JUST A RENDEZVOUS….. OR A RELATIONSHIP?
JOHN 3:1-5
PRAYER: HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR PRESENCE TO BE MADE MANIFEST IN THIS PLACE. LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FILL THIS PLACE THAT WE MAY WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. YOU ARE OUR STRENGTH, YOU ARE OUR WAY IN AND OUR WAY OUT. ARREST OUR MINDS, SPIRITS, THAT WE MAY FOCUS ON YOU. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE MIRACLE OF HOLY FELLOWSHIP. SEARCH OUR HEARTS AND SPEAK TO OUR NEEDS FILL US WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT UNTIL WE ARE SHAPED, MOLDED AND MADE INTO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO BE. WE COME INTO THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP EXPECTING A BLESSING FROM YOU. WE GIVE YOU THE PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY. HIDE US IN THE BOSOM OF YOUR LOVE....AS I PREACH, FIX IT SO THEY DON’T SEE THE PREACHER, BUT THEY SEE YOUR POWER. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AS WE COME TO THE ALTAR OF YOUR LOVE AND WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
NICODEMUS WAS A GREAT MAN OF THE JEWS. HE WAS SOMEONE AND SOMEBODY. THE WORD SAYS THAT HE WAS A RULER OF THE JEWS. HE WAS A PHARISEE, BUT ALSO A PHARISEE OF THE PHARISEES. HE SAT AT THE RULING COUNSEL OF THE JEWS. HE WAS ALSO A MAN OF INFLUENCE. WHEN JESUS HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED AND HIS BODY WAS BEING RETRIEVED, NICODEMUS CAME ALSO TO ANOINT THE BODY OF CHRIST. WITH EXPENSIVE SPICES. HE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE COMETEMPORARY SOCIETY OF HIS DAY. AND YET HERE WE FIND THIS GREAT MAN OF HIS DAY IN THE CLUTCHES OF A MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS WITH JESUS. BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION IN SOCIETY, AND BECAUSE OF THE POOR RELATIONSHIP THAT JESUS HAD WITH ESTABLISHED RELIGION OF THAT DAY, NICODEMUS HAS MUCH TO LOOSE IF SEEN IN JESUS COMPANY. NICODEMUS WAS A PHARISEE, AND THE VERY WORD MAKES PEOPLE THINK OF MEN JESUS CALLED HYPOCRITES. HE COMPARED THEM TO WHITEWASHED TOMBS THAT SEEM CLEAN ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ARE FILLED WITH ROTTEN BONES WITHIN. JESUS’ WORDS MADE THE PHARISEES VERY ANGRY, BECAUSE DURING NEW TESTAMENT TIMES THEY WERE MUCH RESPECTED FOR THEIR OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. THEIR ANGER AT JESUS’ CRITICISM DROVE THEM TO PLOT WAYS TO GET RID OF HIM. THEY WANTED TO TRAP HIM SO THAT HE WOULD BE PUT TO DEATH. BUT NOT EVERYONE WHO WAS A PHARISEE WAS INVOLVED IN THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS. SOME WANTED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR NAMES, FOR THE WORD PHARISEE MEANT "ONE WHO IS SEPARATE". NICODEMUS WAS ONE SUCH HONEST PHARISEE. HE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GOD AND HIS RATIONAL FOR GOING WAS THAT HE HAD SEEN THE MIRACLES THAT JESUS HAD DONE, AND HE BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS SENT BY GOD. PHARISEES ONLY RECOGNIZED TWO KINDS OF RELIGIOUS LAW. THE FIRST WAS THE WRITTEN LAW, THOSE COMMANDMENTS GOD GAVE TO THE ISRAELITES THROUGH MOSES. THE SECOND WAS THE ORAL LAW. THIS HAD BEEN HANDED DOWN BY WORD OF MOUTH OR ORAL TRADITION THROUGH MANY GENERATIONS OF RABBIS. THERE WERE MANY RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE ORAL LAW THAT COVERED ALMOST ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PEOPLE. BUT THIS JESUS, WAS DIFFERENT,..HE WOULD SAY THAT HE DID NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, BUT THAT THE LAW MIGHT BE FORFILLED. AND WHAT JESUS WOULD SAY TO NICODEMUS AT THAT RENDEZVOUS WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE FOR ETERNITY. SO HE MET JESUS AT A TIME, WHEN HIS EXPOSURE WOULD BE GREATLY LESSENED. HE HAD A RENDEZVOUS WITH JESUS.
