The Lesson of Nicodemus

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First Sunday in Trinity
The Lesson of Nicodemus
May 30, 2010

TEXT:  (John 3:1-15 NKJ)  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 and said to him, "Most assuredly, 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, "Most assuredly, 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 the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 "Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13  "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
Today we celebrate the Holy Trinity—One God in three persons—God the Father—God the Son—and God the Holy Spirit
 
The traditional text for this week is Jesus’ conversation with the learned Pharisee Nicodemus—at first we might not recognize how appropriate this text is—there are many who deny the Holy Trinity—because they don’t understand it—for some—if they cannot reason through a concept—it cannot exist—but for us Christians—we see the things of God with our hearts—the Holy Spirit reveals them to us—and that is going to be the lesson for Nicodemus—as our text opens, Nicodemus acknowledges the power of God witnessed through the works and signs of Jesus
 
TEXT:  (John 3:1-2 NKJ)  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."
 
John gives us a lot of information about Nicodemus—he’s a Pharisee—(learned in the Scriptures, a religious leader of the Jews)—he’s a ruler of the Jews—(probably a member of the Sanhedrin, a member of the council of 70 that interpreted the Law of the Jews—and Jesus gives us his name—(unlike the woman at the well, the paralytic lowered through the roof, etc.)—Nicodemus was one of those who followed Jesus because of the miracles and signs Jesus performed
 
(John 2:23-25 NKJ)  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
 
He knew those signs were of God—and he wanted to find out more about Jesus—Nicodemus approached Jesus at night because he feared being ridiculed by his peers—he wants to know the things of God—but doesn’t want anyone to know he is talking to Jesus
 
Nicodemus is living in the “old Adam,” Jesus is telling him he must become a “new man” to gain salvation—being a Jew gives Nicodemus no part in the kingdom of God—his being a Pharisee—gains him nothing—his being a member of the Sanhedrin—earns him nothing toward entering the kingdom—Nicodemus must have been devastated—being born to the right family—his entire life’s work—living according to the Law—NONE OF THIS WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO GO TO HEAVEN—he had to be reborn in the Spirit
 
Nicodemus tries to reason out this response from our Lord—but reason cannot understand spiritual things—Jesus told Nicodemus “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”—Jesus is trying to get Nicodemus to understand that this is a different kind rebirth—this is a birth of water and the spirit—the same birth available since John the Baptist started baptizing in the River Jordan—Jesus ties the earthly element—water—to the Spirit of God for baptism
 
The commentator Lenski reinforces this point with this example—“A stream never rises above its source”—if you are born of flesh—you cannot become more than flesh—therefore you must be reborn of the Spirit
 
Our Lord is trying to point out that Nicodemus is attempting to comprehend and explain things that cannot be comprehended—Jesus gives the example of the wind—philosophers nor scientists can explain exactly where the wind begins or ends—but any simple person can feel the wind—the wind has power—but we don’t see the wind—we only see the affect of the wind—man cannot explain it—since man cannot see it—does that mean it doesn’t exist?
 
Man’s reason cannot understand things of the Holy Spirit—Nicodemus could not understand being born again—but unless he was reborn—unless he was enlightened by the Holy Spirit—he would never see the kingdom of God
 
This is the same kingdom Nicodemus was confident that he owned—he was a Jew—the Jews were God’s people—why wouldn’t he be entitled to the kingdom?
 
The Holy Spirit reveals things to us—just as Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus—that’s what Jesus wants Nicodemus—and us—to know—the birth Jesus is teaching about is the rebirth of baptism—a birth with the water and the spirit—Jesus’ comparison of the wind and the Word is no accident—the wind blows and does the job God sends it to do—we can’t see the wind—but we see evidence of its power all around us every day—we can’t see the Holy Spirit—but all around us we see evidence in our observation of reborn sinners
 
As I have said many times before—you are the only Bible some people see—observing you is to see evidence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit—and thus should we live our lives—the Word also bears witness—it is preached—it has power—but we humans don’t know exactly where it goes to do its job—but God uses it to do His work
 
(Isaiah 55:11 NKJ)  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
 
Jesus is responding to Nicodemus’ unbelief—you studied the Scriptures—you are a teacher and you do not understand these things of God WE are teaching—WE includes John the Baptist and Jesus—at this point John the Baptist was still preaching and baptizing at the River Jordan—Nicodemus must understand and believe—he has studied the Scriptures all his life—now he must let God reveal Himself—God the Father—God the Son—God the Holy Spirit
 
Jesus is telling Nicodemus—I have explained it with words—you do not understand—therefore you do not believe—Nicodemus started this discussion with the premise that Jesus was a “teacher come from God”—yet he will not accept the teaching—he really doesn’t accept the teaching as being from God—Jesus shows compassion and patience—He explains again to try to help Nicodemus gain salvation through the Holy Spirit
 
If Nicodemus cannot understand earthly things such as the wind—how will he understand heavenly things such as—our bodies will glow brightly like the sun—where we will go for eternal life—what comes after death—Jesus then explains some of these heavenly things
 
Jesus is on earth speaking to Nicodemus—Jesus came down from heaven—Jesus is the Son of God—and He cannot stop being the Son of God when He becomes man—Human reason cannot understand that—it is accepted by faith
 
Jesus has power over life and death—the only way He can die—is if He chooses to offer Himself as the ultimate Sacrifice
 
(John 10:17-18 NKJ)  "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
 
We cannot save ourselves—God can save us through Jesus Christ—that is the only way—if Nicodemus fails to understand—and if he fails to truly believe—he cannot go to heaven—and He will be dead forever in his sins—Jesus makes one more appeal to the Scriptures that Nicodemus is well familiar with
 
TEXT:  (John 3:14-15 NKJ)  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
Jesus is speaking of the incident in the wilderness as the Israelites wandered until God would lead them to the promised land
 
(Numbers 21:6-9 NKJ)  So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
 
Jesus knows that Nicodemus understands this Bible story—He is saying if anyone looks upon me to be saved—they will be saved!—if the Old Testament Israelites could look upon a bronze serpent on a stick with faith—and their lives were saved—why can’t Nicodemus look upon the very Son of God with faith—that his life might be saved
 
Let us follow the example of Christ—teach until the unbeliever grasps and understands—present the Gospel until it is in a form they can relate to–teach with love in your heart—following the example of our Savior
 
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD—OUR TRIUNE GOD—GOD THE FATHER—GOD THE SON—AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST!