WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.259 Good morning. It's wonderful to be back with you again. Let me set this up. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:13.519 Let me start off by asking us a question this morning. 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:19.500 What comes to mind when you hear the title or the name Jesus of Nazareth? 00:00:20.179 --> 00:00:25.160 For some of us, maybe he was a good moral teacher. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:30.539 Someone who gives us wise advice how to go about our lives. 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:35.539 This sounds very loud again. Is it very loud? Maybe we can turn down a little bit. 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:43.000 But who is this man, this man of history that left such an amazing mark on the world? 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:48.400 Who's this man, whether you admire him or whether you reject him? 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:53.260 Whether you worship him or whether you're still skeptical about the claims of Christ? 00:00:53.259 --> 00:01:00.219 Most of us, I think, would recognize that Jesus of Nazareth, there's something fascinating about him. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:04.019 Something intriguing about him. Something inviting about him. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:08.900 Who is this man that has left such an amazing mark on our world? 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.319 You know Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French military leader? 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:16.359 He might not agree with him, but this is what he said. 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:22.120 He said, I know men, and I tell you that that man, Jesus Christ, is no mere man. 00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:28.100 Between him and every person in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:35.680 Alexander, Caesar Augustus, Charlemagne, and I, we have all founded great empires. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.860 But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:41.159 We rested them upon force. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.560 But Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love. 00:01:45.100 --> 00:01:48.939 And at this very hour, millions of men would lay down their lives for him. 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:50.459 But you see what he's saying there? 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:57.640 He's saying there's something about this man, Jesus, that's different from every other founder of great empires and religions around the world. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:01:59.420 Who is this man, Jesus? 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:00.959 And what's so special about him? 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:04.359 What's so intriguing and inviting about him? 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:11.819 Now, as we said, some of us here this morning, maybe you think upon Jesus as a great moral teacher. 00:02:12.079 --> 00:02:13.759 Someone full of wisdom, advice. 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:16.560 Someone who will help you get through your life well. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:21.020 For some of us, maybe we are wondering whether he is, in fact, the Messiah. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.060 The one that the scriptures spoke about for all those years. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:32.199 And for those of you that are in high school, I hope you don't just believe in Jesus because your parents believe in Jesus. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:39.300 I hope you're taking the time to search out the claims and see whether the claims of the Bible are compatible with history. 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:49.140 I hope you're taking time to work out whether believing in Jesus and believing in rational science and intelligence are compatible for those of us in high school. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:55.540 And for some of us here, you're still maybe exploring his teachings and wondering about the things that he said. 00:02:56.140 --> 00:02:59.960 And for some of us here, he's the one that you've come to love and worship. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:06.120 Now, as Eric said, today we are starting an eight-week series called Who Is This Man? 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:14.200 And so for the next eight weeks, we're going to go through the Gospels and we're going to look at eight different encounters that individuals had with Jesus Christ. 00:03:14.600 --> 00:03:16.740 Some of these people were religious leaders. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:18.520 Some of them were skeptics. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:20.540 Some of them were doubters. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:23.400 Some of them had big questions about life and faith. 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:26.080 Some of them were trying to work out, is he the Messiah? 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:29.980 Some of them were disciples that fell from grace. 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:40.840 But in all of these encounters, we're going to see that as these men and women engage with Jesus, they see both him differently and the world in which they live very differently. 00:03:41.260 --> 00:03:42.340 And so we're starting that today. 00:03:42.460 --> 00:03:45.600 And so for the next eight weeks, we're going to dive in to the Gospels. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:50.060 And today we start off with John chapter 3 with Jesus and Nicodemus. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:50.620 Okay. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:57.900 Now, let's consider this man Nicodemus that Alex and Gigi read to us about this morning. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.780 We are told in verse 1 that he is a Pharisee. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:07.460 Now, many of us will know that the Pharisees were the kind of religious leaders of the days. 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:15.379 They were people that were extremely particular and fastidious about obeying every minute detail of the law. 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:27.360 So they'd read the Old Testament law and they not only obeyed every detail, but everything that was maybe an implication of that detail, they were extreme in obeying it. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:32.600 Making sure that nobody could accuse them on any technicality of breaking the law. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:38.000 And so very, very devout, very, very faithful in their religion. 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:41.319 And so Nicodemus is a dedicated religious man. 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:44.459 But we also know he's a very powerful man. 00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:47.459 Verse 1 tells us he's part of the ruling council. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.659 It's kind of like the Sanhedrin, which is similar to the legislative council in Hong Kong. 00:04:52.799 --> 00:04:54.620 He's a kind of politician. 00:04:55.139 --> 00:05:00.819 He's one of the leaders that gives leadership to the nation of Israel and speaks to the manners of the day. 00:05:01.359 --> 00:05:03.019 And so he's politically connected. 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:05.039 He's very politically powerful. 00:05:05.599 --> 00:05:09.139 But in addition to that, he's also very respected in society. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:11.959 He's a leading religious figure. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:13.779 He's a leading political figure. 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:15.779 He's well respected and admired. 00:05:16.239 --> 00:05:20.659 And in verse 4, it tells us he's one of the leading scholars and academics. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:25.819 In other words, all the Jewish people would have come to somebody like Nicodemus to say, 00:05:26.239 --> 00:05:27.899 What is your take on the Bible? 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.399 What is your take on God's word? 00:05:30.059 --> 00:05:32.599 And so here is a man who's very devout. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:34.779 He's very politically connected. 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:37.859 He's admired and respected in life. 00:05:38.059 --> 00:05:39.319 He's probably wealthy. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:40.659 He has an established career. 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:42.500 He's an academic. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:43.840 He's got the qualifications. 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:46.820 Here is a man that's got everything going for him. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.900 What more would a man in his day want than all these things? 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:53.240 There's nothing in his life that's lacking. 00:05:54.320 --> 00:05:57.080 Except there's a problem. 00:05:58.040 --> 00:05:59.700 Because look at what happens. 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:02.660 There's something that's troubling Nicodemus. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:04.920 He comes to Jesus at night. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:10.960 Now in John's gospel, John is very careful about everything that he writes about. 00:06:11.580 --> 00:06:15.199 And in John's gospel, he's always picking up on these themes from the Old Testament. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:19.379 And one of the themes that he picks up on is the theme of light and darkness. 00:06:20.020 --> 00:06:22.860 And so in John's gospel, many people come to Jesus. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:28.540 And whenever John talks about darkness, he's always overtones of a shroud of darkness. 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:35.300 He's talking about the fact that Nicodemus has got everything going for him, but there's something troubling his soul. 00:06:35.840 --> 00:06:37.900 There's a shroud of darkness over his soul. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:43.439 There's something that he can't put his finger on, but it's keeping him awake at night. 00:06:44.080 --> 00:06:45.680 And so John is telling us this. 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:48.000 And I wonder, have you ever felt like that? 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.759 I wonder for how many people in Hong Kong we feel like that, right? 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:54.800 We've got the name brand accessories. 00:06:55.159 --> 00:06:58.800 We've got the fantastic apartment in the right address. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:00.480 We've got that good bonus. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:02.360 We've got our careers going off. 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:03.879 We're about to get our PhD. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:05.980 Everything is going well for us. 00:07:06.039 --> 00:07:11.519 And yet there's something in our hearts, there's something in our souls that we struggle to put our finger on. 00:07:12.219 --> 00:07:14.959 There's something that leaves us anxious and lonely. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:16.500 Have you ever felt like that? 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.839 Well, Nicodemus feels like that, but he does the right thing. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.279 He comes to Jesus. 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.959 And he starts a conversation. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:26.339 And so he comes to Jesus and he says, 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:32.379 Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher that has come from God because we've seen the signs that you do. 00:07:33.159 --> 00:07:38.539 And so Nicodemus and his friends come to Jesus at night and they've noticed something about him. 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:41.319 They've noticed that Jesus is not just an ordinary man. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.000 There's something supernatural. 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:45.139 There's something different about him. 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.819 And what is it that they've noticed? 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.319 They've noticed the signs. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:54.899 They've noticed that Jesus does and speaks to people in an amazing way that it kind of invites them in. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.079 They're leaning in. 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:57.719 They want to know more about this man. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:59.000 Who is this man, Jesus? 