WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:29.079 Hear the word of God as it is read from the gospel according to John. 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:34.700 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:43.740 He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:50.020 Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:53.579 How can someone be born again when they are old? Nicodemus asked. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:57.719 Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born. 00:00:58.540 --> 00:01:04.960 Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:08.700 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. 00:01:09.240 --> 00:01:12.219 You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. 00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:14.359 The wind blows wherever it pleases. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:19.980 You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:22.519 So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:24.819 How can this be? Nicodemus asked. 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:29.039 You are Israel's teacher, said Jesus, and you do not understand these things. 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:34.480 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:38.120 But still you people do not accept our testimony. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:41.820 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:45.060 How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:50.580 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who has came from heaven, the Son of Man. 00:01:51.020 --> 00:01:55.820 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 00:01:56.380 --> 00:01:59.240 That everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.640 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 00:02:02.880 --> 00:02:06.100 that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:10.939 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:17.579 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 00:02:17.579 --> 00:02:21.459 because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:22.659 This is the verdict. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:27.620 Light has come into the world, but people love darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 00:02:28.359 --> 00:02:34.379 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:43.340 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has not been done in the sight of God. 00:02:43.579 --> 00:02:44.939 This is the Gospel of the Lord. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.079 Praise to you, Lord Christ. 00:02:48.019 --> 00:02:48.819 Let's pray. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:03:01.900 Lord, would you accomplish through the power of your word and even in spite of your messenger, all that you desire to accomplish. 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:15.120 Would you show us the power, the richness, and the love that you so love to communicate to us in your word and in the preaching of it. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.539 Lord, would you convict us of sin? 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.819 Would you stir up repentance amongst your people? 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:29.060 And would your spirit move in ways that can only be ascribed to you, Father? 00:03:29.980 --> 00:03:32.500 So hear our prayers and be present to us, Lord God. 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.020 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:35.100 Amen. 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:42.000 So I really should have included the last three verses of chapter 2 in our scripture reading. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:50.980 I'm really sorry to include that, but I want to read that to you just to give us some context for where we are in John's Gospel coming into John chapter 3 this morning. 00:03:51.420 --> 00:03:54.420 In the last three verses of John chapter 2, it's very important. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:56.100 It links into John chapter 3. 00:03:56.099 --> 00:03:57.039 What it says is, 00:03:57.799 --> 00:04:14.459 So what's going on as we come into John chapter 3 is Jesus is gaining a following up to this point, 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:19.439 but also he's unimpressed and he's unaffected by that following. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:19.920 Why? 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:27.300 Because he knows that there is a kind of belief that's real admiration, real interest, even real respect, 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:30.779 and yet still inadequate, still incomplete. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:39.399 And so coming into chapter 3, John here is giving us an example of this kind of incomplete, inadequate faith. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:40.420 Verse 1, 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.920 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:52.960 Nicodemus here, he serves as a picture of the kind of sincere, respectful, and yet incomplete belief that Jesus, our Savior, he's always going to confront. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:56.140 He's always going to confront this kind of incomplete belief. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.319 Now I want to be very clear, Nicodemus isn't a villain here. 00:05:00.520 --> 00:05:03.460 He's not hostile, he's not mocking, he's not immoral. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:07.259 He's actually quite sincere, thoughtful, curious, and respectful. 00:05:07.460 --> 00:05:11.860 He's a Pharisee, and in their world, Pharisees were the serious, devout ones. 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:13.160 And he was one of their best. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.700 He was one of the ruling council members. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.760 Jesus later calls him the teacher of Israel. 00:05:19.460 --> 00:05:25.020 Nicodemus was the kind of person people looked up to and said, that's a real man of God. 00:05:26.260 --> 00:05:29.680 And yet verse 2 here tells us something subtle but deeply revealing. 00:05:30.780 --> 00:05:32.460 He came to Jesus when? 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:33.920 At night. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.760 And listen, John doesn't tell us this detail by accident. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:46.459 And actually every preacher and commentator that I consulted, they pretty much agree on why Nicodemus is coming at night to Jesus. 00:05:46.659 --> 00:05:52.599 Nicodemus comes at night not because he's fake or two-faced, but because there's a disconnect within him. 00:05:53.139 --> 00:05:59.120 There's a gap between who he is in public and what's going on inside of him privately. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:03.220 Like outwardly, Nicodemus is confident, accomplished, and respected. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.800 But inwardly, honestly, he's cautious, conflicted, curious, he's insecure. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:12.040 He's uncertain, still searching for answers. 00:06:12.280 --> 00:06:17.079 Inwardly, even with all his accomplishments, he still senses that something's missing. 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:23.120 And he wonders if this new rabbi in town might be able to help him figure out what's missing. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:25.180 And is that not relatable? 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.439 We all know our public selves, right? 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:34.279 Our reputations, our resumes, the versions of ourselves that, you know, everyone else encounters, 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:37.919 our proficient, best-foot-forward LinkedIn selves, right? 00:06:38.599 --> 00:06:44.120 And yet at the same time, in one way or another, all of us, don't we all struggle with imposter syndrome? 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:45.379 I know I do. 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:47.519 Don't we all struggle with imposter syndrome? 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.060 We may know how to show up, right? 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:56.939 We may know how to look like we have it all together, but privately, inwardly, we know our shortcomings, 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:03.259 our weaknesses, our insecurities, the handful of things we don't want exposed in broad daylight. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.839 We still have our doubts. 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:11.120 We still have all these questions that we still haven't resolved, the sense that even if things look put together, 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.079 something's not quite right on the inside. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.659 Like Nicodemus, we all live with this discrepancy. 00:07:18.099 --> 00:07:19.939 The gap is real for all of us. 00:07:20.599 --> 00:07:22.560 And so we all look to close the gap, right? 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:23.199 Fill the holes. 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:27.259 Find someone or something to supply what's missing in our lives. 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:29.899 And that's why Nicodemus comes to visit Jesus at night. 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:31.759 He's coming to manage the gap. 00:07:32.459 --> 00:07:33.439 He's still in process. 00:07:33.539 --> 00:07:35.180 He's still trying to figure things out. 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:42.720 And yet, before Nicodemus can even finish his thought, Jesus cuts straight through all the diplomacy to the heart of the matter. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:49.319 When Nicodemus, when he respectfully calls Jesus rabbi, even acknowledges that Jesus is a teacher sent from God, 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:52.899 and that he wouldn't be able to do these things unless he had God's presence with him, 00:07:52.899 --> 00:07:56.299 Jesus kind of awkwardly changes the conversation. 00:07:57.319 --> 00:07:59.560 He doesn't thank Nicodemus for the kind words. 00:07:59.719 --> 00:08:02.459 He doesn't credit Nicodemus for being an early adopter. 00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:05.019 He doesn't appreciate Nicodemus for the validation. 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:11.279 He doesn't use this moment to position and establish himself with an insider amongst the religious establishment. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:22.239 No, Jesus looks right into Nicodemus' heart and seemingly doesn't even respond materially to anything Nicodemus has just said to him about who he thinks Jesus is. 00:08:23.299 --> 00:08:25.759 Jesus doesn't say, you're so close, man. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.659 You've almost got it right. 00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:30.259 Let me just clarify a couple missing pieces for you. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:34.860 No, as Nicodemus comes to him with a sense that something is missing, Jesus confirms that. 00:08:34.959 --> 00:08:37.299 Yeah, something is indeed missing. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:43.979 Even further, he basically says that the gap that Nicodemus feels between his public identity and what he privately senses is missing, 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:50.039 Jesus says that that gap is far, far wider than Nicodemus could even imagine. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:59.000 In fact, it's a gaping chasm, a chasm that won't be filled by better theology or even a few Sunday school lessons with Jesus. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:09.659 It won't be filled by increased moral effort, new spiritual techniques, or a few minor spiritual adjustments in Nicodemus' life to shore up his shortcomings. 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:12.039 No, Jesus is saying here in verse 3, 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:17.639 Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:24.600 Like, you think you and your open-minded Pharisee buddies, Nicodemus, are seeing pretty clearly, 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:29.679 coming to me as, you know, perhaps prospective allies, acknowledging that God is on my side. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:34.120 You think you may have found in me the supplemental thing that's missing in your life. 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:39.720 But what you need to know is that unless you experience a radical transformation, 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:44.279 as radical as being born again, as radical as starting all over again, 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:48.039 Yes, even you, O great teacher of Israel, unless you are born again, 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:54.639 and unless you become like a little baby child, you will not see rightly. 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:59.579 You cannot and will not see what you most desire, the thing you most need to see. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:04.240 You cannot and will not see the kingdom of God unless you are born again. 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:07.220 It's like going for your annual physical. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.919 Maybe you have, like, a minor question about some muscle soreness you have for your physician, 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.419 and then as soon as you get there, the doctor's like, immediately, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:20.539 you have a deadly illness, and it's going to require that you change your entire life. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:22.799 That's what Jesus is saying here. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.740 You must be born again. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:29.860 Now, before we go any further, let's slow down and talk about this phrase, born again, right? 00:10:30.459 --> 00:10:35.919 I'm sure it's, you know, got a lot of loaded meaning for a lot of us, political, religious, negative meaning often. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:42.179 As Tim Keller puts it, it's common nowadays to believe that born again people are different from most of us. 00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:46.740 More emotional or more broken like drug addicts or emotionally unstable people, 00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:50.500 and they need a dramatic turnaround to get them on the right path. 00:10:50.579 --> 00:10:57.240 We imagine they have done something so bad or are so weak and needy that only a seismic change in their lives will help them. 00:10:57.479 --> 00:11:00.599 Or maybe it's for people who need authority and structure in their lives, 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:04.899 so they join, you know, regimented, authoritarian, religious, or political movements, 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:08.500 as if being born again is for a certain kind of person. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:13.940 But the problem, Keller says, with this view is that the biblical story doesn't allow us to hold this kind of view 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:15.120 of what it means to be born again. 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:16.700 Nicodemus is a civic leader. 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:18.000 He's a member of the Sanhedrin. 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:18.980 He's prosperous. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.420 He's devout. 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.879 He's an upstanding Pharisee. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:25.740 You couldn't have anyone with more religious credentials than Nicodemus. 00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:29.220 He's not an emotional or broken type of person at all. 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:33.940 And when Nicodemus calls Jesus a rabbi, he's even being open-minded and respectful. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.759 This is a guy who has it all together. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.800 He's an admirable person, disciplined, successful, moral. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.080 And again, he's quite open-minded. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:45.440 This is the kind of person we say, that's a pretty good guy. 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:51.500 So whatever born again means, it cannot mean stop being, 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:54.639 whatever Jesus is saying when he says be born again, 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:59.299 it cannot mean that he's saying stop being immoral and start being good. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:02.759 He's not just saying stop being broken and start being put together. 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:04.899 Nicodemus is already good. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.159 Nicodemus is already put together. 00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:10.899 So Jesus is not calling Nicodemus to be more religious, 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:14.220 but he is telling him that religion is not enough. 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:19.980 See, when Jesus says born again, the phrase, it literally means born from above. 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:22.379 In other words, Jesus is saying, 00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:27.680 Nicodemus, what you lack isn't information, it isn't effort, it isn't sincerity, 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:33.320 it's new creation life that you were never going to discover or secure for yourself. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.480 You don't need refinement, you need regeneration. 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.879 You don't need renovation, you need resurrection. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:44.299 And this is not just a word to Nicodemus, it's a word to all of us. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:48.600 If we are to see and enter the kingdom of God, we've got to be born again. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:51.960 We've got to be born in a new way from above, born from something, 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:54.820 born from someone supernaturally outside of us. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:58.439 Every single one of us, we all need to be born again. 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:02.600 To be a Christian, to be a citizen in the kingdom of God is to be born again. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.019 This isn't a specific subtype of Christian. 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:08.500 No, it's a necessary prerequisite, new birth. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.600 Radical transformation. 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:15.679 And the most crucial thing about this, Jesus says to Nicodemus and to us, 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.320 the most humbling and eye-opening thing about all of this is that, 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:23.379 last time I checked, can we make ourselves born? 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.759 You cannot make yourself born. 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:28.120 Think about that, babies don't give birth to themselves. 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:30.399 Birth is something that happens to you. 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:35.480 Which means Jesus is not giving Nicodemus a new task to accomplish. 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:39.139 He's telling him that only God can give what he lacks. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.320 This isn't about believing harder. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.440 It's about receiving a life that you don't have. 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.779 This isn't about turning over a new chapter. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:51.420 It's about being given a whole new beginning. 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:54.740 Nicodemus thought the gap in his life could be closed with insight. 00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:57.080 Jesus tells him the truth. 00:13:57.580 --> 00:14:00.100 Only God can close a gap this deep. 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:02.700 So what do you think? 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.300 Is this bad news or good news? 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:10.019 Or might it be both in a wonderfully perfect way? 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:16.980 Now put yourself in Nicodemus' shoes and try to imagine how radical, disruptive, confusing, 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:20.120 and even offensive this would have been to his ears. 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:23.440 This was the teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, right? 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:27.680 If anyone understood the kingdom of God and how to see it, how to enter it, it should be him. 00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:33.240 And yet, as humble and as open-minded and as receptive to Jesus as Nicodemus was, 00:14:33.520 --> 00:14:36.000 he didn't come to Jesus thinking he was dead. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.520 He didn't come to Jesus thinking he was an outsider to the kingdom. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.300 He came thinking probably that at least he was close, right? 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.840 He didn't come saying, Rabbi, my life is a disaster. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.700 I need a new life. 00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:50.820 He says, Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:55.760 Again, Nicodemus thought the gap in his life could be closed with insight from a teacher, 00:14:56.780 --> 00:15:01.360 that the gap could be filled with a conversation, a clarification, a few missing theological pieces, 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:04.700 maybe a new angle on what the Scriptures said and taught. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:08.840 He assumed Jesus would add something to his already impressive life. 00:15:10.260 --> 00:15:12.220 But Jesus doesn't offer addition. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:15.500 He announces impossibility. 00:15:16.780 --> 00:15:18.540 Christianity isn't additive. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:21.039 It's comprehensively transformational. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:25.000 Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:28.179 And I want us to pay attention to that word can and cannot. 00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.379 That word cannot matters. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:33.039 Jesus is telling Nicodemus that the problem isn't effort, it's ability. 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:34.959 Capability. 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.839 And that's something to panic over, isn't it? 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.599 Not just for Nicodemus, but for all of us, right? 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:45.019 All of us who've built, most of us built our lives on competence and hard work and effort. 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:51.559 We're good at checking off our task lists, completing our KPIs, leveling up, fulfilling our duties and responsibilities. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:55.679 But here Jesus is saying, that's not the way into my kingdom. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:05.659 And this is so foreign to Nicodemus because so much of his life has been built on effort and on what he has been able to do himself. 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:10.019 So Nicodemus keeps responding with questions like, how can this be? 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.779 How can someone be born when they are old? 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:13.179 And these aren't foolish questions. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:13.799 They're honest. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.839 Notice Nicodemus' words. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:25.699 How can or, you know, he says, no one can do these things if you, you wouldn't be able to do these things if you didn't come from God, right? 00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:27.519 He's all about the can and the cannot. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:30.299 In verse 2 and verse 4 and verse 9, there's can and cannot. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:33.860 Notice what Nicodemus can and cannot believe is possible. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:41.960 You see, in this interaction with Jesus, what's happening is Nicodemus is reaching the edge of what he believes is possible. 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:45.759 See, he doesn't just have questions here. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:55.600 He kind of has this implicit ceiling, a ceiling he's placed on his belief about what's possible and what needs to change and about how deeply problematic his current life is. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.440 And that's many of us. 00:16:58.139 --> 00:17:00.080 We think we've mostly arrived. 00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:03.100 We're many of us on spiritual cruise control. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.920 We want Jesus for minor home improvements. 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:17.819 And it's outside the scope of our imaginations to consider that he might want to demolish the whole of our houses, but also give us mansions and castles instead. 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.319 See, Jesus doesn't do minor improvements. 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:23.000 He gives new birth. 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:26.980 Following him isn't adding a supplement to a pretty good life. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:32.039 It's the Spirit of God disrupting us, humbling us, remaking us. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:32.980 Terrifying? 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:33.799 Yes. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:38.079 But that's also where real joy, real liberty begins. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:41.460 So Jesus is saying, I want to blow the top off your ceiling, Nicodemus. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.059 I want to free you. 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:46.839 Nicodemus thought he was being open-minded, and indeed he was. 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:55.480 When he came to see Jesus as an early adopter among the Pharisees, he was very willing to believe and accept the possibility that Jesus was a teacher sent from God. 00:17:56.199 --> 00:17:57.839 This he did believe was possible. 00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:02.539 But what he couldn't believe was that someone could be born when they were old. 00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:08.939 That someone like him, of all people, could and in fact needed to start over and have a brand new life. 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:13.440 That's where his belief fell short as inadequate. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:18.779 It wasn't good enough to recognize the goodness and the wisdom and the power of Jesus, or even that God was with him. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:27.980 To believe rightly about Jesus means believing rightly about ourselves and how far we fall short of the people God is wanting to transform us into being. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:31.759 What Nicodemus needs is not a better version of himself. 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:37.160 He needs a different kind of life altogether, a life he cannot generate in and of himself. 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:41.560 In other words, Jesus is telling Nicodemus, everything you've built your life on has reached its limit. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:47.000 And unless God does something that you cannot do for yourself, you will never see what you most want to see. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:49.340 And if you think about it, that's not just humbling again. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.120 It's terrifying. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:54.160 Because it means the kingdom of God is not entered by diligence, but by dependence. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:56.420 Not by striving, but by surrender. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:01.180 And that's exactly why Jesus' words are so hard to hear, not just for Nicodemus, but for us. 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:06.240 Because what this born-again stuff is all about, it isn't about answering the question, 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.799 am I a good person or not? 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:11.140 But am I alive to God or not? 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:16.779 Has the Spirit of God entered me from above and made me a new creation or not? 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:23.180 Now at this point, if you're feeling stuck, a little like boxed in, you're in good company because Nicodemus was stuck too. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.420 Again, he's asking, how can this be? 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.960 How can someone be born when they are old? 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:30.660 In other words, if I can't do this myself, if I can't will this into existence, 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:33.980 if being born again isn't something I can achieve, if what Jesus is saying is true, 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:37.880 that I cannot see the kingdom, I cannot enter it, I cannot make myself new, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.900 then how does it happen at all? 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:44.420 Well, this is exactly the point that Jesus wanted to bring Nicodemus and all of us to, 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:47.380 to ask this question in order to hear his gracious answer. 00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:49.060 Now look with me at verse 5. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:20:15.299 Now if that doesn't sound like much of an answer to you, again, you're in good company. 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:19.960 What does Jesus even mean here, talking about being born of water and the Spirit? 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.519 What's he talking about, about this wind blowing wherever it pleases? 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:27.399 Well, to summarize it, most simply, what Jesus is trying to explain to Nicodemus 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:31.339 is that the new birth that we all need is something we can't achieve, 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:34.839 but it's only something that can be brought about by God. 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:37.039 And I know this is something I already said, but here in verse 5, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:41.559 Jesus explains how this works, how it works to be born again from above. 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:45.500 And he says basically that it's a work of God's Spirit. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:51.440 And if that sounds like super abstract and overly spiritual, 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:55.480 well, it is unapologetically spiritual. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.720 It's about the Holy Spirit. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:01.579 It totally is about the invisible work of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives. 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:08.379 But while it is definitively spiritual, it doesn't have to be abstract. 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:11.620 Let me try to show you what Jesus is trying to show in Nicodemus. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.340 Look at verse 5 again. 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:14.660 Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:16.860 unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.640 Now, there are multiple interpretations of this, 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.760 but what the best commentators, I think, point out, 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.560 and what I think Jesus is doing here, 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:27.060 specifically as he talks to this knowledgeable Bible expert, 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.420 this scholar Nicodemus, 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:31.380 is I think he's referring to ancient Old Testament prophecies 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:35.060 that Nicodemus surely should have been able to make a connection to, 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:38.460 specifically the prophecy from Ezekiel chapter 36. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.859 Now, without going into much detail, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:43.980 this prophecy was spoken to Israel in exile, in Babylon, 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:46.319 after hundreds of years of, like, turning away from God, 00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:48.740 breaking covenant again and again and again. 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:52.899 God gave them over to the oppressors of the world powers that be. 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.980 And so to the people of Israel, it must have seen to them, like, 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.899 man, we just keep screwing up. 00:21:58.379 --> 00:22:01.119 Sure, maybe we go through a season of repentance and revival, 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:04.619 but it's always a short season, and eventually the cycle continues. 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:07.159 We just can't seem to get it together. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.339 We just can't seem to fulfill our covenant commitment to Yahweh, 00:22:10.459 --> 00:22:11.899 and it's so demoralizing. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.139 It's so discouraging. 00:22:13.239 --> 00:22:14.659 Will we ever be able to live rightly 00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:18.259 and secure God's presence and blessing among us? 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.699 This was the sentiment of Israel, 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:22.839 even in Nicodemus and Jesus' day, 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:25.979 as Roman officers occupied their streets and cities. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.279 In fact, this is why the Pharisees existed. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:30.579 Nicodemus was a product of this movement 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:35.200 where their strategy was to make Israel great again 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.399 by just trying harder 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:39.480 and to try to get all of Israel to try harder, 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:41.720 to be faithful to God, faithful to His covenant, 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:45.039 in order for the nation to be returned to blessing once again. 00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.859 Just try harder. 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.619 Be more righteous. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.420 Be more pure. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.420 This is what Nicodemus had committed his whole life to. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.660 But as you can imagine, 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.680 he and all of Israel must have felt so, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.079 so far from ever arriving. 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.579 Right? 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:01.679 And maybe that's how many of us feel this morning 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:03.099 in our own relationships with God, 00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:06.619 like we want to live these faithful, righteous lives 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.960 that we know God wants for us, 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.220 but we just keep screwing up. 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.759 We keep falling short with our spouses. 00:23:12.439 --> 00:23:13.460 Our tempers flare. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.279 We keep returning to this or that, you know, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:18.039 that vice or that substance, that addiction. 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:21.299 We can't shake our pride, our greed, our selfishness. 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:24.879 We can't overcome our insecurities and our anxieties. 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.659 These idols still remain in our life, 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.119 even when we try our hardest. 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:33.559 Your best, most strategic, most diligent, disciplined efforts, 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:35.839 they seem to always fall short, right? 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:38.680 Or maybe you just don't even have the motivation 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:42.099 to fight for holiness and righteousness anymore. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.659 I get it. 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.839 I've been there. 00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:45.519 I am there. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.700 But this is exactly what Jesus was speaking to 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.759 when he told Nicodemus 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:52.859 that he needed to be born of water and the Spirit. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.519 Because see, in Ezekiel chapter 36, 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.319 in this prophecy, 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:57.359 the promise that God gives is of a day 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:00.539 when his people will fully and finally be cleansed 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.319 once and for all, 00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:03.180 never to be dirty again. 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.319 And not just on the outside, 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.240 but on the inside, 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.639 by water and the Spirit. 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:08.460 And not just a cleansing of the old, 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:11.240 but he promises new hearts. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:13.819 The very Spirit of God dwelling within them, 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.539 moving them to obedience. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:18.620 So see, basically what Jesus is saying here 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:20.819 is that, hey, your best efforts are not enough. 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.799 You need a thorough cleansing. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.559 You need the very presence of God. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:26.160 You need the power of God within you 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.099 to truly be clean, 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.460 to truly be made new, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.940 to truly overcome the muck in your life. 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:33.620 What you need is not a new technique, 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.759 but a new heart 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:38.099 that only the Spirit of God can create in you. 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.940 Think of a plant. 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:42.059 But Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.720 and he's saying to all of us, 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.140 you don't need better pruning. 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:47.059 You don't need more fertilizer. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:49.039 No, you need a whole new root. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.920 Because your heart, your roots, 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.420 they're dead, 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:53.920 and dead things cannot resurrect themselves. 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.920 That's why Jesus says here in verse six, 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.779 flesh gives birth to flesh, 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.519 but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.580 Like, you might be able to produce 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:05.500 what you already are, he says, 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:08.500 but you cannot produce what you are not. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:11.240 Human effort may produce human results, 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.799 but only the Spirit of God 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.460 can produce new creation life. 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:18.079 And this is a work that, like the wind, 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.660 is completely out of our control. 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.380 It's invisible, 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:23.380 and yet undeniable when it happens. 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.900 So Jesus is saying, 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.640 Nicodemus, you might think you know the Scriptures, 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:28.359 but you've completely missed 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.299 what they're pointing to. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.700 They point not to you 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.759 and what you must do 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.460 or the initiative that you must take 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.619 in order to enter into the kingdom of God. 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.599 No, they point to me 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:39.239 and God's gracious, divine initiative 00:25:39.239 --> 00:25:41.679 to bring from outside of His kingdom 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:43.919 people like you in. 00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:47.119 But now let's name the question 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.099 underneath all this, though. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.359 Why does Nicodemus, 00:25:50.439 --> 00:25:51.899 and why do people like Nicodemus, 00:25:51.959 --> 00:25:52.759 like us maybe, 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:55.619 why do even successful, upstanding, 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:58.159 sincere, friendly, humble, 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.319 open-minded people 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:01.099 all still need new birth 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:03.599 for entrance into God's kingdom? 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:06.639 What is it that was keeping Nicodemus 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.559 outside the kingdom? 00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:09.000 He seems like a pretty good guy. 00:26:11.199 --> 00:26:12.679 It couldn't be, you know, 00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:14.500 it couldn't be some gross immorality 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.240 in his life. 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.439 It couldn't be a lack of knowledge 00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:18.179 or accomplishments. 00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:19.759 It couldn't be, you know, 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.879 his closed-mindedness 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:22.299 or his antagonism toward Jesus 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:23.740 and what Jesus had to say. 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.719 No, in fact, many of us 00:26:24.719 --> 00:26:26.159 would be thrilled to be, you know, 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:27.859 known like Nicodemus was known 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.599 in his community. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:31.279 But see, that's precisely the issue. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.159 The problem is that 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:35.359 as open-minded as Nicodemus was, 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.119 he still could not conceive 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.439 of his need for a deeper, 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.079 more comprehensive, 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:42.059 all-encompassing, 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:44.639 massively disruptive transformation. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.039 With his pedigree, his education, 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.159 his moral seriousness, 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:49.259 his religious achievement, 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.419 he is quite content 00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:52.319 with his first birth, 00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:54.480 with his natural birth. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.480 And he cannot see his need 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.439 for another birth. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.860 Sure, he wouldn't say, 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.799 you know, I'm perfect. 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.220 In fact, he sought Jesus out 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.600 because he knew 00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.460 he was missing something. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.940 But again, he could not conceive 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:05.799 of needing a whole new start. 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:06.900 He could not conceive 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:08.000 of having to start again 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.680 as a baby, as a child. 00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:12.000 You know, according to the Jewish tradition 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.420 at Nicodemus' time, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.920 only the formerly, you know, 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:17.360 uncircumcised Gentile converts 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:20.100 were ever called children newly born. 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.740 But that's what Jesus was asking of him. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.160 Also, you know, 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.940 the prevailing view 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.820 of the Jewish faith at that time 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.580 was that, you know, 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.559 apart from, you know, 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.700 leaving the faith altogether 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:31.779 or doing some kind of heinous sin, 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.220 if you're Jewish, 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.480 you are automatically 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.940 going to be admitted 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.000 into God's kingdom. 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.320 But here, Jesus is turning 00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:40.200 that upside down. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.660 Jesus is saying that Nicodemus' life, 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.880 impressive as it is, 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.920 is not automatically 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.000 or on its own merits, 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.140 alive. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.820 Alive to God. 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.920 See, it's not that he's broken 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.960 in obvious ways, 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:53.759 but that he's grown presumptuous 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.820 about his standing before God 00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:56.980 and about his own righteousness 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.060 and about his need 00:27:58.060 --> 00:27:59.340 for change and repentance. 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.080 He's convinced 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.580 that he's mostly done a good job 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.160 being in control 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.940 of his own destiny. 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.060 He's convinced 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:05.480 that his car's been running fine 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.519 and so he came to Jesus 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.360 just expecting 00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:08.460 a simple tune-up 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.320 only to realize, 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.039 only to be told 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.580 that his engine was dead. 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.320 Because, you see, 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.420 his deepest sin, 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.539 it may not have been, like, 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.900 outright lawlessness, 00:28:17.820 --> 00:28:18.440 but it was something 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.279 far more subtle, 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.820 far more dangerous. 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.299 Because often, 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.640 when we get very good 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:25.160 at external obedience, 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.320 our hearts can quietly 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.539 drift from God. 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.059 When righteousness 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:31.140 becomes our rhythm, 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:31.900 our culture, 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:33.400 and the air we breathe, 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.500 we can slowly stop 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.080 paying attention 00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:36.620 to why we're obeying 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:38.559 or who we're depending on. 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:41.140 We can become so confident 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:42.180 that we're walking 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.640 in the light 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.559 that we never stop 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.240 to ask whether 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.799 we're actually alive 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.160 and in relationship 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.080 with God. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.039 And that confidence, 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.799 unchecked it, 00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.680 it hardens into 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.600 self-righteousness, 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.480 not loud arrogance, 00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.900 but quiet assumption. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.779 A settled sense 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.440 that basically, 00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.539 we're fine. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.820 That our life 00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.960 just needs a little tune-up, 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:01.920 but certainly 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.759 not a resurrection. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.460 And when that happens, 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:07.180 we stop examining ourselves, 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:08.779 we stop opening ourselves 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.680 up to disruption, 00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.740 we stop imagining 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.820 that God might need 00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:12.740 to confront us 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.660 rather than just 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.779 affirm us all the time. 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.120 Because we're convinced 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.159 that the path we're on 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:18.699 is straight, 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.099 even if it slowly 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.879 is drifting away from God. 00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:23.639 And thus, of course, 00:29:23.739 --> 00:29:24.219 the prospect 00:29:24.219 --> 00:29:26.039 of being born again, 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:28.099 starting all over, right, 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.739 would not only strike us 00:29:29.739 --> 00:29:30.359 as surprising, 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.599 but also threatening. 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:34.139 Because Jesus isn't offering 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:35.699 to improve Nicodemus' life, 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.900 he's calling for the death 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:39.440 of life in Nicodemus, 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.319 that Nicodemus trusts. 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.880 The death of Nicodemus' 00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:44.299 like very lifestyle. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.120 He's calling for a new one 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.640 to be given. 00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.140 And that's gotta feel 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.140 like a loss, right? 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.559 Like surrender, 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.360 like death. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.180 And honestly, it is. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.799 It is loss. 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:53.360 It is surrender. 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.100 It is death. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.740 Which raises the question, 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.299 is it worth it? 00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:58.840 And can I trust 00:29:58.840 --> 00:29:59.819 that this new life 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.100 will be better 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:02.940 than my already good life? 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:05.140 But now look where Jesus 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.500 takes the conversation next. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.080 Right when Nicodemus 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:08.940 is most confused, 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:09.960 most boxed in, 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:11.420 Jesus does something unexpected. 00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:12.980 He doesn't give him a technique. 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.559 He gives him a story. 00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.259 Verse 14, 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.620 Just as Moses lifted up 00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.779 the serpent in the wilderness, 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.820 so the Son of Man 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.860 must be lifted up, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.460 that everyone who believes 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:24.500 may have eternal life in him. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.700 Nicodemus would have known 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.080 this story like instantly. 00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.559 Israel's in the wilderness. 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.259 They complain. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.039 They rebel. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.820 Poisonous serpents 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.359 come, 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.279 start biting people, 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.200 people start dying. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.439 And what does God do? 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.279 Say, 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.079 too bad, 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:38.899 try harder, 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:40.099 be more pure. 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.480 That's what you get. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.220 Does he hand them a checklist? 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.759 Does he do anything 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.859 where it depends 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.720 on their merit? 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:50.399 No. 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.599 He has Moses 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.879 lift up a bronze serpent 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:55.799 and anyone who simply looks 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:57.339 at what God has provided, 00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:59.000 they're the ones who live. 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.579 No works, 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.240 no penance, 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:02.519 just trustful looking, 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.899 up to what God 00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.639 has provided. 00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:05.899 And Jesus is saying, 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.460 Nicodemus, 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.799 that is how new birth happens, 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.059 not by your initiative, 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.259 but by God's. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.919 And here's the shock, 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.460 though. 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.919 The very sign 00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:14.700 of their judgment, 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.759 a serpent lifted up, 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.399 that actually becomes 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.619 the place they look 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.579 to receive mercy. 00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.399 That actually becomes 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.119 their salvation. 00:31:23.439 --> 00:31:24.559 And when Jesus brings 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.439 this up with Nicodemus, 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.299 what he's saying is, 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.220 don't you see, 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.899 Nicodemus? 