I. HE CAME BY NIGHT....NOBODY COULD SEE HIM. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD BE AROUND. LIKE SOME FOLKS IN OUR DAY,..HE WANTED THE REWARDS OF BEING WITH JESUS, BUT DIDN’T WANT TO RUN THE RISK OF BEING ASSOCIATED IN PUBLIC WITH JESUS. YOU CAN BE FOR SOMEBODY, AND NOT WITH THEM! AND COUNTERDISTINCTIVELY, YOU CAN BE WITH SOMEBODY, AND NOT REALLY FOR THEM! BUT HE WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT JESUS, BUT HE DIDN’T NECESSARILY WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS AT THIS POINT. A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO KNOW OF HIM, BUT DON’T WANT TO GET TO KNOW HIM. HE JUST WANTED TO BROADEN HIS SCOPE OF UNDERSTANDING, NOT CHANGE HIS WAYS. HE WAS LOOKING TO TOUCH BASES, BUT NOT A HEALING HAND. HE DIDN’T WANT TO CHANGE HIS LIFE, HE JUST WANTED A MEETING. HE WANTED A RENDEZVOUS, NOT A RELATIONSHIP. HE CAME AT NIGHT,...AFTER HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE HE WANTED TO DO. JESUS WAS ON HIS LIST, BUT HE WAS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY. MANY OF US HAVE A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAT....AFTER I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO, THEN I’LL GO SEE JESUS. (IF IT DOESN’T RAIN,...I’LL GO TO CHURCH,..IF IT ISN’T TOO HOT, I MIGHT GO TO PRAYER MEETING...KNOWING THAT THE BUILDING IS AIR CONDITIONED,...AFTER I’VE DONE EVERYTHING ELSE, THEN I’LL GO TO JESUS...) FOLKS TESTIFY ABOUT JESUS BEING THE HEAD OF MY LIFE,....OR FIRST GIVING HONOR TO GOD.....DO WE REALLY MEAN WHAT WE SAY..OR ARE WE JUST GIVING JESUS LIP SERVICE? HE CAME BY NIGHT....DIDN’T WANT TO BE SEEN. DIDN’T WANT OTHERS TO SEE HIM WITH JESUS. SO THAT IF ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN THIS RENDEZVOUS, THEN IT WILL BE ON MY OWN TERMS. IF A RELATIONSHIP IS ESTABLISHED, THEN IT WON’T CONFLICT WITH ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I’M DOING. IF A RELATIONSHIP IS ESTABLISHED, THEN IT WON’T MAKE ME CHANGE MY WAYS, IT WON’T CAUSE ANY TROUBLE WITH MY FRIENDS...IF A RELATIONSHIP IS ESTABLISHED THEN IT WILL BE ON MY TERMS, AND I WON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP ANYTHING. SO HE CAME BY NIGHT....TOO MANY FOLKS COME TO JESUS ON THEIR OWN TERMS. SOME FOLKS CAN SHOUT ALL DAY SUNDAY....AND THEN
1. GO TO WORK ON MONDAY,..DON’T EVEN MENTION JESUS
2. GO HOME, SPOUSE TALKS NEGATIVELY ABOUT THE CHURCH, AND YOU WON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH TO DEFEND YOUR RELIGION.
3. GO HOME, AND NEVER ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF CONSENT GO TO CHURCH TO PRAISE GOD.
4. GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, AND THEN NEVER OPEN THE BIBLE THE REST OF THE WEEK.
5. GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, AND THEN WON’T SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, EVEN WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CHURCH!.
WE WANT RENDEZVOUS RELIGION. WHAT IS A RENDEZVOUS? IT’S A MEETING PLACE, THAT’S USUALLY SECRETIVE! LIKE THE CHURCH IS TO SOME! THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE AN AFFAIR WITH THE CHURCH WHILE THEY ARE STILL MARRIED TO THE DEVIL. IF THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN HONOR JESUS, LIFT UP HOLY HAND IS ON SUNDAY MORNING, AND THE REST OF THE WEEK YOU ARE LIVING LIKE YOU WANT TO...THEN THE CHURCH IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CHEAP HOTEL FOR YOU. IT’S A RENDEVOUS PLACE! YOU ONLY CALL HIM WHEN YOU NEED HIM. WE GET TOGETHER ONCE A WEEK. THAT’S AN AFFAIR. THAT’S A RENDEZVOUS, NOT A RELATIONSHIP.
II. HE ASKED A QUESTION: INTELLIGENTLY POISED. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, JESUS IS MANY TIMES SPOKEN OF AS TEACHING. NICODEMUS RECOGNIZED JESUS AS A RABBI, ONE OF THE MANY JEWISH INTERPRETERS OF THE LAW WHO GATHERED DISCIPLES AND PERFORMED AUTHENTICATING SIGNS. NICODEMUS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT JESUS CAME FROM GOD, RESPONDING TO JESUS’ MIGHTY WORKS. JUDAISM HAD A GREAT RESPECT FOR WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION, BUT JESUS WAS CRITICAL OF AN EXAGGERATED PLACE OF TEACHERS WHO DESIRED COMPLIMENTS MORE THAN SERVICE. HE KNEW THAT NICODEMUS’ RESPECTFUL FORM OF ADDRESS DID NOT ISSUE FROM A HEART OF SAVING FAITH. JESUS MUST BE SEEN AS MORE THAN A POWERFUL TEACHER. FOR NICODEMUS THE SIGNS SIGNIFIED THAT GOD WAS WITH JESUS AND AUTHENTICATED JESUS AS A TEACHER OF GOD’S TRUTH. HERE NICODEMUS A PHARISEE AND RESPECTED TEACHER WAS SCHOOLED IN THE OLD TEST. SCRIPTURES, YET HE DID NOT COMPREHEND JESUS REFERENCE TO A NEW BIRTH EVEN THOUGH THE PROPHET EXEKIEL HAD USED SIMILAR LANGUAGE IN EXE. 36:26. HERE IS LIVING PROOF THAT TEACHER MAY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES, YET BE LACKING IN SPIRITUAL INSIGHT. BUT JESUS INFORMED HIM THAT IN ORDER TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD ONE MUST BE BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT. JESUS WAS ABOUT TO TELL NICODEMUS THAT PHYSICAL BIRTH IS NOT ENOUGH; ONE MUST BE BORN AGAIN SPIRITUALLY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
SWEET TALKING JESUS. SOME THINK THAT WHEN YOU CAN TALK HOLY, IT IS ENOUGH. OR DRESS HOLY, IT IS ENOUGH! OR CARRY A BIG BIBLE, THAT’S ENOUGH! WE TALK SWEET AROUND THE PREACHERS, AND THE DEACONS, AND THEN GET ON THE JOB AND OUT OF THE SAME MOUTH, COMES CURSING AND BLESSING. BUT JESUS CUT TO THE QUICK.... THRU ALL THE MESS, ALL THE GARBAGE, THE JIVE AND CHIT CHAT, AND THE RELIGIOSITY...AND SAID...”EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN”...YOU CAN’T SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UNLESS THERE IS A COMPLETE CHANGE, A TURN AROUND IN YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN’T HAVE A MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS WITH ME AND NOT ACCEPT WHO I AM, AND BE SAVED! YOU CAN’T HAVE A SUNDAY MORNING RONDEZVOUS WITH ME, OR A WEDNESDAY NIGHT RENDEZVOUS AND MAKE IT! I DON’T WANT PART OF YOU, I WANT ALL OF YOU. JESUS DOESN’T WANT A RENDEZVOUS, HE DEMANDS A RELATIONSHIP. JESUS DOESN’T WANT VISITATION RIGHTS, HE WANTS TOTAL CUSTODY! NOW WHEN YOU ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP, THERE ARE SOME RISK INVOLVED:
NICOMDEMUS SAID WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN AGAIN. JESUS SAID BY WATER AND SPIRIT. A SPIRITUAL METAPHORSIS MUST TAKE PLACE.