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:01.579 And so they've come to find out. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:06.399 Except notice, Jesus doesn't allow them to ask the question. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:08.439 Jesus kind of interrupts them. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.539 Nicodemus comes and says, 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:12.060 Jesus, we've been watching you. 00:08:12.200 --> 00:08:13.460 We've seen the signs. 00:08:13.700 --> 00:08:15.640 We know that you're a man that comes from God. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:20.240 And before he even gets to ask a question, Jesus cuts him off straight away. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.120 And he interrupts him. 00:08:21.200 --> 00:08:22.180 And what does Jesus say? 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:23.060 He says, 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.399 I know you've seen the signs. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.360 I know you've been watching me. 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:29.939 But actually, you haven't seen anything. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:35.700 Because until you're born again, you can't even begin to see the kingdom of God. 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:39.759 Now, if I wanted to start a new religion, 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:45.500 if I wanted to get people to follow me and start this new movement, 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:47.899 that's not how I would respond to someone. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.139 I would have said, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:49.779 Yeah, yeah, come. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:50.279 Let's come. 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:51.519 Let's talk about it. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.720 But what does Jesus do? 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.220 Firstly, he interrupts him. 00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:55.279 He cuts him off. 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:56.840 And then secondly, he says, 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:59.220 Just by the way, you haven't seen anything. 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.379 You need to get born again. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.540 And then you can come follow me. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.019 Then you'll know what you're talking about. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.540 That's not a way to win friends and influence people, right? 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:08.580 A great way to start a new religion. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.220 And yet, that's one of the most amazing things about Jesus. 00:09:13.040 --> 00:09:16.340 One of the most incredible things about Jesus is Christ has this ability 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:20.740 to both challenge you and encourage you at the same time. 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:25.019 He has this way of both confronting you, confronting the way you see the world, 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.580 confronting the things you trust in and the hope in, 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:31.620 this way of challenging you, but at the same time, he's inviting you in. 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.279 He's bringing you near. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.659 And that's what he does here. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:38.960 He challenges Nicodemus on how Nicodemus sees him, 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:41.440 but at the same time, he's offering him an invitation. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:44.519 He's saying, Nicodemus, unless you're born again, 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:47.980 unless you're born from above, you haven't even begun to see me. 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:51.920 He's offering him an invitation to come on and to see Jesus. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:55.720 Now, I'm not sure what it's like in Hong Kong here. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:59.259 We're still new and getting to know the culture. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.800 But where we come from in South Africa, 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:03.599 and I think this is true in America. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:04.959 I think it's true in Australia. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:06.479 It's probably true in England. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:09.019 Tell me whether it's true in Hong Kong as well. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:11.599 What comes to mind when somebody says, 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.099 I'm a born-again Christian? 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:15.459 What comes to mind? 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:17.879 I'll tell you what comes to mind. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:18.839 Sorry, what is it? 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.319 A Bible-bashing Christian, right? 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:22.259 Yeah, exactly. 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:25.500 Well, where we come from, people think of two things. 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:27.259 If you say, I'm a born-again Christian, 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:29.019 people assume two things. 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:32.240 One, they assume you're emotionally unstable, 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.220 and you need some emotional help, right? 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:38.200 You need somebody to come along and lift you up. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.500 You're kind of emotionally unstable, 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:43.819 but now you've got a religious bend to you. 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:45.439 Emotionally fanatical. 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:47.700 Becoming a born-again Christian means 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:50.360 God wants you to become emotionally fanatical. 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:53.500 But the second thing people think it means 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:57.039 is becoming morally fanatical, more religious. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.019 Ascribing to more rules, more do's and don'ts. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:03.600 You know, fundamentalists, there's no gray. 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.360 There's just black and white. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.480 And born-again Christians are like that. 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:08.419 No gray in their life. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:12.240 Just strict, authoritarian, religious regimes. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:16.179 Now, is that what Jesus is asking Nicodemus to do? 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.620 Is Jesus saying, listen, Nicodemus, 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:21.179 you need to become a bit more emotional, right? 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:22.919 Or, Nicodemus, you need to become 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.399 a little bit more religious, 00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:26.019 a little bit more dogmatic. 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.480 Of course not. 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:29.460 Nicodemus doesn't seem like 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:31.139 the emotionally unstable kind of person. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:32.639 He's a Pharisee. 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.679 He's a religious leader. 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:35.100 He's an academic. 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:35.939 He's a scholar. 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:39.000 He's a member of the legislative council. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.779 He's someone who, he's got it all together. 00:11:42.199 --> 00:11:43.559 Is Jesus saying, oh, you need to become 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:44.539 a little bit more emotional? 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.679 No, of course not. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:48.100 But secondly, is Jesus saying, 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.980 you need to become a bit more moral? 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.319 You need to ascribe to a strict set 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.420 of authoritarian, dogmatic rules? 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:56.860 Nicodemus is one of the most moral, 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.980 authoritarian, dogmatic people there is. 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:02.620 Jesus isn't asking him to become more moral, 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:03.420 more religious. 00:12:04.300 --> 00:12:05.480 And yet Jesus says to him, 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.980 you must be born again. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.200 You must be born again. 00:12:10.140 --> 00:12:11.460 You know, sometimes people say, 00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:14.360 oh, my colleague, she doesn't smoke. 00:12:14.540 --> 00:12:15.420 She doesn't drink. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:16.800 She doesn't sleep around. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:18.100 She goes to one of those happy, 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.120 clappy churches, those emotional churches. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.120 She must be a born again Christian, right? 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.700 Jesus comes to somebody like Nicodemus. 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:25.419 He doesn't smoke. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:26.519 He doesn't drink. 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.600 He doesn't sleep around. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.360 And Jesus says, you must be born again. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.259 What's Jesus doing? 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:32.980 He's saying, Nicodemus, 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.720 and he's saying to all of us here today, 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:37.460 he's saying, if you want to know God, 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:40.080 you don't just become more religious. 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:42.820 Something needs to happen inside of you. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.200 You need to encounter me. 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:45.779 You need to encounter God in a way 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.500 that transforms you on the inside. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:50.360 You need to have an encounter with the living God 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.179 that doesn't just change the outside or the behavior. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.000 It'll do that. 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:57.440 But something that causes a creative act of God 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.759 inside of you to change you fundamentally 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.320 who you are inside. 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:05.139 Friends, Jesus Christ is telling every one of us, 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.080 unless you encounter him in a way 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.019 that fundamentally changes you, 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.460 something that almost creates a new you, 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.899 something that comes from outside of you, 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.600 into you, 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.240 you don't really know him. 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:19.139 You've never really met him. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:21.159 You don't understand who he is. 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.500 And Nicodemus says, 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.540 we've been watching you. 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.460 We've seen you. 00:13:24.540 --> 00:13:25.980 Jesus says, you haven't seen anything. 