The scripture reading today comes from the book of John, chapter 3, verse 1 to 21.
Please follow along on your Bible. Bulletin are on the screen.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
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.
Jesus answered him,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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?
Jesus answered,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.
Nicodemus said to him,
How can these things be?
Jesus answered him,
Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
Truly, truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be safe through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the judgment.
The light has come into the world,
and people love the darkness rather than the light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light,
and does not come to the light,
lest his works should be exposed.
But whoever does what is true comes to the light,
so that it may be clearly seen,
that his works have been carried out in God.
This is the Word of God.
Great. Thanks, Anastasia.
It was a long reading, but thank you for reading to us,
and thanks for staying with us.
I have a question for us this morning.
The question is,
do you believe people can really change?
Do you believe people can really change?
Here is a quote from a movie called The Usual Suspects.
I think it's 1995.
Very young Kevin Spacey.
I don't necessarily recommend the movie,
but still.
Kevin Spacey plays a character called Roger King,
and this is what he says.
A man can't change what he is.
He can convince anyone he's someone else,
but never himself.
What do you think?
Can people really change?
Maybe you're someone who thinks the more things change,
the more they stay the same.
Maybe you're someone who thinks that people can try,
they can alter a little bit on the surface level,
but deep inside who we are is set.
Our DNA, our genes, our disposition,
our nature, our nurture is set.
There's not much we can do about it.
Well, we are continuing through John's Gospel.
As Anastasia read to us,
we're in John chapter 3,
and we're working through John's Gospel.
Why?
Because Christians believe that Christianity
is all about seeing Jesus,
believing in Jesus,
trusting in Jesus,
and John wants us to do that.
John wants us to help,
wants to help us see Jesus and trust in him,
and we want to grow in that more and more
as the years go by,
not less and less.
And John wants to help us with that.
And so we're in John's Gospel,
and we are wanting to see Jesus
and believe and trust in him.
And this morning,
we come to this very famous passage
in John chapter 3,
where Jesus interacts with a man called Nicodemus.
And in this passage,
we're going to see two things,
two very, very simple things.
The first is,
the problem and its challenges.
There's a problem,
and the problem has some challenges.
And secondly,
the solution and his invitation.
There's a problem,
and this comes with challenges.
There's a solution,
and the solution invites us to respond.
Okay, so let's dive in and take a look.
The problem and its challenges.
Keep your Bible open.
We're going to look at this passage a bit.
So this man called Nicodemus comes to Jesus,
and he comes to him.
Nicodemus, as we will discover,
is a very well-respected member of society
and of the religious body.
And he comes to Jesus at night.
Why does he come at night?
Well, we're not sure.
It could be that there's a sinister motive.
In John's Gospel,
night and darkness often signify
something a little bit suspicious.
So it could be that he's got ulterior motives,
or it could be
that he's wanting to come and ask Jesus.
He's a spiritual seeker.
He's got questions about Jesus,
but he wants to come and explore more
without giving away his identity.
He's a Pharisee.
He's a leader of the religious group.
He doesn't want to expose himself too much.
But either way,
he comes to Jesus at night,
and he comes with a question.
Now, John doesn't exactly record his question,
but it's not hard to guess what his question is.
Essentially, Nicodemus wants to know,
Jesus, who are you really?
Look what he says.
He says,
Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher
that has come from God
because nobody could do the signs that you do
unless God is with him.
In other words,
Jesus, we've seen you.
We've been watching you.
We are paying close attention to you.
And we see there's something unique about you.
We see that there's something divine about you.
But the question is,
is there more?
We know that you are a wise teacher.
You know God's word.
But are you more than just a teacher?
Are you the prophet that we've been waiting for?
Are you possibly the Messiah?
Jesus, who are you?
But of course,
Jesus, as he so often does,
completely interrupts Nicodemus
along with his assumptions
and he throws the challenge back at Nicodemus.
Look at what Jesus is.
So Nicodemus comes and says,
Rabbi, we know you're a teacher
and he's about to get to his question.
He hasn't even yet got to his question.
And Jesus interrupts him,
challenges him,
saying,
Now, by the way,
this is not John's main point,
so a side comment here.
This is very, very typical of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ,
both in the Gospels
and in our lives,
loves to interrupt,
to challenge,
and to confront you.
Throughout the Gospels
and throughout our lives,
Jesus challenges our assumptions
and our presuppositions,
both about himself,
what we view himself,
and about life in general.
And Nicodemus comes to him
and as Nicodemus finds out,
Jesus is very seldom
willing to just answer our questions
quietly, neatly,
and in a well-packaged format.
Jesus often comes
and he confronts us,
he challenges us,
he interrupts us.
And why is that?
Because Jesus doesn't just want to
affirm us,
he wants to form us.
He doesn't just want to comfort us,
he wants to confront us.
And he wants us to help us
to see reality
as it really is.
And that means
he's going to confront us
more than comfort us,
he's going to challenge us.
And that's what he does
with Nicodemus.
So Nicodemus comes
with this question
and Jesus retorts
with this profoundly
remarkable challenge.
He says,
unless you are born again,
you cannot even see
God's kingdom.
And again, verse 5,
he says,
truly, truly,
I say to you,
unless you are born
of water and the Spirit,
you cannot enter
God's kingdom.
Now, here's the question.
What does Jesus mean
when he says
you must be born again?
What does that mean?
My guess is that
for maybe some of us,
we would have heard
that phrase before.
I remember many,
many years ago,
somebody came to me
and said,
I didn't know the person
very well,
and they said,
Kevin,
are you one of those
reborn types of Christians?
Christians, right?
He kind of heard this phrase,
but didn't really know
what it meant
and wanted to know
whether I was part
of this weird cult
that call ourselves
reborn,
born again Christians.
What does it mean?
Well, depending on
your experience,
some people think
that to be born again
means you are
emotionally unstable,
maybe you have
emotional problems,
and now they've had
some kind of
emotional experience,
and now you're
an emotional fanatic,
right?
Jesus has come,
you've had a
spiritual experience,
and now you're
an emotional fanatic.
Jesus has come to
make you emotionally
all over the place,
maybe a bit unstable
with a religious bent.
For other people,
when you hear the word
born again,
maybe we think
that means
to take on some
kind of strict
moral regimen,
right?
Everything's now
black and white,
there's no gray.
Either you can do it
or you can't do it,
and you take on
the strict,
moral,
authoritarian
worldview
where everything
is just black and white.
And so now you're
morally fanatical,
right?
But what does Jesus mean?
When Jesus says
you must be born again,
he says it three times,
verse 3,
verse 5,
verse 7,
you must be born again.
Jesus is obviously
not talking about
physical birth,
okay?
He's not saying
you must go back
into your mom's womb.
He's not talking about
a style or a type
of Christianity
like emotional
or charismatic
versus reformed
and stoic.
He's not talking about
modern versus
traditional.
He's not talking about
a type of Christianity.
He's not talking about
a type of personality
or a type of Christian.
When Jesus says
you must be born again
to see God's kingdom,
he's describing
a profoundly,
profoundly fundamental
change
that must take place
deep inside
your inner being.
at a most basic
and fundamental level,
Jesus is saying
who you are
needs to be
profoundly changed
and reorientated.
Jesus wants to
recalibrate
in a profound way
who we are.
And he says that
every single person
that wishes
to experience God
or know God
must go through
this profound
changed experience
in their lives.
So Jesus is making
a very, very important
point here
that every person
who either thinks
of themselves
as a Christian
or is exploring
the claims of Christianity
or working out
whether they want
to follow Jesus
must grapple
or wrestle
with this
call that Jesus is
which is
that you must
be profoundly changed
deep, deep
in your soul
and your being
and your heart
in order to know God.
In order to be
a Christian.
In order to be
a follower
of Christ.
that Christianity
Jesus says
has nothing to do
with moral
self-improvement
moral enhancement
religious duty
social etiquette
it has everything
to do with
this radical
transformation
that takes place
in the most
fundamental part
of our personhood
and our being.
John Calvin
comments
and he writes this
he says
by saying
one must be
born again
Jesus means
not amendment
or improvement
or adjustment
of a part
of one's life
but the thorough
renewal
of the whole
of one's nature
there's nothing
in us
that is not
defective
and need of
renewal.
This is what
Jesus is saying
he comes to
Nicodemus
and he says
Nicodemus
you're coming
to me
and you're
asking for
a new teaching
or a new insight
or a new
perspective
that's not
what I've
come to
give you
I've come
to fundamentally
change who
you are
you must
be born again
otherwise
it's not
going to
work
you must
be changed
Michael Lawrence
writes this
he says
Jesus has not
come to
simply make
us nice
he's come
to make
us altogether
new
altogether
new
and over
again
the scriptures
are going
to tell
us that
anyone
that's
seeking
to become
a follower
of Jesus
anyone
who calls
himself
a Christian
must wrestle
with this
profound
confrontational
challenge
Jesus
you must
be born
again
you must
be changed
something
of who
you are
your personhood
must be
so changed
that it's
almost
it's akin
or it's
similar
to becoming
a whole
new person
it's like
your old
person
must die
and something
radically
new
must
come about
okay
do you
understand
what Jesus
is saying
here
now this
immediately
throws up
two
very
profound
challenges
for Nicodemus
and I
think they
challenge
this
for us
as well
look at
what these
challenges
are
the first
one is
social
standing
counts
for nothing
for someone
like
Nicodemus
this is
obviously
a
remarkable
challenge
because
who is
Nicodemus
is not
just
anybody
he's a
man of
profound
social
standing
look at
verse 1
says
there was
a man
of the
Pharisees
named
Nicodemus
a ruler
of the
Jews
so
Nicodemus
is a
member of
high social
standing
both in
society
both in
the religious
group
as well as
in the
political
group
he's probably
a member
of the
Sanhedrin
which is
like the
religious
court
over
Jerusalem
he is
a member
that's
very
high
regarded
he's
probably
wealthy
he has
high social
standing
but look at
what verse
10 says
verse 10
Jesus says
are you not
the teacher
in Israel
in other
words
here is
somebody
that
all of
Israel
had a
high
reputation
as someone
who could
explain the
scriptures
who knew
the scriptures
so people
travel from
all of
Israel
to come
and consult
his wisdom
his expertise
here is
like a
professor
a doctor
professor
reverend
Nicodemus
both politically
socially
religiously
he's very
highly regarded
and yet
Jesus
tells him
that
nothing
less
than a
radical
transformation
is what
he needs
Jesus
comes to
this guy
that has
it all
together
and he
says
Nicodemus
unless
you
are
changed
you're
in deep
trouble
and that's
profoundly
challenging
listen to
what
D.A.
Carson
says
he says
what must
be grasped
from Jesus
insistence
on the
new birth
as the
prerequisite
for entering
his kingdom
is the
fact that
this truth
is applied
to a
man
of the
caliber
of
Nicodemus
if
Nicodemus
with all
his knowledge
his gifts
his understanding
his position
his integrity
cannot enter
the kingdom
by virtue
of his
standing
or religious
works
what hope
is there
for anyone
who seeks
salvation
along such
lines
even for
Nicodemus
there must
have been
radical
transformation
the generation
of new
life
comparable
with physical
birth
now friends
this is
obviously
challenging
for Nicodemus
but I
think this
is challenging
for us
as well
and the
reason is
because we
live in
Hong Kong
what is
Hong Kong
is a city
that is
comprised of
some of the
leading
people in the
world
if you live
in Hong Kong
statistically
you're way
more educated
way more
financially
wealth
way more
upwardly
mobile
than almost
every other
country
in the world
Hong Kong
is by nature
are some of the
most sophisticated
educated
most upwardly
mobile people
on the
planet
and so we
face the same
challenge as
Nicodemus
we have it
all together
we've got our
numerous degrees
we've got our
career path
lined up
and Jesus
comes to each
one of us
and looks us
in the eye
and he says
you
you must be
born again
otherwise you
have no place
in my kingdom
that's a profound
challenge
but here's the
other challenge
what Jesus
is saying to
Nicodemus
and saying to
all of us
is that this
transformation
can only come
about by
God
this is nothing
that Nicodemus
himself can do
Jesus telling us
entrance in his
kingdom is not
grounded upon
anything we do
