Finding The Missing Ingredients

John’s Gospel moves from the first miracle of Jesus at Cana in Galilee to the first ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem. After the cleansing of the temple, we are given the privilege of listening to an interview between Jesus and one of best religious men in the region. This man is a deeply religious man who has been raised up in the Jewish tradition and trained to be a ruler of the people. Before we hear his name, we are told that he is a Pharisee. The word “Pharisee means separatist or separated ones. Pharisees were a group of men that were careful to keep themselves from legal contamination, and from public intermingling. They kept a long list of do and don’ts. They had expanded the Laws of Moses from 10 to more than 700 additional rules. They fast twice a week, gave tithes of all they possessed, and would not miss a single feast or religious ceremony. No one was admitted to their ranks without taking an oath of fidelity to the society and a promise of strict observances of the Levitical precepts.

John tells us that this man is a Pharisee, seemingly without fearing that we might become prejudice against him. It is easy to think that we know all there is to know about person when we know what he is. So, we know he is a well-respected Jewish man, full of pride and prestige, steeped in religion. Finally, John tells us his named, Nicodemus. The name “Nicodemus” which means victorious among his people. NICODEMUS represents the best man the nation had to offer. Not only is he a teacher, he is also a member of the Sanhedrin ruling council responsible for making the rules and settling disputes and maintaining the civil order among the people. Throughout all of the pain and war and indifference in today's world, it can be hard to find hope. Most people realize that there must be something out there to grab hold of. What a blessing to discover that there is a God who is so much bigger than Earthly pain. There is a God who provides hope and satisfaction. What happens when you are steeped in religion, but it does not satisfy? What happens when you discover your religion has form but no power? What happens when you know you have religion, but something is missing? What happens when you have tried so many things, yet all of them fail to provide lasting satisfaction?

John’ tells us this honorable Jewish man comes to Jesus by night. He moves under the cover of darkness. Yet we are not told why. Maybe Nicodemus is fearful of what others would say; maybe he wants a confidential ordinance with Christ; maybe he wants to spend some uninterrupted time with Jesus. Maybe he comes under the cover of darkness because that’s the way most people come to Jesus, during the midnights of their lives. Have you tried Jesus yet? How did you come to Jesus? When did you come to Him? Maybe Nicodemus comes at night because has some night questions. Questions you would not dare ask in public. What do you do when you got religion but no power? When you have rules and regulations which no peace or satisfaction? Have you ever had a night question? Nicodemus knows what most of the Pharisees think. He could never tell him about the questions in his heart. He decides to carry all his doubts, fears, and dissatisfactions to Jesus. He intends to easy into this delicate conversation, but as soon as he begins, Jesus moves to the heart of matter. This conversation reminds me of John Wesley’s comments concerning his own salvation. He came to America to save the Indians, yet he needed salvation for himself. He questioned his salvation which was wrapped in uncertainty until that night at Alders gate, when his heart was strangely warmed by the Spirit of God, everything changed.

The Pharisees really did not know who Jesus was, nor did they fully understand the purpose and plan of God. The center piece of this chapter is John 3:16 which reveal the heart and purpose of God the Father. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 This powerful verse reveals (1) God' love is wide enough to embrace all "the world" (2) "God gave", of his own freewill, "his Son" that we might receive the gift of life (3) "to believe" on him as the Son of God, to trust in his finished work and have a constant fellowship with the Father and the Son (4) "perish" is often the forgotten word of the verse, but it points to the judgment of God and the hopelessness of men to save themselves and (5) the verse point to the promise of everlasting life. When you discover something is missing, try Jesus! When Religion and ceremony does not satisfy, take your emptiness and questions to Jesus. You can rest assured, that Jesus has an answer for every night questions and he can help you find the missing ingredient.