Sermon Based on : John 3. 1-17; Psalm 121; Romans 4. 1-5 & 13-17
Preached on: – Second Sunday of Lent- 08.03.2020
Last Sunday our first reading was the story of Fall of Adam & Eve, which reminded us. We are made for fellowship with God, and so the call of faith likewise resonates with something in the depth of our hearts.To trust in God involves having knowledge of him, and of his Son, Jesus Christ. That’s what seems to me made Nicodemus comes to Jesus.
The fact that Nicodemus comes by night is troublesome. It could be that he does so only to have a quiet, uninterrupted conversation with Jesus, who tends to attract crowds. Or he had some ulterior motives because he was a Pharisee and a “leader of the Jews,” who are often portrayed in the Gospels as hostile to Jesus and his message.
The most general view that Nicodemus comes at night so that he will not be seen. The first verse of our Gospel says “There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, ”.
Let us learn little bit of Nicodemus, he is mentioned 5 times in the Bible, only in the Gospel of St. John. He plays a prominent role- there in the beginning of Christ ministry, in the midst of Christ Ministry and ultimately at the end of Jesus’ ministry. He is a Pharisee, St. Paul was also a Pharisee. Pharisees were well acquainted with the scripture but they believed that they were saved by virtue of keeping the law. They did not understand grace. But, they were very religious men, attending the synagogue, fasted, gave tithe. They were very religious but Nicodemus comes to Jesus because he knows something is missing. His name is Nicodemus- the word Nicodemus means- victory of the people. I think that is significant because Nicodemus represent all of us. We need to come to Jesus. And, he is searching for truth and he finds in Christ.
The second part of the verse one says he was ‘a leader of the Jews‘, he was not only Pharisee but ruler of the or leader of the people which means- he was a member of the Sanhedrin. Among the Pharisees seventy were chosen to represent the people. It was the supreme court of Jewish nation. John tells us in chapter 7 Nicodemus sat in the meeting of the Sanhedrin and spoke in defence of Jesus.
So here you got this man who has great possession, great position, he is extremely religious but he had heard Jesus teaching. And, he knew something is missing.
Now we can guess why he comes to Jesus at night. After all, he is a man of significant reputation, and Jesus is a newcomer—an unknown person. Furthermore, Jesus has just created a ruckus in the temple (2:13-22). It remains to be seen whether he is a prophet or a troublemaker.
Nicodemus comes to learn more about this young rabbi, but perhaps does not want his colleagues to know of his interest. He has, if not faith, at least faithful curiosity.As someone rightly described him, “the patron saint of seekers.” He represents all of us who seek Christ.
Nicodemus approaches Jesus respectfully, calling him “a teacher come from God” and affirming Jesus’ works as evidence that Jesus is working by God’s power (2:23). when Jesus respond to that he cuts through all of that and goes right to the heart of what Nicodemus needs to hear- and what does Jesus say to him; ‘ You need to be born again’. John 3.3..Very truly, I tell you now that’s a strongest definite language, King James – Verily, verily. I am telling you for fact, don’t miss this, get this straight. I am telling you .. ‘no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’
Now that really exploded Nicodemus world, because every Pharisee was waiting for the kingdom of God, which they thought it’s going to be on earth and they thought when the kingdom of God did come, they are the first one. The first one that would lead out that kingdom would be the Pharisees. Becasue Pharisees prided themselves on being guardians on the law of Moses, the constitution of the kingdom. To say that to somebody who is in the most religious group in the kingdom, who sitting on the supreme court of the religious group. And, to tell them looking for the kingdom of God and saying you don’t have a hope unless you are born again.
Dear Friends, New birth is crucial for salvation, you got everything but you don’t have a new birth from God you have nothing. Without the new heart, without the new Spirit, without the new birth, we can’t see the Kingdom of God. New birth represents turning, it’s repentance. God is calling us to be New Creations 2 Corinthians 5. 17 says..Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.So what does a new birth means- We are born in Christ. You and I become new creature when we born again.
Now how are we born again? Real part of the issue. Born again How?
Verse 4- Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’
How does it happen? It is a miracle of the spirit of God. 1 Peter 1.23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever”. We need to read our Bible everyday. Born again through the word, of course Christ is the word but how does Christ change our heart through the word. That is our hope becoming like Christ. There is something miraculous about the word it causes creation how does God created the world through the word. He spoke and it happened. We need to allow the word to change our heart
Because we are born spiritually dead, we need help, and that help comes from above. Jesus tells us “No one has ascended into heaven except Him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man”. It’s impossible for us to go to Him, so now is the time for the “Gospel in the Nutshell”, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”. Despite our spiritual death, Christ descended from Heaven so that we would all be saved through Him. God loved us even though we didn’t love Him and even though we didn’t deserve to be saved, He came just so that He could do precisely that.
This salvation comes to us, not because of who we are, like Nicodemus and the Pharisees thought, or like we sometimes think, but solely through God’s love and grace. Jesus alludes to this grace when He talks about Moses and the bronze serpent. Do you remember that story? The Israelites were wandering in the desert and once again they began complaining about the manna and the problems of wandering in the desert. The Lord, rightfully angry, decides to punish the Israelites, and He does so by sending poisonous snakes that killed everyone they bit. When the Israelites finally came to their senses and pleaded for help, the Lord had Moses put a bronze snake up on a high pole. Anyone who looked at the snake after being bitten would live. But they lived not through their actions; rather they lived because in that bronze snake, God had given them a vision of His grace and forgiveness.
In the same way, we have something to look at when in our sin we rebel against God. Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up”. The bronze snake that was lifted up saved the people from physical death, when Christ was lifted up we were saved from spiritual and eternal death. The lifting up of Jesus is what gives the Gospel in the Nutshell, its promise. This is why our sins are forgiven and this is why we shall not perish but have eternal life. When you look at the crucified Christ you’re looking at your forgiveness and you’re seeing the grace of God that’s for you. This forgiveness and God’s grace come to all those who have been born again. and each of us who believe in God’ Son- Jesus Christ.
In the name of God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen