IT SEEMS THAT THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I AM OFFENDED.
I’M OFFENDED BY A LOT OF THE MUSIC I HEAR ON THE RADIO.
I’’M OFFENDED BY MANY OF THE THINGS I SEE ON TELEVISION AND IN THE MEDIA.
I’M OFFENDED BY BUMPER STICERS. BY TEE SHIRTS. BY THE TITLES OF BOOKS.
I’M OFFENDED BY WRECKLESS DRIVERS WITH NO REGARD FOR SAFETY.
I’M OFFENDED BY LOUD PEOPLE. BY SELFISH PEOPLE. BY OBNOXIOUS PEOPLE AND RUDE CHILDREN.
I EVEN OFFEND MYSELF SOMETIMES WHEN I DON’T LET THE CHRIST IN ME SHINE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
IN THE FIRST 21 VERSES OF JOHN 3 THERE ARE FOUR STATEMENTS MADE BY JESUS THAT ISRAEL’S TEACHER, NICODEMUS MAY HAVE TAKEN OFFENSE WITH BUT HE DIDN’T.
WHY DID NICODEMUS ACCEPT THE WORDS OF JESUS AND NOT GO HOME OFFENDED?
HOW WAS NICODEMUS ABLE TO ACCEPT THOSE WORDS AND MAINTAIN HIS INTEREST IN THE MASTER AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
HOW CAN WE BE LIKE NICODEMUS AND ACCEPT CRITICAL AND MEANINGFUL WORDS WITHOUT BEING OFFENDED?
OR HOW CAN WE LET AN OFFENSE GO, WITHOUT TAKING THE WORDS OR ACTIONS OF SOMEONE ELSE AND CONTINUALLY RUBBING THEM IN OUR OWN FACES.
THAT’S WHAT OFFENSE REALLY BOILS DOWN TO. THE FACT THAT I CAN’T GET OVER WHAT HAS BEEN SAID OR DONE.
BEFORE WE START THAT PART OF THE LESSSON, LET’S PRAY.
FATHER GOD,
TEACH US THROUGH SCRIPTURE TODAY TO OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE.
IT’S THROUGH JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.
IN OUR LOOKING AT JESUS AND NICODEMUS FOR THE FIRST WAY TO AVOID BEING OFFENDED, WE NEED LOOK FIRST AT THE REASONING OF NICODEMUS.
TURN YOUR BIBLES FIRST TO JOHN 3 FOR OUR FIRST SNAPSHOT OF NICODEMUS.
JOHN 3:1-
HE IS AN IMPORTANT PERSON IN ISRAEL. SOCIALLY, RELIGIOUSLY AND POLITICALLY.
NICODEMUS HELD A HIGH POSITION OF TRUST IN THE JEWISH NATION.
HE WAS A PHARISEE, SCRUPULOUS IN HIS RELIGIOUS PRACTICE.
HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN, THE 71 MEMBER RULING COUNCIL DESCENDED FROM THE TIME OF THE EXODUS. THE JEWISH SUPREME COURT.
WITH OTHER JEWS OF THE TIME, NICODEMUS HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE LESSONS THAT JESUS TAUGHT.
HE HAD SEEN JESUS RECEIVING THE POOR AND HEALING THE SICK.
HE HAD WITNESED JESUS DRIVING OUT THE BUYERS AND SELLERS FROM THE TEMPLE.
THIS CREATED IN NICODEMUS A GREAT DESIRE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JESUS SO HE RISKED THE SCORN AND THE RIDICULE TO SEE FOR HIMSELF.
NICODEMUS NEEDS NO FURTHER INTRODUCTION TO KNOW WHO JESUS IS AND WHERE HE COMES FROM. “WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A MAN FROM GOD”
MANY PROPHETS HAD COME AND GONE. FIRST CENTURY PALESTINE WAS FULL OF FALSE TEACHERS AND FALSE MESSIAHS.
NICODMUS IS A MAN WHO IS SEEKING THE RECONCILIATION OF HIS PEOPLE WITH GOD.
SO HE TAKES THE TIME TO OBSERVE AND INVESTIGATE THE “MESSIAHS” OF INTEREST.
NOTICE THAT THE GREAT TEACHER DOESN’T TRAVEL ALONE. IF HE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS SO DO OTHERS AND NICODEMUS HAS BROUGHT SOME OF THEM WITH HIM TONIGHT.
