cisterns

Zechariah 14:8 = living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem

Ezekiel 37 = the Dry Bones

Jeremiah 31 = the New Covenant

This was JESUS making a somewhat unambiguous statement about His identity as the Messiah–the One come to bring fulfillment to all of these OT passages.

Mysterious, but evident none the less.

New birth doesn’t come from men but from the Lord who acts to regenerate those Whom He wishes to bring to new life.

Nicodemus thought it was impossible for a man to be born again, and was right, if it was up to man alone.

P2: Feel the Weight of the Impossible Demand (vv.

3-13; 18-21)

Illustrate: Brent Dongelle feeling like he had failed when people rejected the gospel.