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.000 Unless you've encountered me in a way 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.779 that changes you, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:29.740 you haven't seen me. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.800 And what Jesus says to Nicodemus 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.100 is what he says to all of us. 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.500 Nicodemus, you can't initiate this. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:37.740 I didn't come to get you 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.680 to initiate a self-improvement project. 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.960 I haven't come to tell you 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.019 to pull up, you know, 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.440 to get more moral 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.560 or to become better 00:13:45.560 --> 00:13:47.759 or to become a more religious person. 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.820 That's not why I've come. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:51.000 I've come to bring a new life, 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.840 a life from outside of you 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:54.340 that changes you inside 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:55.620 and to set you free. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.960 Nothing less than a supernatural, 00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.259 creative act of God 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.580 making us news 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:02.460 what Jesus has come to do. 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.780 And you know what? 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.440 That's still the same way 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.340 we get to know God. 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.000 That's still the same way 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.440 that we get to encounter Jesus. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.480 Jesus looks at each one of us 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.160 in the eye and he says, 00:14:12.260 --> 00:14:12.940 you don't need to become 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.640 more emotional. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:14.860 You don't need to become 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:15.480 more religious. 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:16.760 You don't need to become 00:14:16.760 --> 00:14:17.460 more dedicated. 00:14:18.260 --> 00:14:19.160 You need to meet me 00:14:19.160 --> 00:14:20.340 in a way that changes you 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:22.280 fundamentally on the inside. 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.540 A way that changes 00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:24.820 everything about our lives. 00:14:25.280 --> 00:14:26.140 We need to meet God 00:14:26.140 --> 00:14:26.940 in a way that changes 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.880 the way we view money. 00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:29.640 The way we view our careers. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.500 The way we view sexuality. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:33.900 The way we view our colleagues. 00:14:34.140 --> 00:14:35.920 The way we view our family members. 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:37.720 The way we view the past. 00:14:38.260 --> 00:14:38.940 We need to meet Jesus 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.660 in a way that changes 00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:40.700 the way we view the future. 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.040 We need to meet Jesus 00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:42.860 in a way that changes 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.180 us so fundamentally inside. 00:14:44.280 --> 00:14:45.240 It changes everything 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.840 about the way 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:47.140 that we view the world. 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:48.280 Now, 00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:50.400 Jesus says, 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.960 you must be born again. 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:53.660 Something inside of you 00:14:53.660 --> 00:14:54.200 needs to change. 00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:56.140 Now, look at Nicodemus' response. 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.840 Nicodemus says this. 00:14:57.880 --> 00:14:58.140 He says, 00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.280 hang on, hang on, Jesus. 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:00.700 Hang on now. 00:15:01.260 --> 00:15:02.320 Are you saying that 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.600 as an old man 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.640 I need to go back 00:15:04.640 --> 00:15:06.240 into my mom's womb 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.320 and get born again? 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.540 Like go through another 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.919 delivery process? 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:11.079 Is that what you're saying? 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.259 Now, Nicodemus is, 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.079 that's not really 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.439 what he thinks Jesus is saying. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.599 He's not that dull. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.059 Okay? 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.459 He's a sharp man. 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:21.139 But at the same time, 00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:22.219 he completely misses 00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:23.079 what Jesus is saying. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:23.959 So he's not really, 00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:24.899 he doesn't really think 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.399 Jesus is saying 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.139 you need to go back 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.860 into your mom's womb. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.620 But he gives this 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.740 stochastic answer 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.360 because he's trying 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:30.899 to work out, 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.240 Jesus, 00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.379 what are you really saying? 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:34.360 He's been watching Jesus, 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.620 but he hasn't understood him. 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.779 And so Jesus' words 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.259 miss him. 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.620 And maybe he never 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.759 thought of faith like that. 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.019 Maybe he thought 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.960 faith is just, 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.240 you know, 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.600 a set of moral principles. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.820 Maybe he thought 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.000 faith is just a crutch 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.399 for people who can't 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.139 get through life 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.659 on their own. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.820 They need a bit of religion 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:51.560 to help them. 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.960 Maybe he thought, 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.179 you know, 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.600 faith is a way 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.639 to control people. 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.379 It's the opium 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.019 of the masses. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.000 It's a way to control 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.879 people's minds 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.139 so that you can 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.860 control them. 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.539 And so he completely 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.240 misses Jesus. 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:03.899 And so Jesus 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.379 helps him along. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.879 And what does Jesus do? 00:16:06.959 --> 00:16:07.840 He takes him back 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.779 to the Old Testament. 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.199 And he says, 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:11.579 he says this in verse 5, 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:11.939 he says, 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.139 truly I say to you, 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.579 unless one is born 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:15.199 of water 00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:16.600 and of the Spirit, 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.959 you cannot enter 00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:18.899 the kingdom of God. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.179 Do not marvel 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.100 at the fact that I said 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.399 you must be born again. 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.539 The wind blows 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.439 wherever it wishes 00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:26.019 and you hear it sound, 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.240 but you do not know 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.059 where it comes from 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:28.860 or where it goes. 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.960 So it is with everyone 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.500 who is born of the Spirit. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.659 Now, 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.820 what on earth 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.980 is Jesus talking about? 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:36.799 Well, 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.500 Nicodemus is a Jewish Pharisee. 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.600 He knows the Old Testament 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.340 really well. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.700 And so Nicodemus knows 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.820 exactly what Jesus 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.460 is talking about. 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.820 Jesus is not saying 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.240 you need to have two births. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.799 You need to be born 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.379 of water, 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:48.860 you know, 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.559 your mom's amniotic fluid, 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.759 and you need to be born 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.360 of the Spirit. 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:53.379 That's not what he's saying. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.080 Nicodemus knew 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.960 that in the Old Testament 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.120 prophet Ezekiel, 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.779 Ezekiel chapter 36, 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.159 the people of God 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.519 have gone astray, 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.779 things aren't going that well. 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.619 And God says to his people, 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.059 he says, 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.660 I will wash you 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.700 with cleansing water. 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.639 I will wash your sin away 00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.639 with cleansing water. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.819 I will wash you clean. 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.960 And I will put my Spirit 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.559 inside of you. 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.859 I will cause a new 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:16.599 spiritual life 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.900 to take hold of your life. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.180 And the result is, 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.720 you will be my God 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.779 and I will be your God 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.779 and you will be my people. 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.139 No, no, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.099 you won't be my God. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.559 God says, 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.720 I will be your God 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.740 and you will be my people. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.940 In other words, 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.779 Jesus is saying 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.940 to Nicodemus, 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.160 what God has always said 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.720 to his people 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.000 for thousands of years, 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:35.680 he says, 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.160 for you to really know me, 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.319 it's not a matter of 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.480 what you can do for me, 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.120 it's what I need to do 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.960 inside of you. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.339 You need to be washed 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.000 of your sin. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.299 You need to be washed 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.279 of your brokenness. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.579 You need to be washed 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.200 clean again. 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.799 And you need 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.400 a new spiritual DNA 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.559 to be put inside of you. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.960 You need to become 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.660 alive spiritually. 00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.559 You need to be infused 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.859 with my spiritual life. 00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.059 But, 00:17:59.179 --> 00:17:59.819 says Jesus, 00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:01.519 this is not something 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.500 that you can generate 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.019 on your own. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.679 This is not something 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:06.440 that you can muster 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.279 on your own strength. 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.679 This is not something 00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.399 that you can do 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.799 by going to Mecca 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.960 or going to Jerusalem 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.200 or going on some pilgrimage. 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.500 This is something 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.359 that God himself 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:15.960 needs to do 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.819 inside of you. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.079 You can't buy it 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.679 with all the money 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.099 in the world. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.980 You can't earn it 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.960 with all the hard work. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.059 It's a force of nature 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.720 that comes from 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.579 outside of you 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.200 and when you experience it, 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.019 it changes you. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.100 What's it like? 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.580 It's like a typhoon 00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.519 of God's grace 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.259 that completely changes 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.660 your life 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.460 and doesn't leave you 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:33.920 the same. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.059 You know, 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:37.299 there's a wonderful story 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.259 and I don't, 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.539 I haven't been able 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.120 to verify 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.920 that it's 100% true 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.819 but it's attributed 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.279 to a man called Augustine. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.019 And Augustine 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:48.460 was a great philosopher 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.440 and theologian 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.380 of the 4th century. 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:52.120 Lived 1700 years ago. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.480 And he's kind of 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.779 one of the founding fathers 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.720 of the Christian faith. 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.859 A man that really 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.899 understood the gospel 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.539 and the Bible 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.440 in a beautiful way. 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.500 But Augustine was, 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.500 before he became 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.399 a follower of Jesus, 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:05.339 he was an absolute hedonist. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.859 He was someone 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.980 who lived for pleasure 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.740 and pleasure alone. 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.420 He was a self-confessed 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.160 sex addict 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.619 and so he had 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.899 multiple relationships 00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.440 going on 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.460 at the same time. 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.200 He was sent 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.319 away from home 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.440 as a young boy 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.399 to go study 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:20.619 at the top universities 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.279 of the world. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.859 And he used to just go 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.879 from city to city 00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:24.359 to city 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.000 tasting the pleasures 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.859 of the city. 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.420 And his mom 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.039 was a devout follower 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.500 of Jesus 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.079 and his mom 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.079 used to pray for him 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.379 but he didn't follow 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.240 his mom's footsteps 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.359 until one day, 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.500 one day God 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.299 got a hold of him. 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.759 One day he's outside 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.500 in a courtyard 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:42.099 and he's a spiritual seeker. 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.599 He's asking these big questions 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.240 about Jesus 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.279 and life and faith 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:46.660 and he hears somebody 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:48.240 singing next door 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.240 about the wonders 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.920 of the gospel. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.880 And he says 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:52.140 it's like a bright light 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.060 shone from heaven 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.820 into his soul 00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:54.759 and caused him 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.600 to be born again. 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:56.700 But anyway, 00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:58.779 Nicodemus Augustine, 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.180 his whole life changes. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.060 And so a few years later 00:20:02.060 --> 00:20:03.860 he's walking through a town 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:05.400 that he used to frequent 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.300 you know often 00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:08.840 and he meets a lady there. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.880 There's a lady, 00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:10.960 a sex worker 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.759 and she recognizes him 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.000 and so she runs up to him 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.820 and she's expecting 00:20:15.820 --> 00:20:16.640 this warm, 00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:18.220 salacious welcome. 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:18.800 Right? 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:21.099 And she's very friendly 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.240 and she's expecting him 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.859 to reply 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:25.779 and Nicodemus is kind. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.299 Not Nicodemus, 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:27.919 Augustine. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.039 Okay, 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.980 my friend Bob. 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.960 So Augustine, 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.579 he's kind, 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.940 he's polite 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:39.000 but he doesn't respond to her 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.919 and he walks on in his way 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:42.839 and she's very confused. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.639 And so she thinks to himself, 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.019 maybe he's forgotten 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.759 who I am. 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:48.220 And so she calls out, 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.059 Augustine, 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.900 it's I. 