MAYBE HIS ENTORAGE IS MADE UP OF STUDENTS BECAUSE HE SAYS “WE”.
OR PERHAPS HE IS SPEAKING OF SOME OF THE OTHER OBSERVANT PHARISEES WHO HAVE SEEN THE SIGNS AND WONDERS OF JESUS AND HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION.
AT ANY RATE NICODEMUS HAS SUBMITTED HIS INTELLECT AND HAS BELIEVED IN JESUS BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS SEEN.
LET’S LOOK AT WITH THE FIRST STATEMENT BY JESUS THAT NICODEMUS MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE, IF HE WERE A LESSER MAN.
JOHN 3:3-8
HERE, THE LORD JESUS PRESUMES TO CONVERT THE CONVERTED.
NICODEMUS IS A PHARISEE. WE SAID THAT THEY WERE EXACTING IN THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICE.
JESUS HIMSELF HAS GREAT REGARD FOR THEIR STRICT ADHERANCE TO THE LAW OF MOSES.
MATTHEW 5:20 - “DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO DESTROY THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS. I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY BUT TO FULFILL. FOR ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE WILL BY NO MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL IS FULFILLED. WHOEVER THEREFORE BREAKS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS, AND TEACHES MEN SO, SHALL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT WHOEVER DOES AND TEACHES THEM, HE SHALL BE CALLED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. FOR I SAY TO YOU, THAT UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEEDS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
CERTAINLY A PHARISEE WOULD KNOW HOW TO ENTER THE ETERNAL REST OF GOD!
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN SOMEONE PRESUMES TO TELL US ANOTHER WAY TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
DO WE SHOOT THEM DOWWN?
DO WE CALL THEM A CRACK POT?
TO TELL THEM THAT WE’RE “ALL SET”?
I KNOW WE TRUST IN CHRIST FOR OUR SALVATION AND THAT SHOULDN’T CHANGE. BUT, DO WE DISMISS THE VIEWS OF OTHERS ABRUPTLY OR HOLD THEIR VIEWS AND IDEAS IN CONTEMPT.
JESUS HAS ALL THE TRUTH OF GOD AND HEAVEN BUT HE DOESN’T SWING IT LIKE A BASEBALL BAT.
SO HE DOESN’T OFFEND WITH HIS PRESUMING TO TELL THIS “RELIGIOUS” MAN HOW TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF HIS FAITH.
THAT IS THE TWO FOLD FIRST STEP ON HOW NOT TO BE OFFEND OR TO BE OFFENDED.
BE SINCERE IN SPEAKING THE TRUTH AND EQUALLY SINCERE IN RECEIVING IT.
BE A SINCERE PERSON IN YOUR ESTIMATIONS OF OTHERS BY BEING A SINCERE SEEKER OF GOD.
NICODEMUS IS A TEACHER. HE IS A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE. HOW DO YOU GET A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE TO LISTEN?
YOU SHOW HIM WHAT KNOWLEDGE REALLY IS.
JESUS IN EFFECT IS SAYING, “YOU DON’T NEED SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. YOU NEED SPIRITUAL REGENERATION.”
NICODEMUS IS A SEEKER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. HE IS A TEACHER WITH A FERTILE MIND WHO IS LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD IN HIS LIFE.
HE HASN’T TOLD JESUS THAT HE IS LOOKING FOR THE KINGDOM. BUT IN THE LAST VERSE OF JOHN 2 WE SEE THAT JESUS “KNEW WHAT WAS IN A MAN.”
JESUS READS THE HEART OF THIS GREAT TEACHER AND LOCATES ITS DESIRE…TO BE AT PEACE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE NICODEMUS, BE CONCERNED FOR THEIR FUTURE IN ETERNITY, LIKE JESUS.
AND TELL THEM THE TRUTHS OF GOD. THAT GOD LOVES THEM. THAT HE WAMTS TO HAVE A RELAYIONSHIP WITH THEM.
THAT GOD IS WILLING TO FORGIVE THEM.
IF YOU ARE LIKE NICODEMUS - A SINCERE SEEKER AND SOMEONE PRESUMES TO DEFINE FOR YOU THE PARAMATERS OF HEAVEN, EVEN WITH ALL YOUR GREAT LEARNING…ENGAGE THEM IN CONVERSATION AS A FELLOW SEEKER OF GOD.
INVITE THEM TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES. GOD’S TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED.
THE FIRST WAY TO AVOID OFFENDING AND BEING OFFENDED IS TO BE ABOVE ALL ELSE A SINCERE SEEKER OF GOD.
