Seek Answers
John 3:1-21 Monte T. Brown
October 19, 2008 Sunday Morning
Heart O the Hills
Introduction
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, and a member of the great Sanhedrim, a senator, and a privy-counselor, a man of authority in Jerusalem. John 3:1-15; John 7:50-52.
Nicodemus assisted in Christ’s burial. John 19:39-42
It is said that not many mighty and noble are called; yet some are, and Nicodemus was one.
Let’s not jump to conclusions and believe that Christ’s all of followers where unlearned and ignorant.
This Nicodemus sought out the truth, a man of great learning.
Nicodemus was a man that wore several hats.
He was a ruler of the Jews, one that walked down the streets of Jerusalem and people stepped aside in respect of his authority.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee that means he belonged to the best group in Israel.
They believed in the inspiration of the Old Testament, they believed in the coming of the Messiah, they believed in miracles, and they believed in the Resurrection.
Nicodemus was just Old Nick among his friends and at home he was a husband and a father.
Let’s honor the Word of God by standing as we read from our passage in John 3:3.
Scripture
Prayer
1. Seeking
John 3:1-3
1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night for fear of what man would say or was it because he wanted to have his full attention and knowing that at night there would not be many around him?
Before a person can become a Christian they must first seek Christ. Whether it be; day or night, Sunday or Friday, there must first be a seeking.
2This 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.
Nicodemus also saw the signs that Jesus had done around Passover, but he believes that he was more than just a mere man, he was from God and that God was with him.
We know seems to indicate that other influential religious leaders were convinced that Christ was a teacher come from God because of the miracles.
It takes more than just seeking Christ to be a Christian, it also takes believing that he is more than just a great teacher from God.
3Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Unless one is born again. The word again (Gr anoµthen) means from above.
Unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.
A birth from above In our first birth, we are born of the flesh and born of water; but in our second birth, we are born from above [again] and born of the Spirit.
Our first birth leads to death, but our second birth brings eternal life.
The new birth is a new beginning that results in newness of life.
Mankind cannot come to God through works or righteous living Re-birth is the only way to secure eternity.
2. Probing
John 3:4-8
4Nicodemus 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?
Nicodemus did not understand the spiritual aspect of spiritual birth. Nicodemus was focusing on the physical and not on the spiritual.
Are we not guilty of focusing on the physical and not the spiritual?
5Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Here Jesus speaks of two births, the physical birth, through water and the spiritual birth through the Holy Spirit.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
There are two distinct births, the physical birth of the flesh and the spiritual birth of the Spirit. The flesh produces flesh while the Spirit produces that which is spiritual.
7Do not marvel that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’
This is a subject that doesn’t require discussion. It’s really very simple, you must be born again.
8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Believe in the spiritual birth, it’s very simple.
You believe in the wind and you can’t see it.
You can hear it and see the effects of it but you can’t see it.
So is spiritual birth you can’t see it, but you and hear the testimony of it and see the effects of it.
3. Pushing
John 3:9-12
9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be?
The carnal mind hides even the simplest of things.
If our hearts are so tuned into the things of the world, then the things of God become confusing and even nonsense.
10Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Even with a higher education, things of God can be hard to understand.
Man thinks that education gives you all wisdom and knowledge, but wisdom and knowledge comes from God.
11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
you do not receive: Again you is plural (verse 7). Jesus had others in mind beyond Nicodemus. Here Jesus rebuked not only Nicodemus, but the other Pharisees as well.
Truth can be staring us right in the face and sometimes we can’t even see it.
The world can dull our understanding to the point that truth means nothing to us.
If you don’t see the value of truth, then truth means nothing to you.
12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
If you question the very principles of life, then how can you even begin to understand the things of God, the creator of life?
4. Discovering
John 3:13-17
13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
There is no other redeemer, than Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Looking unto heaven for our salvation does not redeem us.
We must look unto Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our salvation.
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Jesus gives an illustration of himself found in the Old Testament were the Israelites receive redemption that came to all those that looked upon the serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness.
Today our redemption comes only through looking unto the cross and embracing it.
15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
This is the first time eternal life is mentioned in the gospel of John.
If we believe in Jesus Christ as our redeemer and accept him as our redemption, then we shall have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Here we have the gospel in a nutshell.
God’s love is an infinite value, for we are bought with a price.
This is the gift of God to mankind that he gave his beloved Son, his only child, as a ransom for our sins.
It was an expression of His infinite love that He would be willing to give His Son for sinners such as us.
He delivered his Son to us through a virgin birth to be our savior. This is our assurance for everlasting life.
17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
God did not send his Son to bring judgment upon the world, but to come as a divine messenger from God. Bringing us the message of salvation, this was the mission of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, and a member of the great Sanhedrim, a senator, and a privy-counselor, a man of authority in Jerusalem.
What is your status in life, what titles do you hold?
1. Seeking
Before a person can become a Christian they must first seek Christ. Whether it be; day or night, Sunday or Friday, there must first be a seeking.
2. Probing
There are two distinct births, the physical birth of the flesh and the spiritual birth of the Spirit. The flesh produces flesh while the Spirit produces that which is spiritual.
Are you seeking and probing for the truth?
3. Pushing
Truth can be staring us right in the face and sometimes we can’t even see it.
The world can dull our understanding to the point that truth means nothing to us.
If you don’t see the value of truth, then truth means nothing to you.
Are you pushing away the views of the world and seeking and probing for the truth?
4. Discovering
God did not send his Son to bring judgment upon the world, but to come as a divine messenger from God. Bringing us the message of salvation, this was the mission of Jesus Christ.
As you seek, probe, and push the views of the world aside you will discover that Jesus Christ is the only way to receive eternal life.