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.500 And she names her name. 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.420 And Augustine turns around 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.019 and he says, 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.680 I know, 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.579 but it's no longer I. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.680 For the old Augustine is dead 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:00.460 and I've been made alive again. 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.879 You see what happened? 00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:03.460 Here was a man that, 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.779 he was still the same man. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.200 It was still Augustine. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:08.240 His mom would have still recognized him. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:08.759 He wasn't, 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:10.099 he didn't have a new face 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:11.500 or a new personality. 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.960 He's still the same person. 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:14.420 But something about him 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:16.100 had experienced the typhoon 00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:16.980 of God's grace 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.920 and had left him a new man. 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.420 Something inside of him 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.519 had changed fundamentally. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.819 There was a new person. 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.340 It is no longer I. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.720 It is a new man. 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.220 And this is what Jesus 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.980 has come to do. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.380 And friends, 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.079 isn't this what Matt 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.779 was saying to us? 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.960 Matt didn't become 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.759 a follower of Jesus 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.600 because he decided 00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.640 to become more religious. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.860 Matt didn't become 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.680 a follower of Jesus 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.819 because he was born in life 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.620 and he thought 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.840 he'd become more dogmatic 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.660 or more emotional. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:42.500 Something of the typhoon 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.160 of God's grace, 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.300 the wind of God's grace 00:21:44.300 --> 00:21:45.380 blew into his life 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.480 and caused a new life 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.100 to well up inside of him. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.620 And he became a new person 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:51.180 and he shared about that. 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.100 Friends, 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.140 this is the wonder 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.140 of what Jesus does. 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.600 He encounters us 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:57.960 and he doesn't leave us the same. 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.300 Now, 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.700 look at what Augustine says 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.620 in verse 9. 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.320 Augustine says this. 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:04.640 He says, 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.300 How can these things be? 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.320 And isn't that 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:08.300 a great response? 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.460 When you understand 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.839 the wonder of the gospel 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:12.079 and what Jesus has done, 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.639 something inside of us 00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:14.000 just says, 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.500 How can these things be, right? 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:16.319 How can it be 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.559 that God would take sinners 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.399 like you and I 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.159 and welcome us 00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:20.019 into his family? 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.139 How can it be 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:21.980 that God would take 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.039 men and women 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.019 whose sin is red 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:26.619 like the piano cover 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.619 and wash us 00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.819 white as snow again? 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.839 How can it be 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.720 that God would take 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.240 people that have 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.059 lived their lives 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.159 for their own glory 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:35.339 and their own pleasure 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:37.099 and now turn us around 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.839 to live for him? 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.079 How can it be 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.240 that God would take us 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.000 and welcome us 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.740 into his family 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.940 and give us a new life 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.879 and cause his spirit 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:45.500 to be infused in us? 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.159 How can these things be? 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.000 Well, 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.980 Jesus gives the answer. 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.619 In verse 10, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.180 he says, 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.460 Are you not 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:55.059 the teacher of Israel 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.379 and yet you don't 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.399 understand these things? 00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.480 In other words, 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:58.879 he says, 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.539 How can you not see 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.680 God's been telling you 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:03.000 this for 2,000 years? 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.200 Throughout the whole 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.759 Old Testament, 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.919 God's been speaking. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.960 He's been showing you 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.240 right from the beginning 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.420 how these things can be. 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:11.160 And then in verse 13, 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.340 Jesus says the most 00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:12.960 amazing thing. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.700 He says this, 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.420 No one has ascended 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.100 into heaven 00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:17.440 except the one 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.059 who descended 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.940 from heaven, 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.059 the Son of Man. 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.500 And as Moses 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.680 lifted up the serpent 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.299 in the wilderness, 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.079 so must the Son of Man 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.840 be lifted up, 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.259 that whoever believes 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.620 in him 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.960 may have eternal life. 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.759 For God so loved 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.220 the world 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.120 that he gave 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.819 his only Son, 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.819 that whoever 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.679 believes in him 00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:35.539 should not perish 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.200 but have eternal life. 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.579 How can these things be? 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.960 Two ways to experience 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.939 the life-transforming 00:23:41.939 --> 00:23:42.919 power of God. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.299 Experience this 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.619 typhoon of God's grace. 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.099 Firstly, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.460 look to the one 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.319 who came down. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.519 Remember earlier, 00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.480 Jesus says, 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.599 he says it a couple of times, 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:52.960 he says, 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.240 You must be born again. 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.039 Remember that? 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.059 Well, 00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.480 if you look in your Bible 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.799 or also in the bulletin, 00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.839 you should see 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.639 a little footnote 00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.119 where it says 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.779 born again. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:03.299 I think it's in verse 3. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:06.059 And there's a footnote 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.660 at the bottom 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.460 that should say 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.779 something along the lines of 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.399 this can also be translated 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:11.579 born from above. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.420 Do you see it there? 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:13.559 It's in the notes 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.200 in the bulletin. 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.160 You see, 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.759 Jesus purposely uses 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.480 this word 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.859 that's a bit ambiguous 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.539 in the Greek. 