The Crib And The Cross Were Both Made Of Wood"

Second Sunday in Lent

John 3:1-17

"The crib and the Cross were both made of Wood"

3:1* ¶ Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2* This 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.”

3* Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4* Nicodemus 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?”

5* Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6* That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’

8* The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.”

9* Nicodemus said to him, “How can this be?”

10* Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?

11* Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.

12* If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13* No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.

14* And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,

15* that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

16* For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17* For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Our gospel lesson this morning is the well known story of Nicodemus and being born again. It is a passage of scripture that has been troubling many for years. What does it mean to be born again?

But today we are going to side step that question of being born again and concentrate on the last 4 verse of this gospel lesson where the text says: 14* And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,

15* that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

16* For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17* For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

These verses are the gospel of Jesus Christ in a nutshell. It speaks about the cross and the resurrection. As we are in the Lenten season it is fitting that we focus our attention this morning on the cross of Christ.

Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness to protect the nation of Israel, so Jesus will be lifted up on a cross to bring salvation to the world.

I would like to tell you the story about three trees and how God used them to bring salvation to the world.

The Legend of the Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone w ill feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."