07 Oct Change: John 3:16 10/06/2019
Pastor Pete Hartwig
Sermon Notes
- Vision Sunday (Announce)
- Vigil Sunday evening – Personal prayer for healing and for emotional stuff.
SLIDE: Change: John 3:16
seismic – subtle
Change – seismic and stunning
Familiar – 2 ways
The Verse 3:16
The term Born Again
Familiar – Figures provided by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reveal some interesting facts about car accidents. Of all collisions that occur in the United States, approximately 52% occur within a 5-mile radius of home while an astounding 69% occur within 10 miles. Almost 1/3 happen within 1 mile of home.
Muscle memory and familiarity
SLIDE:Jesus meets Nicodemus
John 3:1-17 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
FAMILIAR:
John 3:16 – most quoted / googled verse ever – end zones
Searched on internet? 2018
Gateway bible program 920 Mil. searches
Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
You Version bible app 1.7 bil highlights bookmarks 350 mil devices
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
“This year’s data shows people worldwide are continuing to turn to the Bible in search of comfort, encouragement, and hope,” said Bobby Gruenewald, the founder of YouVersion bible app.
Change: John 3:16
SLIDE: John 3:1-2 Now there was a Pharisee,a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
- Pharisee – He obeys every law –
Here is Nicodemus’s day before meeting Jesus at night..
there are laws related to what you do (actions), and those pertaining to what you don’t do (restrictions) — and it’s easier to focus on what is done, since that’s going to be visibly different. So let’s start from the first thing in the morning.
The moment a person wakes up, one appreciates lives and wakes up with vigor. And here comes the first dilemma. On the one hand, a person should prepare for the day by using the bathroom and washing hands before uttering any ritual words, on the other hand, how could a person wait even a moment before expressing gratitude for being alive? Therefore one utters a statement called “Modeh Ani” which neither contains a holy name, nor a full verse, as the first words spoken in the morning. Then after a person washes hands, they recite their first benediction, the first of approximately 100 benedictions during the day. Washing hands takes place first thing in the morning, before meals, and after using the bathroom.
There are three designated times of ritual meditation (tefilah / “prayer”) — one in the morning at, or after, sunrise, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening after sunset. The morning event is the longest, the afternoon one is the shortest. Traditionally these prayers are said communally (in a “minyan” — a quorum of at least 10), but can be said individually. The morning tefilah is said before breakfast. It could include additional components depending on the day. Both prior and after eating anything, a short benediction is said in appreciation for the food one has. There is a benediction one says at night before going to sleep
Praying through the Alphabet – repenting for something from each letter…
Given alms to the poor – financially generous to his faith and the poor
Visited the temple
Saturday is a special day, and thus Friday becomes a day of preparation for it.
There are purity laws that are observed every moment of the day
There are traditions about how to dress
Every tradition is designed to keep God central to life and to stay “clean”.
HIS ROLE WAS TO ENSURE EVERYONE ELSE DID THIS TOO
- Nicodemus – Gurion Family – Educated and Wealthy
Greek name (Nikodemos) meaning “victory of the people”, derived from Greek (nike) “victory” and (demos) “the people”.
- Jewish Ruling Council – Powerful – religion IS government
A deeply religious, Moral, Wealthy, Educated, Powerful, Successful Man
Mr. Charlottesville – We look for people in the bible
SLIDE: John 3:1-2 Now there was a Pharisee,a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Nic’s view of Jesus is favorable …
Mark 3:22 The teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
SLIDE:John 3:3-4 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (footnote)“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
:3 Footnote: The Greek for again can mean from above; also verse 7.
YOU ARE NOT “SEEING” correctly – seismic shift
- Jesus is FAR MORE than just a teacher
- Nic’s choice of “Again” over “from above”
Are you a “born again” Christian?
Jesus – there is no other brands of Christians
“Born Again” – addicted people – sinful people – weak people – people who need a crutch – rife with dysfunction – messed up folks
Nicodemus – isn’t any of these!
“Born Again” – not a tweak!
A baby is not in charge of a birth.
SLIDE: John 3: 5-8 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:7 footnote “You” Plural – southern theologian – Ya’ll
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.
Born of water
Flesh gives birth to flesh
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Born again – all my bad stuff is taken care of! – those people
Born again – All my good stuff too –
Show Nicodemus’s trajectory of faith.
SLIDE: John 7:50-51 Nic speaks up for Jesus
Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
SLIDE: John 19:39-40 Nic buries Jesus
He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
Now you know what it means… Nic put his faith here… YOU?
John 3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.