SINCERE SEEKERS KEEP THEIR EYES OPEN FOR THE TRUTH AND FOR OTHER SINCERE SEEKERS AND TEACHERS.
LET’S CONTINUE IN JOHN 3 FOR THE SECOND WAY TO KEEP FROM BEING OFFENDED.
JOHN 3:9-10 -
“YOU’RE ISRAEL’S TEACHER AND YOU DON’T KNOW THIS”
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THEM’S FIGHTING WORDS!
JESUS IS SPEAKING TO STATUS AND PROMINENCE.
HE IS EXAMINING NICODEMUS’ POSITION AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER OF
HIS NATION. JESUS IS QUESTIONING A MAN CONSIDERED BY MANY
PEOPLE WHO COUNT IN THIS SOCIETY AS AN “EXPERT”.
HAS ANYONE EVER OFFENDED YOU WITH A STATEMENT LIKE THAT?
WITH A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR COMPETENCE, YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, YOUR KNOWLEDGE, YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR RECIPE?
“YOU WORK IN INSURANCE AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
“YOU BAKE AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
“YOU WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
“YOU’RE A MECHANIC AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
“YOU’RE A PREACHER…AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
“YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN AND YOU DON’T KNOW THAT?”
IF WE ARE PRIDEFUL ABOUT OUR POSITION, OUR ABILITY, OUR EDUCATION, OUR BACKGROUND, OUR RECIPE…
IF WE THINK THAT IT’S THROUGH OUR OWN POWER, AMBITION OR WILL THAT WE’VE HAD SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW WE’RE WRONG. WE’VE HAD SOME SUCCESS. WE’VE CAUGHT SOME BREAKS. BUT IT HAS BEEN ALL GOD!
NICODEMUS, THE WISE, PIOUS, STRICT, MIDDLE AGED TEACHER OF ISRAEL IS NOT OFFENDED BY THE NOTION THAT A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTOR OF THE PEOPLE, WHOM GOD CHOSE TO CALL HIS OWN, WOULD BE IGNORANT ABOUT SOMETHING REGARDING GOD.
NOT MANY PEOLE CAN CLAIM TO KOW FULLY, THE MIND OF GOD.
NICODEMUS IS A TEACHER WITH HAS THE MIND OF A STUDET. HE IS ON A QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE. ETERNAL KNOWLEDGE.
HE NOT OFFENDED BECAUSE HE IS A LOVER OF THE HUMAN SOUL.
HE IS A LOVER OF TRUTH AS WELL.
NICODEMUS KNOWS THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT HE HAS OMITTED TO TEACH THOSE HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, HE WANTS TO LEARN IT TO PASS IT DOWN TO HIS STUDENTS.
HE KNOWS THAT EVERYBODY IS WATCHING…A GOOD TEACHER KEEPS THAT IN MIND.
THE SECOND WAY TO KEEP FROM BEING OFFENDED IS TO LOVE PEOPLE AND THE TRUTH UNCONDITIONALLY WITH THE SAME INTENSITY.
SOMETIMES THE TRUTH OF GOD IS HARD TO TELL TO PEOPLE.
“GOD IS OFFENDED AT SIN.” “GOD WILL JUDGE SIN” “ALL MEN EVERYWHERE NEED THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD.”
ALL THE THINGS ARE TRUE, THEY ARE NECESSARY TO KNOW AND FOR SOME THEY ARE HARD TO SAY, BUT IF WE LOVE PEOPLE AND GOD’S TRUTH EQUALLY, HE WILL ENABLE US TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE.
WE JUST NEED TO BE WILLING TO TRY.
LOVE PEOPLE AND TRUTH WITH THE SAME CURIOSITY. THE SAME CONCERN. THE SAME GENTLENESS, THE SAME TENDERNESS. THE SAME INTENSITY.
LET’S GO ON TO THE THIRD WAY THAT WE ARE TAUGHT BY NICODEMUS AND JESUS TO AVOID AN OFFENSE.
BE PATIENT!
JOHN 3:11-12
HERE JESUS DOES A LITTLE STEREOTYPING, BUT HE CAN, BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE HEARTS OF MEN BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
THE LORD LUMPS NICODEMUS INTO THE NON-COMPLIMENTARY GROUP OF “THE STIFF NECKED AND DISOBEDIENT”. THOSE WHO HEAR BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
“I KEEP SAYING THESE THINGS BUT YOU PEOPLE DON’T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND.”