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.460 It can either mean 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.579 being born again 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.720 like a second time 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.119 but it can also mean 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.299 being born from above, 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.519 being born in the heavens. 00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:28.519 What's Jesus saying here? 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.420 He's saying, 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.879 if you want to know me, 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.240 if you want to experience 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.820 the typhoon of my grace, 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.360 you must be born again. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.860 There's something 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.820 that you knew 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:37.740 that needs to happen 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.460 inside of you. 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.580 But in addition, 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.820 you need to be born 00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.360 from above. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.540 You need something 00:24:42.540 --> 00:24:43.880 in the heavenly realms 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.640 to happen to you. 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.740 But this is what Jesus is saying. 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.820 There's a problem. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.120 It's in the heavens. 00:24:48.760 --> 00:24:50.000 It's beyond your reach. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.740 You can't get it. 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.320 The thing that you and I 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.360 so desperately need 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.600 is way beyond us. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.240 You can't just climb a ladder. 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.480 You can't earn it. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.359 You can't buy it. 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.460 Something that's 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.420 in the heavenly realms. 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:03.019 Jesus might as well have said, 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.539 if you want to be born again, 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.799 you need to go to the stars. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.380 There's no hope. 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:09.039 But then what does he say? 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:09.960 He says, 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.559 no one has ever gone there. 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.160 No one has ever ascended 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.859 into the heavens. 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.099 But there is one 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:17.620 who has come down 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.359 from the heavens. 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.740 The Son of Man. 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.019 The Son of God. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.099 You see what he's saying? 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.140 He's saying the salvation 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.759 of your souls, 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.779 it's beyond you. 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.460 It's beyond your own ability. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.860 You can't generate it. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:29.100 You can't earn it. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.819 It's beyond the stars. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.380 But there is one 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.240 who's come down 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.660 and he's come to bring 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.860 the salvation to you. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.460 Salvation is in the stars 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:39.039 but also it's right in your midst 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.559 because it's in me. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.720 Salvation is in me, 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.440 says Jesus. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.480 Friends, 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.920 who is this man? 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.319 Who is this man, 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.360 Jesus of Nazareth? 00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:50.079 He's the one who's come down. 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.340 He's the one who's come 00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.759 to bring salvation to us. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.480 He's the one who's come 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.160 to bring to us 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.200 what we could never reach, 00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:57.480 never obtain on our own. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:59.040 He's God himself 00:25:59.040 --> 00:25:59.960 in human form. 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:02.019 How can these things be? 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.259 Look to the one 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.080 who came down 00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:05.100 and brought it to us. 00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:06.460 The second thing is this. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.759 Look to the one 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.960 who saves. 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.779 Look at what happens here. 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.060 Nicodemus comes to Jesus 00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:12.660 and he says, 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.100 Rabbi, 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:15.140 Rabbi is the Hebrew word 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.860 for teacher. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.320 He says, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.759 Rabbi, 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.740 we know that you are a teacher 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.460 that comes from God. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.380 And then Jesus interrupts him 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.820 and he says, 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:24.320 no one can see the kingdom 00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.700 of God unless you're born again. 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.220 Now first you think, 00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:27.560 Jesus, 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.000 why are you changing the subject? 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.960 Just listen to him, right? 00:26:31.040 --> 00:26:32.140 But what's Jesus saying? 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.520 Nicodemus says, 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:33.920 Jesus, 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.940 I see you as a teacher. 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:36.200 And Jesus says, 00:26:36.260 --> 00:26:37.600 if that's all you see me, 00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:39.020 you haven't seen me at all. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.140 If you think that I'm 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.220 just a moral teacher, 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.540 someone's come to set an example, 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.980 someone's come to tell you 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.900 how to live your life, 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.400 you've missed me completely. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.220 Jesus says, 00:26:49.280 --> 00:26:50.320 you'll never get to know me. 00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.319 You'll never experience 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.339 the force of my grace 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.480 if you come to me as teacher. 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:55.179 You have to come to me 00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.139 as savior. 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.559 Jesus says, 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:59.000 you say I've come to teach you, 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:00.740 but I say I've come to save you. 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.679 If you come to Jesus as teacher, 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.879 all you'll do is 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.339 you come to him for an example. 00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.319 You'll come, 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:07.119 you'll think of Jesus 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.179 as a good example, 00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:09.220 how to live your life, 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.439 someone to get some wisdom 00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:12.319 and you'll miss him completely. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.460 Jesus says, 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.599 I haven't come to be your teacher. 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.439 I haven't come to be your guru. 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.240 I've come to be your savior. 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.980 I've come to save you. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.639 And look at what he does. 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.599 Jesus says this, 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:24.299 just as Moses lifted up 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.599 the serpent in the wilderness, 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.240 so must the son of man 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.960 be lifted up 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.359 that whoever believes in him, 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.460 they have eternal life. 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:34.099 1300 years before this 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.899 in the Old Testament, 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.679 the people of God 00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:37.259 are in trouble. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.559 The nation of Israel 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.359 are in the wilderness 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:41.980 and they're going their own way. 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.519 They're not really following God. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.000 They're living for their own glory. 00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:48.000 And so God sends snakes 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.980 into the wilderness 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:51.599 as a form of punishment. 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.900 The problem with sin 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:54.519 is sin is so deadly serious. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.799 And so these snakes 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.680 come into the camp 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.220 and if any Israelites 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.559 is bitten by a snake, 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.240 they slowly start to die. 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:03.819 And so God sends these snakes 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.599 into the wilderness. 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:06.660 But even though death 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:08.519 is a natural consequence for sin, 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.759 God wasn't trying to kill them. 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:12.720 He was just wanting to wake them up. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.579 He was wanting to get their attention 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:16.140 so that they would turn back to him 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.180 and come to him 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.279 in faith and repentance. 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:20.860 And so God gives them a way out, 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.940 a way to be saved. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.339 He says to Moses, 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.059 Moses, 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:27.440 form a bronze snake 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.220 and lift it up on a pole, 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.180 on a stick, 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.660 high in the camp. 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:34.180 And if anybody is bitten by a snake, 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.160 all they need to do 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.360 is look at the snake. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.360 They need to look at the pole 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.900 and as they believe, 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.620 as they trust that God will heal them, 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.979 they'll automatically be healed. 00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:44.139 They'll be saved. 00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:45.119 They'll be forgiven. 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:46.779 They'll be made new again. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.739 Now look what Jesus says. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:51.099 Just as Moses lifted up 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:52.239 the serpent in the wilderness, 00:28:52.939 --> 00:28:54.279 so must the Son of Man 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.139 be lifted up. 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.599 What's he talking about? 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:58.219 He's talking about the cross. 00:28:59.179 --> 00:29:00.179 He's talking about the cross. 00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:02.279 Friends, this is what Jesus is saying. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.059 He's saying, 00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:04.000 just like the people 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.819 of the Old Testament 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:06.799 were stuck in their sin, 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.479 they were slaves to their sin, 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:10.159 and the consequence was death. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.500 He says, 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.660 every one of us 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.519 on the same boat, 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.140 we are slaves to our sin. 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.320 We're stuck. 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.660 We're dying. 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.360 And the problem 00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.540 and the consequence of sin 00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:21.640 is that it always leads to death. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.140 Maybe some of us here, 00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:26.860 maybe our sin is obvious. 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.340 Everyone can see it. 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:31.120 Maybe we think of like 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.519 a cousin or a friend, 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.920 and you think they sin 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.600 is because they're addicted 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.540 to some substance, 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:38.480 or their life is going off the rails. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.720 They need Jesus, 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.160 but me, 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.920 my life's fine. 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.640 Maybe some of us here 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:43.480 are like Nicodemus. 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.120 On the outside, 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.259 everything's all together. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.839 You're respectable. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.680 People, 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:49.480 society think your life is perfect, 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.380 but inside, 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.640 there's a lingering hunger. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.700 There's a darkness 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.799 that hangs over us. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.460 Every one of us 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.200 are like the Israelites. 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.420 We've gone our own way. 00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:59.160 But then Jesus says, 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.079 in the same way 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.220 that the bronze statue 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.759 of the snake 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.460 was a symbol 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.460 of God's punishment, 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.960 so the cross 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.420 is a symbol 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.220 of God's punishment. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.660 The cross is a symbol 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.319 of God's grace, 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.120 but before then, 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.600 it's a symbol 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.460 of God's punishment. 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.940 That sin is so deadly serious 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.519 that God put the sin 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.559 of the world on Jesus. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:18.120 The seriousness of the cross 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.960 persuades us 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.160 of the seriousness of sin. 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.900 God took our sin 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.640 and put it on Jesus 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.559 and punished Him there. 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:25.079 But that's not all. 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.799 Just as the Israelites 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.860 look to the snake, 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:29.100 they look to the statue, 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.440 so they find healing. 00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.120 Jesus says, 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.740 if you simply look to Me, 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.960 if you simply believe in Me, 00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:36.460 don't need to go to Jerusalem, 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.080 don't need to earn your stripes, 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.840 don't need to become 00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.660 more fanatical, 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:41.180 just look to the One 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.580 who is lifted up on the cross. 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.019 As you look to Me, 00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:45.039 you'll find your healing 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.360 and your wholeness. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.400 Don't look to Him 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:47.840 as a teacher, 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.120 don't look to Him 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.620 as a guru, 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.660 don't look to Him 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:52.019 as a man of good advice, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.240 believe in Him, 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.480 bank your life on Him, 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.880 bank your future on Him, 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.440 look at Him 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:58.059 as if He's all you have. 00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.460 Just as Moses 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.259 was lifted up 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.839 in the serpent, 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.700 so must the Son of Man 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.299 be lifted up, 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.079 that whoever believes in Him 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.180 may have eternal life. 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:08.559 For God so loved the world 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.140 that He sent His Son 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:11.460 to be lifted up on the cross, 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.000 that whoever looks to Him, 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.180 whoever believes in Him, 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.339 will not perish, 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.119 but have eternal life. 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:17.940 Friends, 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.980 who is this man? 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:21.099 Who is this Jesus of Nazareth? 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.900 He's the one who came down, 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:23.960 but He's the one 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.720 who was lifted up. 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:26.420 He was lifted up on the cross 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.480 that we can just simply 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.460 look to Him and believe 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.240 and find new life. 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.259 Friends, 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.480 for those of you 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.599 that haven't encountered 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:35.059 the typhoon of God's grace, 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.019 will you look to Him? 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.819 Will you look to Him today? 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.920 You may have it all together 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.579 on the outside. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.359 You may be greatly admired 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.039 and respected, 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.660 but will you look to Him? 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.380 Every one of us 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.539 has a cancer of the soul 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.700 that Jesus wants to heal. 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.180 Will you look to Him? 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.440 For those of us 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.620 that are followers of Jesus, 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.620 this week, 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.380 will you look to Him? 00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:54.820 As you go to work, 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.780 as you travel around the region, 00:31:57.520 --> 00:31:59.120 as you look after your kids, 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.580 as you write exams at school, 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.480 will you look to Him? 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.820 Will you look to the one 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:04.300 who was lifted up 00:32:04.300 --> 00:32:05.120 on the cross for you? 00:32:05.540 --> 00:32:06.440 Will you look to the one 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.900 who rose again victoriously? 