or we achieve
it's intervention
is by God
alone
it's not a
moral self
improvement
project
it's not a
call to greater
church attendance
although that's not
a bad thing
Jesus is not
saying hey
if you give to
the building
fund
you know
I can
organize your
way into the
kingdom
no no
none of those
things
there's nothing
that Nicodemus
can do
this is only
something
that God
can do
look at verse
6
so that which
is born of
the flesh
is flesh
that which
is born of
the spirit
is spirit
he says
you want to
be spiritually
reborn
you want to
be born of
the spirit
only God
can do
that
Nicodemus
you can go
on a pilgrimage
to the highest
place in the
temple
you can go
on a 40 day
fast
you can
beat yourself
with whips
and go
on sackcloth
and ashes
there's nothing
you can do
only God's
spirit can do
this
look again
look what he
says in
verse 12
there's another one
he says
if I have told you
earthly things
and you do not
believe them
how are you
going to believe
if I tell you
heavenly things
Jesus is saying
Nicodemus
I've got a message
for you
but it's beyond
your grasp
you can't even
understand what
I'm talking about
it's beyond
your reach
there is a
solution
you need to
be born again
but you don't
even know
what I'm
talking about
and Nicodemus
is one of the
leading theologians
and academics
in Israel
if he can't get it
what hope do
any of us have it
it's kind of like
imagine somebody's
on a boat
and they fall off
overboard
right
and they're now
in the water
and you've got to
pull them up
and you see
the sharks
are starting
to circle
you see the
fin coming
through the water
and you think
we've got to
get this person
up fast
and you throw
a rope overboard
but the rope's
too short
and so they're
in the water
and they're
trying to grasp
they're trying
to grab
but the rope
is a meter
too short
and there's
no way
they're going
to reach it
and the sharks
are coming in
what is their
situation
it's hopeless
Jesus is saying
I'm trying to
throw a rope
to you
I'm trying to
help you
but you can't
even grasp
it's beyond
your reach
there's no
ways that you
can
find out
and then look
what he says
Jesus just to
just to make
things worse
he says
you must be
born from above
now
if you've got
an NIV Bible
or an ESV Bible
there should be
a little footnote
at the bottom
that's connected
to the word
again
verse 3
Jesus says
I say to you
unless one is
born again
and then there's
a footnote
and again
in verse 7
he says
do not marvel
that I say to you
you must be
born again
and there's
a little footnote
in my Bible
the footnote
says this
either
born again
or born
from above
the Greek
is purposefully
ambiguous
and can mean
either
again
or from above
in fact
that word
the Greek word
anathon
in most of the
New Testament
it means the word
above
or on top
of something
Jesus saying
here
he uses this
plain words
and he says
Nicodemus
if you want to be
in my kingdom
you must be
born from above
you must be
born from
born in heaven
born of the
spirit
born of God
but that
is a problem
right
because Jesus
is saying
something needs
to happen
to your soul
that can only
happen if you
get to heaven
if you get to
reach to heaven
you get God
to do it
then maybe
you can be
born again
but the problem
is who of us
can get to heaven
I mean
none of us
can get there
right
there's no
Cathay Pacific
flights
going to
heaven
Joe
maybe you can
arrange something
about that
and talk to
the Cathay guys
but Jesus
is saying
there's something
you need to do
but you can't
get there
it's beyond
your reach
it's beyond
your grasp
how are you
going to get
born again
we sang earlier
how great
the chasm
that lay
between us
how high
the mountain
I could not
climb
that's what
Jesus is saying
you want to
be saved
you've got to
be born again
but sorry
it's too high
for you
there's a chasm
that's too
deep
and Jesus
and for the
first time
Nicodemus
hears this
and he's a
little startled
and he
he doesn't
really understand
what Jesus
is saying
so Jesus
tries again
he says
Nicodemus
you must
be born
of water
and born
of the
spirit
that's a
quote from
Ezekiel 36