00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:29.320 That's me. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.759 Not lifted up on a throne, 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:33.340 but lifted up on a cross, 00:31:33.860 --> 00:31:34.720 where the consequences 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:36.640 of all your sins 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.780 are finally dealt with 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:39.259 and where the mercy of God 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.540 is finally unveiled. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:42.160 New birth is free to you, 00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:43.300 but it will cost me 00:31:43.300 --> 00:31:43.960 everything. 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.040 And that's what leads 00:31:46.040 --> 00:31:47.220 straight into verse 16, 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.180 this verse we know well, 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.080 we sang it earlier, 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.580 for God so loved the world, 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:50.920 right, 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.100 that he gave his only 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:52.759 begotten son, 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:53.980 that whoever believes in him 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.220 will not perish, 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:57.400 but have eternal life. 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.319 John 3.16, 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:58.579 you know, 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.440 it isn't some 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.539 sentimental passage. 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.500 God's love is not, 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:02.920 you know, 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.259 God overlooking sin, 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.860 it's God taking sin 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.620 into himself, 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.819 so that when you lift up 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.720 your eyes and believe, 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.700 you live. 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.720 John 3.16 is about 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:14.319 the radical love of God, 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.900 not the teddy bear love of God. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.900 And this is where 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.900 Jesus lands the plane 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.579 in verses 16 to 21, 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.860 for God so loved the world. 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.839 Notice Jesus doesn't say, 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.720 for God so loved 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.279 the impressive, 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.799 the cleaned up, 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.900 the naturally religious. 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.600 He says the world, 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.140 people like Nicodemus, 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.440 people like you and me. 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:33.019 And verse 17 says 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.720 something we forget, 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.920 God did not send his son 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.440 into the world 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.420 to condemn the world, 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:38.059 but to save the world 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.079 through him. 00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:41.019 This means that Jesus 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:42.220 is not cutting straight 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:44.019 through Nicodemus' niceties 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.620 out of, you know, 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.259 impatience. 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.200 He's not trying to rough 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.100 Nicodemus up 00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:47.759 as this like, 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.319 you know, 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.860 terrible self-righteous Pharisee. 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.660 No, Jesus is just 00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:51.360 trying to pinpoint 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.420 the crisis 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.559 that Nicodemus 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.679 needs to reckon with. 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.559 Concerning his 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.720 inadequate faith. 00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.419 Jesus is naming 00:32:59.419 --> 00:33:00.359 Nicodemus' crisis. 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.259 He's naming the crisis 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.839 of the crowds. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.440 Verse 19, 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:04.000 light has come into the world, 00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:06.079 but people love darkness 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:07.200 instead of light 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.419 because their deeds 00:33:08.419 --> 00:33:09.159 were evil. 00:33:09.419 --> 00:33:10.339 That's the real issue. 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:12.299 It's not just that 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:13.579 Nicodemus comes at night. 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.399 It's that we all come 00:33:15.399 --> 00:33:16.359 at night. 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.139 We're all afraid 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.679 of the light. 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:19.639 We all come wanting Jesus, 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.379 but we want him 00:33:20.379 --> 00:33:21.299 on our own terms. 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.559 We want help, 00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:23.319 but not exposure. 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.700 We want forgiveness, 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:25.579 but not surrender. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.980 We want life 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.119 without the death of self 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.319 that keeps us in control. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.240 We want the benefits 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.799 of the light, 00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:32.500 but we don't want 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.119 the exposure 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.059 and the disruption 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.819 of the light. 00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:36.859 We don't want our need 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:38.379 for a brand new life 00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:39.539 to be exposed. 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:40.960 And yet, 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.619 verse 21 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.799 is this invitation. 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.539 Whoever does what is true 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:46.099 comes into the light. 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:48.299 Not whoever has it all together, 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:51.099 whoever is really good 00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:52.919 at performing for God. 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:53.579 No. 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:55.419 It's whoever stops hiding, 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:57.099 whoever stops managing, 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.599 whoever brings their whole self, 00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.599 brings their sin, 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.319 brings their need, 00:34:00.419 --> 00:34:00.919 their weakness, 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.659 their pride 00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.619 into the light of Christ. 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.680 And the stunning promise 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.039 is this. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.119 When you come into the light, 00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:06.720 you're not going to meet 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.399 a prosecutor. 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.539 You're going to meet 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.300 a savior. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.239 And look what that produces. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.279 Look how that changes 00:34:12.279 --> 00:34:12.699 a person. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.779 Later in John's gospel, 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.779 after Jesus is lifted up 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:17.320 and all the disciples flee, 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.100 who comes for the body 00:34:20.100 --> 00:34:20.840 of Jesus? 