WOW! IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN’T STAND IS A GENERALIZATION LIKE THAT!
I CAN’T STAND BEING LUMPED IN WITH EVERYONE ELSE AND BEING LABELED.
BUT THE PATIENCE AND HUMILITY OF NICODEMUS ARE ON DISPLAY HERE.
HE IS PRACTICING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES BEFORE THERE ARE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE BECAUSE THESE ARE TIMELESS PRINCIPLES.
NICODEMUS IS WISE BUT NOT ARGUMENTATIVE. HE IS “ABLE TO TEACH” AND TO BE TAUGHT.
A WISE MAN LIKE NICODEMUS KNOWS THAT TRUTH ISN’T TAUGHT, LEARNED OR MAINTAINED BY THE COMBATIVE DEFENSIVE HEART.
“YOU PEOPLE DON’T LISTEN!”
“YES WE DO!”
“NO YOU DON’T.”
IT COULD GO ON ALL NIGHT.
A WISE MAN IS SLOW TO SPEAK. A WISE PERSON GATHERS ALL THE INFORMATION AND STUDIES IT.
A WISE PERSON WEIGHS IT OVER IN HIS OR HER MIND IN ORDER TO REACH A WISE AND EFFICICENT SOLUTION.
ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE WISE HEART OF NICODEMUS. HE KNOWS WHAT JESUS SAYS IS TRUE FOR THE MOST PART ABOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THEY WERE STIFF NECKED. THEY DIDN’T LISTEN.
NICODEMUS IS A FAIR MAIN. A PATIENT MAN EVEN IN THE MOST PRESSURE PACKED SITUATIONS.
HE WAS THE MAN WHO REMINDED THE PHARISEES WHO WANTED TO ARREST AND CONDEMN JESUS THAT UNDER JEWISH LAW A MAN IS INNOCENT UNTIL HE IS PROVEN GUILTY. (JOHN 7:51)
BEFORE NICODEMUS GETS DEFENSIVE, HE ALLOWS JESUS TO SPEAK.
THE THIRD WAY TO AVOID BEING OFFENDED IS TO BE PATIENT WITH WORDS THAT MIGHT OFFEND. LISTEN TO THE COMPLAINT.
PERHAPS THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE. BE PATIENT!
THERE MIGHT BE SOME TRUTH TO BE FOUND. EVEN WISE NICODEMUS WASN’T TOO PROUD OF HIS WISDOM OR HIS RELIGION TO LISTEN.
THE FOURTH AND FINAL WAY NOT TO BE OFFENDED IS AS SIMPLE AS THIS – “DON’T LOOK TO GET GET OFFENDED!”
JOHN 3:13-21
REMEMBER NICODEMUS CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT. IS JESUS SAYING THAT NICODEMUS IS HIDING IN THE DARKNESS?
THE EASIEST OFFENSE TO TAKE IS ONE THE WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
WHETHER IT’S PARANOIA OR PRIDE, SOME FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO BE OFFENDED.
MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING TO GAIN SYMPATHY FOR THEIR CAUSE.
MAYBE THEY HOPE TO GAIN CONTROL BY WEARING A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER. PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE ON THE DEFENSIVE.
SO THEY CAN COMPLAIN, “YOU’VE HURT ME SOOOOO BADLY!”
THAT’S CALLED BRINKMANSHIP. HOLDING OTHER PEOPLE HOSTAGE TO YOUR EMOTIONS.
NICODEMUS MIGHT HAVE ACTED OFFENDED, BUT HIS SINCERITY SHINES THROUGH.
HE’S NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.
HE’S NOT LOOKING TO IMPRESS THE SON OF GOD, HES NOT LOOKING TO BE OFFENDED.
HE IS SIMPLY ONE GREAT TEACHER SHARING AND ATTAINING KNOWLEDGE WITH A GREATER TEACHER.
NOT LOOKING TO BE OFFENDED OR TO OFFEND.
THE LESSONS OF NOT BEING OFFENDED…
BE A SINCERE PERSON IN YOUR ESTIMATIONS OF OTHERS BY BEING A SINCERE SEEKER OF GOD.
LOVE PEOPLE AND THE TRUTH BOTH UNCONDITIONALLY AND EQUALLY.
BEING PATIENT AND HEAR THE COMPLAINT.
DON’T LOOK TO BE OFFENDED.