he's saying
you must
have happened
to you
what Ezekiel
said would
happen
which is
that God
moves into
your life
and changes
you from
the inside
you've got
to be washed
of your sin
that's what
the water
means
you've got
the Holy
Spirit
it's got
to make
you new
on the
inside
you'll be
born of
water
and the
spirit
God's
got to
change
you
on the
inside
and so
he says
for the
third
time
I'm not
trying to
make you
new
I'm trying
to make
you
I'm not
trying to
make you
nice
I'm
going to
make
you
new
this is
not
refined
religion
this is
renewed
souls
for the
third
time
do not
marvel
that I
say to
you
you must
be
born
again
now
this
presents
another
question
for us
here is
the question
if this
is what
Jesus
is saying
means
to be a
Christian
means
deep
and
profound
spiritual
change
transformation
in our
lives
this
profound
inward
transformation
not just
surface
level
change
how do
you know
whether
that
change
has
taken
place
you
see
if
Jesus
says
listen
this
is
what
it
means
to be
a
Christian
go
to
church
at least
three
Sundays
a
month
and
you
know
tithe
if
you
can
attend
a
small
group
okay
there's
a
checklist
you
can
you
can
work
out
yes
I
made
it
I
haven't
made
it
but
what
Jesus
is
talking
about
is
a
profound
inward
change
that
there's
no
blood
test
you
can
take
hey
do
I
have
like
spiritual
DNA
in
my
veins
right
there's
no
spiritual
DNA
test
that
you
can
say
whether
you
in
the
kingdom
or
not
so
here's
the
question
how
do
you
know
whether
you
are
born
again
how
do
you
know
whether
you
really
are
saved
maybe
you're
just
going
through
the
motions
and
you're
doing
all
the
outward
stuff
but
there's
been
no
inward
personal
change
how
do
you
know
whether
you're
really
saved
well
Jesus
wants
to
help
us
and
so
look
what
he
says
in
verse
8
he
says
the
wind
blows
wherever
it
wishes
you
hear
it
sound
but
you
do
not
know
where
it
comes
from
or
where
it
goes
so
does
everyone
so
it
is
with
everyone
who
is
born
of
the
spirit
Jesus
point
is
you
can't
see
the
wind
but
you
can
see
its
effects
when
it's
come
right
maybe
you
walk
in
the
mountain
!
or
you
see
the
leaves
in
the
street
or
the
trash
gets
blown
over
right
you
can't
see
the
wind
but
you
can
see
its
effects
you
can't
see
when
it's
done
something
Jesus
saying
you
can't
necessarily
see
you
don't
you
know
your
eyes
don't
change
color
your
blood
doesn't
change
to a
different
type
when
you
become
born
again
but
everybody
does
see
the
effects
in
your
life
because
you
change
so
profoundly
that
it
can't
just
stay
inside
you
there
must
be
fruit
there
must
be
a
change
Jesus
saying
those
of us
that
have been
born
in the
spirit
who have
been
made
spiritually
new
will
show
the
effects
in
our
life
we
will
live
differently
we
will
behave
differently
we
will
think
and
speak
differently
and
it
will
be
obvious
to
those
around
us
that
God
has
done
something
inside
of
us
and
changed
us
friends
this
is
a
real
challenge
those
of us
that
consider
ourselves
Christians
this
morning
we
must
ask
ourselves
the
question
where
is
the
evidence
point
are
we
truly
saved
are
we
truly
born
again
has
Jesus
really
changed
us
in
such
a
deep
and
profound
way
that
those
around
us
would
be
able
to
tell
I
know
we
have
the
youth
in
with
us
this
morning
maybe
you
grew
!
from
this
high
you
have
been
told
the
gospel
and
you
know
the
Bible
backwards
are
you
born
again?
Are
you
born
of
the
Spirit?
Has
Jesus
really
changed
your
life?
Is
there
any
fruit
or
evidence?
Dear
friends
I want
to ask
you
are
you
truly
a
Christian?
Have
your
desires
changed?
Maybe
ask
ourselves
have
our
attitudes
changed?
Has
the
way
that
we
handle
challenge
or
difficulty
in life
changed?
have
our
ambitions
changed?
The
things
we
live
for?
What
we
look
up
to?
What
we
look
to
for
rest
and
peace
and
security?
how
we
handle
money
has
that
changed?
Are
our
relationships
different?
How
we
handle
offense?
How
we
reconcile
with
people
that
hurt
us?
Friends
are
we
more
humble?
Are
we
confessing
more
freely?
Are
we
more
vulnerable
and
transparent
because
of
Christ
and
the
gospel?
This
is
the
challenge
that
Jesus
confronts
us
with.