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.380 Nicodemus. 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:24.200 Nicodemus comes out 00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:24.680 of the darkness 00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:26.000 into the light 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.920 to be near 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.600 his crucified Messiah, 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.440 asking for the body, 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.680 washing it, 00:34:32.160 --> 00:34:33.780 handling what powerful men 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.680 of the Sanhedrin 00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.980 would never be caught dead 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.620 handling, 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.800 doing the shameful work 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.440 that was reserved 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:40.400 for women and slaves. 00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.960 He comes to this unclean body. 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:45.700 He throws down 75 pounds 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.119 worth of aloe and myrrh, 00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:48.460 just an exorbitant amount. 00:34:49.919 --> 00:34:51.199 Nicodemus has transitioned 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.819 from hiding in the night 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:54.039 to honoring Jesus 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.879 in the light. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.599 He gives it all 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.219 to identify 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:57.559 with the dead body 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.419 of his savior. 00:34:58.839 --> 00:35:00.379 Something has clearly happened, 00:35:00.919 --> 00:35:02.319 and it's not self-improvement. 00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:04.379 See, this is new birth. 00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:06.079 His identity 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.379 is uprooted, 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.119 replanted, 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.599 and he became both 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:11.399 humbler and braver 00:35:11.399 --> 00:35:13.299 at the very same time 00:35:13.299 --> 00:35:14.759 because of this new birth, 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:15.780 because he no longer 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:16.580 needed to protect 00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:17.640 his old self. 00:35:18.580 --> 00:35:20.280 I love this C.S. Lewis quote. 00:35:21.140 --> 00:35:22.080 C.S. Lewis writes, 00:35:22.580 --> 00:35:23.480 give up yourself 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.860 and you will find 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.740 your real self. 00:35:26.580 --> 00:35:27.640 Keep back nothing, 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:30.640 nothing that you have 00:35:30.640 --> 00:35:31.600 not given away 00:35:31.600 --> 00:35:33.260 will ever be really yours. 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.700 Nothing in you 00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.700 that has not died 00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:37.020 will ever be raised 00:35:37.020 --> 00:35:37.580 from the dead. 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.340 Look for yourself 00:35:39.340 --> 00:35:40.000 and you will find 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.660 in the long run 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.340 only hatred, 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.160 loneliness, 00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:42.980 despair, 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:43.900 rage, 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:44.500 ruin, 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:44.940 and decay, 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.039 but look for Christ 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:47.640 and you will find him 00:35:47.640 --> 00:35:48.519 and with him 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.980 everything else thrown in. 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:51.019 Look for Christ 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:52.079 and you will find him. 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.820 Look for Christ 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:55.120 and you will find him. 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.960 Look up 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.260 as they looked up 00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:57.780 to the serpent. 00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.880 So here's the question 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:01.140 Jesus leaves us with. 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.600 Will we stay 00:36:02.600 --> 00:36:03.519 in the dark 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.559 to manage 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.280 our appearances 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.120 or will we come 00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:08.060 into the light? 00:36:08.600 --> 00:36:09.660 Even when it means 00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:11.040 massive disruption, 00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:11.680 will we come 00:36:11.680 --> 00:36:12.240 into the light 00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:12.980 not to be condemned 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:13.680 but to be loved, 00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:15.480 perhaps even disruptively loved 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.740 and lavished 00:36:16.740 --> 00:36:18.620 by God's devastating grace, 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:20.340 cleansed and forgiven, 00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:22.660 adopted as newborn children, 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:23.580 fully dependent, 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.519 fully reliant, 00:36:24.620 --> 00:36:26.019 and yet also fully alive 00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:27.019 and forever secure 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.340 in our Father's house? 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:28.680 Because see, 00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:30.120 Jesus is an offering 00:36:30.120 --> 00:36:31.220 to make us slightly better. 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:31.540 No. 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.539 Behold, 00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.900 I am making 00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:35.420 all things new. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.460 So let's look to him, 00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:38.900 to the lifted son 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.639 who was lifted up 00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:40.420 in humiliation 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.179 on the cross 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.639 and exaltation 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.400 into the clouds. 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:43.980 Let's look 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:45.039 and let's live 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.800 fully, 00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.960 finally, 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:47.840 forever 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.779 and for real. 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.099 Let's pray. 00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:56.880 Lord, forgive us 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.679 for the ways 00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.259 that we 00:36:59.259 --> 00:37:00.820 treat Jesus 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:02.100 and his gospel 00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:03.200 as good news 00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:05.320 as just a supplement. 00:37:06.620 --> 00:37:07.220 Forgive us 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.660 for preferring supplements 00:37:08.660 --> 00:37:09.580 to resurrection, 00:37:10.180 --> 00:37:10.820 the resurrection 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.960 that you want to give us. 00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:13.960 Give us a hunger 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:15.120 for newness of life 00:37:15.120 --> 00:37:15.780 in the Spirit, 00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:16.300 oh God, 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.580 a willingness 00:37:17.580 --> 00:37:18.539 to be disrupted 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:19.400 by our Savior 00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:22.320 and a delight 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:23.100 in the ways 00:37:23.100 --> 00:37:24.360 that he disrupts 00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:24.920 our lives 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:26.440 to give us things 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.360 far better 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.800 than what we 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.740 have been pursuing 00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.320 ourselves. 00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:32.320 God, 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.059 make us new. 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:34.140 Fill us with your Spirit 00:37:34.140 --> 00:37:35.260 to that end, 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.800 Lord God. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:37.240 In Jesus' name, 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.080 amen. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:38.179 Amen.