00:32:08.260 --> 00:32:09.100 Will you look to the one 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:10.540 who ascended into the heavens 00:32:10.540 --> 00:32:11.840 and now He rules and reigns? 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:12.980 Will you look to the one 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:14.040 who intercedes for you 00:32:14.040 --> 00:32:15.300 and prays for you daily? 00:32:15.760 --> 00:32:16.680 Will you look to the one 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:18.020 who is coming back again 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.680 to make all things new, 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.799 to wipe away every tear 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.940 and to destroy every sin? 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:23.839 Will you look to Him? 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:25.759 You know, 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:26.480 later on, 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.460 we encounter Nicodemus again. 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.420 In fact, 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.000 we encounter Him 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.720 two more times 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.759 in John's Gospel. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.339 In chapter 7, 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:35.460 the Pharisees are arguing 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.200 about Jesus 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:39.400 and they're working out 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.740 how can we arrest Jesus 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.759 and how can we kill Him? 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.619 And so Nicodemus 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:45.180 goes to the Pharisees 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.579 and he says, 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.299 guys, 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.000 this time no longer 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.339 under the cover of darkness. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.119 In broad daylight, 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.400 he goes to the Pharisees 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:51.880 and he says, 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.880 does our law allow us 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.660 to put somebody on trial 00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.420 without giving him 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.420 a fair trial 00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.559 or to arrest somebody 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.700 or to kill somebody 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.339 without giving him 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.140 a fair trial? 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.900 And the Pharisees 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.480 turn on him. 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:03.819 They say, 00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:05.440 who are you to defend Jesus? 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:07.019 They suddenly turn on Him 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.700 and attack Him. 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.539 But then later on, 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:11.079 we meet Nicodemus 00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:11.779 one more time. 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:14.279 Jesus has been crucified 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:16.539 and He's hanging on the cross. 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.379 And Nicodemus 00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:19.220 and another man, 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.440 Joseph of Arimathea, 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.059 go to Pontius Pilate 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.279 in broad daylight 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.059 in front of all 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.960 the other Pharisees 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.420 and they go and they say, 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.440 we'd like to give him 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.339 a decent burial. 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.339 Can we have the body? 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.940 And so Pilate consents. 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.599 He allows them 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.379 to take the body. 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.619 And Joseph of Arimathea, 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.960 he has encountered 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.740 Christ's grace 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.879 and the result is 00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:41.359 he becomes exceedingly generous. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.299 He says, 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.139 I've got a tomb 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:44.319 that is prepared for me, 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.980 cut out especially for me, 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.480 but Jesus can have it. 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.860 He gives away his tomb. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.779 And Nicodemus, 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:52.279 he comes and he brings 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.759 a whole lot of spices 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.539 and perfumes 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:56.079 to embalm Jesus' body. 00:33:56.620 --> 00:33:56.960 In fact, 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.839 he brings 65 pounds worth, 00:33:58.900 --> 00:33:59.880 almost 30 kilograms. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.920 Some commentators say, 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.460 the amount of spices 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.519 and perfume he brought 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.700 was almost what people 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.200 would have brought 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:07.559 for kings and governors 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.960 and people and royalty. 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:11.179 What's happened to Nicodemus? 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:13.579 This man that first came 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.759 in the shroud of darkness, 00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:16.059 covered at night, 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:17.279 didn't want the Pharisees 00:34:17.279 --> 00:34:17.679 to see, 00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:19.019 came to settle, 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:19.639 you know, 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.460 came up to Jesus 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:22.079 to ask him a question privately. 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.719 Now in broad daylight, 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.799 he comes and he wants to, 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.819 he wants to give him 00:34:25.819 --> 00:34:26.639 a decent burial. 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.739 What's happened to Nicodemus? 00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:29.699 Friends, 00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:30.480 I'll tell you what's happened. 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:32.099 He saw the one 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.759 who came down. 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.360 He saw the one 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.039 who was lifted up 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.619 on the cross. 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.279 He experienced 00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:38.559 the typhoon of God's grace 00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:39.719 that changed his life 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:41.219 and left him 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.839 a completely different person. 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.480 He experienced 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.259 the amazing, 00:34:45.459 --> 00:34:47.459 magnificent grace of God. 00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:48.719 Friends, 00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.619 who is this man? 00:34:50.439 --> 00:34:51.219 The good news 00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:51.839 of the gospel 00:34:51.839 --> 00:34:53.480 is that Jesus Christ, 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.219 God himself, 00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.299 came not to show us 00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:55.859 how to live, 00:34:56.439 --> 00:34:57.399 not to tell us 00:34:57.399 --> 00:34:58.379 to become more moral 00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.219 or more religious, 00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:02.579 not to curtail our fun 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.779 or to tell us 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.679 how to live our lives 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.279 necessarily. 00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.439 He does that, 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:08.239 but he came to save us. 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:09.939 He came to cause us 00:35:09.939 --> 00:35:11.239 to be born from above. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.939 He came to give us 00:35:12.939 --> 00:35:13.439 new life 00:35:13.439 --> 00:35:14.839 that changes us completely. 00:35:15.959 --> 00:35:16.659 He came 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:18.479 because he loves us. 00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:20.959 For God so loved the world 00:35:20.959 --> 00:35:22.139 that he sent his son, 00:35:22.839 --> 00:35:23.739 his son from the heavens 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.319 to come 00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.839 and to be with us. 00:35:26.459 --> 00:35:27.359 For God so loved us 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:28.279 that he sent his son 00:35:28.279 --> 00:35:29.500 to go and hang on the cross. 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:31.059 That whoever would 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:32.479 simply look on him, 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.959 believe in him, 00:35:34.919 --> 00:35:36.079 bank their lives on him, 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.739 to get to experience 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:39.199 the typhoon of God's grace, 00:35:39.899 --> 00:35:41.379 the life-transforming power 00:35:41.379 --> 00:35:42.979 of the living God. 00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:43.899 Friends, 00:35:43.979 --> 00:35:44.819 will you come to him? 00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:46.239 Will you look to him? 00:35:46.839 --> 00:35:47.939 Will you trust him? 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.519 Will you bank your life 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:49.879 on him? 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:51.500 Now, 00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:52.859 this is Christ, 00:35:53.379 --> 00:35:53.979 our King. 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.899 Let's worship him together. 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.000 Will you stand with me? 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.199 Or actually, 00:35:58.319 --> 00:36:00.039 maybe stand if you want to. 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.559 If you want to, 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.399 just take some time 00:36:01.399 --> 00:36:02.479 reflecting. 00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:03.500 You're welcome to do that. 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.519 Respond in any way 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:05.659 that you feel appropriate. 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:07.559 But let's worship. 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:07.699 Let's worship. 00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:37.679 Thank you.