Anyone
that
wants
to
see
or
enter
the
kingdom
of
God
must
be
born
of
my
spirit.
The
problem
and
its
challenge.
But
thankfully
Jesus
like he
always
does
doesn't
just
leave
us
there.
And
so
Jesus
brings
us
the
solution
and
his
invitation.
And
so
listen
to
what
he
says.
Jesus
wants
to
invite
us
to
see
the
solution
to
our
problem.
And
throughout
the
Bible
from
beginning
to
end
God's
message
is
consistent
and
clear.
His
message
is
all
human
beings
have
a
problem.
And
Jesus
Christ
is
the
profound
solution.
Charles
Spurgeon
used to
say
this.
I
have
a
great
need
for
a
savior
and
I
have
a
great
savior
for
my
need.
And
that's
what
Jesus
comes
to
tell
us.
He
comes
to
give
us
the
solution
and
his
invitation.
And
look
at
what
he
says
here
in
verse
13.
Remember
Jesus
said
you
must
be
born
of
above?
Well
look
what he
says
in
verse
13.
He
says
no
one
has
ascended
into
heaven
or
been
into
heaven
except
the
one
who
has
descended
from
heaven
the
son
of
man.
Remember
what
Jesus
said
Nicodemus
you
must
be
born
from
above
but
there's
a
problem
how
are you
ever
going
to
get
there?
How
high
is
the
mountain?
too
high
is
the
mountain?
You
must
be
born
from
above
but
you
can't
get
there
but
now
what
did
he
say
but
he
who
is
above
has
come
down
to
us
no
one
has
gone
to
heaven
that's
the
problem
so
heaven
has
come
down
to
us
no
one
has
descended
to
heaven
except
the
one
who
is
descended
from
heaven
the
son
of
man
Jesus
is
heaven
who
has
come
down
to
us
to
bring
us
what
we
so
desperately
need
but
have
no
way
of
obtaining
ourselves
and
why
would
Jesus
do
this
why
would
God
leave
the
comfort
of
heaven
the
community
of
the
trinity
leave
his
glory
and
above
and
come
down
to
earth
to
be
with
us
well
verse
16
tells
us
what
does
verse
16
say
the
most
famous
verse
!
in
the
Bible
for
God
so
loved
the
world
that
he
sent
his
only
son
that
whoever
believes
in
him
need
not
perish
but
have
eternal
life
friends
why
did
Jesus
come
because
he
loves
people
like
you
and
me
that
were
lost
in
our
sin
and
were
lost
in
this
chasm
that
was
too
great
and
were
too
far
down
that
couldn't
reach
heaven
for
God
so
loved
you
and
you
and
you
and
me
and
thus
that
he
left
heaven
to
come
down
to
die
on
the
cross
for
us
that
we
might
know
him
and
be
reconciled
to
him
God
did not
send
his
son
to
condemn
the
world
Jesus
didn't
just
come
to
point
the
finger
and
say
you
dirty
rotten
scoundrel
you
dirty
sinner
fix
yourself
up
Jesus
didn't
just
come
to
condemn
the
world
but
in
order
that
the
world
might
be
saved
through
him
the
rest
of
the
passage
tells
us
we
are
!