DO YOU KNOW THE STORY OF THE METAPHORSIS OF THE CATERPILLAR. YOU KNOW HOW A CATERPILLAR GOES THROUGH THOSE CHANGES? HE COMES FROM MOLTING IN A COCOON. INSIDE THE COCOON, HIS WHOLE BEING IS BEING CHANGE. WHILE HE IS INSIDE THAT COCOON HE IS VULNERABLE. HE IS UNDERGOING A PROCESS THAT WILL CAUSE A METAMOPHORSIS. HE IS MADE, MOLDED, SHAPED. IN THAT COCOON. BUT WHEN THE CHANGE TAKES PLACE,...A BUTTERFLY COMES OUT. WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERGO SOME CHANGES. WE HAVE TO STOP TRUSTING IN SELF AND HAVE THE FAITH TO TRUST GOD TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CHANGE. WE HAVE TO STOP HAVING PICKS AND LEARN TO LOVE EVERYBODY. WE HAVE TO LEARN TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, AND TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. STOP LEANING TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, AND LEARN TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS. WE HAVE TO PUT DOWN CARNAL WEAPONS, AND TRUST GOD THAT NO WEAPONS FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER! WE HAVE TO STOP FOLLOWING AFTER THE WORLD, AND CONFESS THAT THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT. YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT TAKING RISK. JUST BY GETTING UP OUT OF THE BED. STATISTICS SAY YOU HAVE A 1 IN 2 MILLION CHANCE OF DYING, JUST FALLING OUT OF THE BED. 1 IN 350,000 CHANCE OF BEING ELECTROCUTED BY AN ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCK. WHEN YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH THIS MORNING THERE IS A 20% CHANCE THAT YOUR LOCAL WATER SUPPLY WAS INFECTED WITH BACTERIA, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS!. YOU TOOK A 1 IN 7000 CHANCE OF CUTTING YOURSELF WHILE SHAVING. IF YOU RIDE THE ELEVATOR....1 OUT OF 6 MILLION WILL BE INJURED. WHEN YOU DROVE YOUR CAR...YOU TOOK A RISK OF 1 OUT OF 11,000 BEING KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. 1 IN 45 RISK OF HAVING YOUR CAR STOLEN. YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT RISK! HE DIDN’T SAY WE WOULDN’T FACE RISK, HE SAID HE WOULD NOT LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US. HE DIDN’T SAY WE WOULD NOT HAVE BATTLES, BUT HE SAID I WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES FOR YOU.
III. WHEN YOU ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, CHANGES TAKE PLACE!
BUT MANY DON’T WANT TO TRY JESUS. JESUS WAS SAYING TO NICODEMUS, WHY DON’T YOU COME OUT OF THE DARK INTO THE MARVELOUS LIGHT. I DON’T WANT RONDEZVOUS,..I WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU I DON’T WANT YOU TO SIMPLY DETAIN ME AT MIDNIGHT, I WANT YOU TO BE DELIVERED! I NEED SOMEBODY WHO WILL WALK WITH ME, TALK WITH ME, TELL ME I AM HIS OWN. I NEED SOMEBODY I CAN TALK TO WHENEVER I NEED TO. I WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN LOVE ME JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA. I WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE ROCKED IN THE CRADLE OF JESUS’ LOVE. I WANT A RELATIONSHIP. I WANT A RELATIONSHIP THAT ISN’T BASED ON WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY, BUT ONE THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY OR EASTER OR CHRISTMAS TO SAY I LOVE YOU. I WANT TO LOVE YOU ON SUNDAY, ON MONDAY, ON TUESDAY AND EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE! I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M SO GLAD THAT MY OWN PERSONAL RENDEZVOUS WITH JESUS TURNED INTO A RELATIONSHIP. NOW DO YOU WANT A RENDEZVOUS OR A RELATIONSHIP?
(JOHN 3:16)...NICODEMUS IS OFFERED SALVATION. HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THE OFFER OR ARE YOU STILL AT THE RENDEVOUS?
ONE THURSDAY EVENING, AT OUR LITLE HOME AT 2435 GRAHAM STREET, MY MAMA CALLED US INTO THE PRAYER ROOM THAT WOULD BECOME AN ALTAR OF CONFESSION AND ACCEPTANCE. EVERY SINCE THAT DAY....MY LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. WHAT WILL IT BE FOR YOU TODAY? A RENDEVOUS OR A RELATIONSHIP?