Because
of
our
sin
every
human
being
our
natural
state
is
that
we
are
hopeless
and
helpless
because
of
our
rebellion
that's
why
we
need
a
savior
to
change
us
to
renew
us
in Jesus we have a great
savior for our need
for God so loved us that he left
the glory of heaven
the community of the trinity
the divine
laid aside his divine glory
took on flesh and blood
made himself executed on a cross
that he might
save us
bring us the salvation that we need
friends you must be born
of above but no one can
ascend to heaven so heaven
has come down to us
for God so loved the world
that he sent his only son
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life
so here's the last question how do
we how does this
happen to us on the words of Nicodemus
in verse 9 how can
these things be how can this
happen well Jesus
wants to tell us and so look what he says in verse
14 he says
just as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness
so must the son of man
be lifted up that whoever
believes in him may have
eternal life
Jesus here is talking about a story
in the old testament from numbers 21
you know a thousand three hundred years
before God's people
are traveling from Egypt into
the promised land and they're
walking
they're walking
walking sorry through the wilderness
for 40 years
and they camp and they stop and they
camp and they move on
for 40 years they're in the wilderness
and at one point
God's people are always
their sin and rebellion is always getting the better of them
and at one point
God's people are rebellious
they've turned away from God
and God wants to bring them back to him
and so he
wants them to see
the consequences for sin
is always death
and he wants them to see this
and to feel this
one of the problems with sin
is we sin now
and we don't see any consequences
and we think
oh it's fine
I can get away with it
but actually
the consequence of death is coming
but God wants them to see
that the consequence
is a little closer
and so he
brings
snakes
serpents
into the campsite
and
suddenly there are all these
venomous snakes
and whenever somebody's
bitten by a snake
they slowly
begin to die
but God doesn't want to
destroy his people
he wants to save them
he wants to wake them up
and so his point
isn't to kill them
his point is to rescue them
so he tells Moses
Moses this is what you must do
in the middle of the campsite
I want you to erect
a wooden pole
and then make a bronze serpent
a snake
and put it around that pole
so there's a wooden pole
maybe it's got
you know
wood on the side
like a kind of cross like figure
and there's a bronze snake
that is
put around that pole
and he says
if anybody is bitten by a snake
all they need to do
is get out of their tent
and look to that pole
and if they can look
to that pole
in faith
in trust
believing
that as they look to it
God is going to heal them
God will heal them
and save them
and so Moses
builds this pole
he puts a bronze snake
on it
and anyone that's bitten
looks to the pole
and as they look
saying
God I need you
if they look
with a measure of faith
or trust
God will heal them
and save them
friends look at what
Jesus says here
just as Moses
lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness
so must the son of man
be lifted up
in John's gospel
whenever Jesus
uses the words
lifted up
he's always talking
about the cross
it's always a reference
to Jesus being lifted up
on the cross
just as Moses
lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness
so that anyone
who looked on that
wooden pole in faith
believing and trusting
God could heal
and save them
would be saved
so must the son of man
be lifted up
on the cross
so that anyone
who looks upon him
in faith
believing and trusting
that God will save them
will be saved
will be born
from above
friends
just like the Israelites
in the wilderness
we're actually all
in the same boat
all of us have sinned
and rebelled against God
all of us are
in desperate situation
all of us
the consequences
are disastrous
and friends
maybe our sin
is very obvious
and the effects
the brokenness
is very obvious
in our lives
friends
maybe for some of us
we're like Nicodemus
our sin is very hidden
and our lives
look like we've got it
all together
but Jesus says
all of us
are affected
and infected
by the venom
of sin
but friends
just like the Israelites
only had to look
to the one
that was lifted up
so Jesus says
all we need to do
is to look to the one
that was lifted
on the cross
and believe in him
don't look to Jesus
as a teacher
don't look to Jesus
as a guru
don't look to Jesus
for emotional upliftment
believe in him
trust in him
bank your life on him
look to him
as your only hope
in life
and death
and you will be changed
profoundly
deeply
born again
born of above
made new
saved
forever
and what Jesus
says to Nicodemus
is what he says
to all of us
he hasn't come
to initiate
new religion
he hasn't come
to bring about
a self-improvement
project
he hasn't come
to help us
get in touch
with our inner selves
Jesus has come
to die on the cross
that we might be
made anew
change profoundly
later on
John's gospel
we meet Nicodemus
two more times
the first time
the Pharisees
are arguing
and Nicodemus
is one of the Pharisees
and the Pharisees
are arguing
should we arrest
Jesus now
and kill him
or should we
wait a little bit
and Nicodemus
this time
no longer
under the cover
of darkness
says
guys
hey
we can't just
arrest somebody
without giving
a fair trial
and they will
turn on Nicodemus
and say
who are you
are you defending him
what's up with you
now
for the first time
in his life
Nicodemus
starts to stand
up for Jesus
and he takes
a great risk
and then later on
we read another
count
Jesus has died
on the cross
and he's dead
and Nicodemus
and Joseph
of Arimathea
go to Pontius Pilate
and say
can we take
his body down
and give him
a decent burial
great risk
to himself
and they take
him down
Joseph gives
Jesus
his tomb
and Nicodemus
brings a pile
of spices
and ointments
65 pounds
worth
some commentators
say
that's what
is used
to anoint
the body
of kings
and governors
Nicodemus
brings a
profoundly
expensive
amount
of spices
and ointment
to anoint
his body
Nicodemus
is saying
you're my
king
he saw
Jesus
high and
lifted up
and he
believed in
him
and now
he says
Jesus
you're
my
king
friends
what about
you
what about
you
what are
you waiting
for
friends
are you
born again
are you
born from
above
has Jesus
Christ
the living
God
the Holy
Spirit
come inside
of your
life in
such a
profound
way that
you are
different
are those
around you
able to
see the
effects of
your life
like the
wind
because you
are no
longer the
same
there's only
one thing
that you
need to
do
you need
to look
to the
one who
died on
the cross
for you
maybe your
faith is
very small
faith
maybe you
like the
people in
the world
and say
I'm not
sure if
this is
going to
work
it feels
like a
bit of
a risk
God
are you
really
going to
save
me
Jesus
came to
show you
how
seriously
he takes
his
claim
friends
why don't
you trust
in him
I know
that there's
some of us
here today
that are
very religious
for many
years you've
been coming
to church
I know
there's some
of us
today that
are you
enjoy the
community
you like
watermark
because there's
a nice
community
and you've
got your
friends and
you go for
lunch after
church
friends are
you saved
are you
born again
have you been
born from
above have
you looked
to Jesus
have you
trusted in
him have
you put
your hope
in him
are you
truly saved
Jesus came
and died
on the cross
was nailed
to the cross
blood
bled and
died for
you
that you
no longer
need to be
separated from
him not only
in this life
but for all
eternity in
hell forever
that starting
today you can
know him and
live with him
and be changed
forever and
ever
just as
Moses lifted
up the
serpent in
the wilderness
so must
the son of
man be
lifted up
upon the
cross
that whoever
looks to
him and
believes in
him may
have eternal
life for
God so
loved you
that he
sent his
only son
that whoever
believes in
him should
not perish
but have
eternal life
let's do that
now as we
come to him
in prayer
let's pray
together
look Jesus
thank you so
much for
coming to the
cross for
coming to
earth for
laying aside
your glory
your divinity
for clothing
yourself with
flesh and
humanity
for coming in
love God to
save us to
rescue us
God how
high the
mountain how
deep the
chasm how
utterly hopeless
our situation
was God
every one of
us born in
sin had no
way of saving
ourselves no
hope apart
from you coming
and bringing
heaven to us
Jesus thank
you for
doing that
God I
want to
pray won't
you help
us to
trust you
God for
those of
us here
that aren't
saved that
aren't
Christians that
God is still
living our
lives on our
own terms
God I
pray won't
you give us
faith won't
you help us to
trust you God
won't you help
us to look
upon you
Jesus give us
faith to turn
to you in
belief God for
those of us that
are Christians we
pray won't you
help us to
marvel at the
wonder of the
gospel the
wonder of what
you've done to
remember God the
way that you
came to us and
for us and to
remember your
profound profound
love for us
God if there's
anyone here that
doesn't doesn't
feel your love
Lord I pray that
the cross will
preach your love
to us write it
on our hearts
may we know
that you so
loved us that
you left heaven
to come for
us to bring us
into your
kingdom
friends we're
going to sing a
song now I
think the song
we sang earlier
we're going to
sing it again
friends if you're
not a Christian
this morning I
want to beg you
I want to
implore you
while we sing
this song why
don't you come
to Jesus
and all you
need to do is
say this you
just need to
say Jesus my
faith is small I
don't understand
so much there's
so many things
that don't make
sense to me but
Jesus I see now
that my only hope
for salvation is
that you died on
the cross for me
Jesus you died to
make me new that
I may be born
again born from
above won't you
do that in me
won't you give me
new life
friends I want
you to be
saved I want
to ask you
don't wait
another day you
don't know how
many days you
have left on
earth don't wait
another day let
today be the day
that your life
changes around that
God changes you
deeply can people
change apart from
God there's not
much hope but
with Jesus we can
change let him
change us now
if you want to
stay seated you
can if you want
to stand and
sing whatever
posture is
appropriate if you
want to get on
your knees you can
do that let's
respond in song
together
love you
Thank you.