I Believe in the Life Everlasting

Trinity Sunday

May 29, 1988

John 3:1-15, 16

Nicodemus was the kind of man on which you can build institutions. He was an expert in control. He was a wise man, with the confidence of his peers. He understood political power, and he was used to taking charge and making decisions. In every way that could be measured, Nicodemus had his life 'together.'

But Nicodemus had some questions deep down in his heart, questions that would not go away. He had questions that he hardly knew how to put into words. This spiritual hunger was one area where Nicodemus was not in control. And finally he came to Jesus; he came with a strange mixture of confidence and fear, of certainty and deep uncertainty. Nicodemus planned to be in control of the situation— even in his seeking. He came to Jesus saying, "Rabbi, We know . . . "

Which is not necessarily the best way to approach a teacher, even though in this case Nicodemus was evidently intending to impress Jesus with his good intentions. The way to come to a teacher is to say, "We don't know. Teach us!" Still, Nicodemus showed a measure of confidence in Jesus.

But Nicodemus also came by night, and it is highly probable that the darkness covered Nicodemus' fear of being openly associated with the controversial Nazarene. Nicodemus was sure that he had the situation pretty well in hand.

But he never got his well-planned introduction finished. Jesus cut straight to the heart of the matter. Nicodemus wanted answers. But what he needed first was LIFE.

LIFE is God's specialty. Listen to the words of this reading:

[John 3:1-15, 16]

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

"But," said Nicodemus, "how can a man be born when he is old?

Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You may 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."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

"You are a teacher of Israel," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven- the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Life is God's specialty. And life is always on God's terms.

I. JESUS SPOKE TO NICODEMUS OF MYSTERIES

"The wind blows..."

Ours is a faith of mysteries; but not of incredulity. As R.C. Sproul says, "FAITH IS MORE THAN REASON; IT IS NOT LESS THAN REASON!"
There is a great difference between magic and miracle; a great difference between myth and revealed truth. Jesus spoke of mysteries, and yet, Jesus did not come to "answer" all mysteries:
We have the temptation to believe our faith consists of what we know, and what we can explain to each other [— which we do, in official and non-official ways.]
Jesus told Nicodemus: There are some things that you simply cannot understand! "The wind blows— you know it is blowing— you can see what it is doing- but you cannot tell how it starts or where it is going!"
But, Jesus went on, If there are things that you cannot understand, STILL YOU CAN KNOW SPIRITUAL REALITY— AND YOU CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND KNOW IT!
(And so) Nicodemus asked the questions we all would ask; he speaks for us all: HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN WHEN HE IS OLD? HOW CAN THESE THINGS BE?

II. JESUS SPOKE OF KNOWING HIM, OF FAITH IN JESUS' WORD

A. Jesus said: Believe what I tell you! "If I tell you of earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?"
1. DARE TO KNOW ME, AND BELIEVE ME! You can trust what I say even though you cannot fully understand it!
2. JESUS SPOKE OF GOD'S LOVE THAT GIVES: Here is the greatest text in all the Bible! Given to a man looking for "answers!
  [The Golden Text of the Bible:] "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." It is here that JESUS SPEAKS OF GOD AS A GOOD, LOVING FATHER.
3. JESUS SPOKE TO NICODEMUS OF FAITH AS THE WAY TO LIFE ETERNAL:
  - Faith and not "knowing all the answers!"
  - Faith and not earning our way by good works, like the good Pharisee that Nicodemus was.
  - Faith that has to leave the control to God, and let HIM be Savior!
  Later Paul refined this idea of personal faith, and put it into almost 'creedal language:' "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved!" Romans 10:9,10]
Nicodemus found that his need to control, and getting Word from God are not compatible. Jesus spoke to him about the fact that answers come to faith and to obedience. But Nicodemus listened! He heard what Jesus was saying. His conversion may not have been like the text-book we write would say it should be. But this man became a follower of Jesus. He gave over control to God in Christ.

[Conclusion:]

III. JESUS WILL SPEAK TO US, TOO!

[On this Trinity Sunday,] like Nicodemus we have questions deep within us that we can hardly put into words.
1. They may be ETERNAL, WORLD-CLASS QUESTIONS such as:
  - What is the Trinity?
  - How can God DIE for ME?
  - Why is the BIBLE God's Holy Word?
2. THEY MAY BE VERY PERSONAL QUESTIONS, LIKE:
  - After I have prepared for this, how come God has sent me that?
  - Why does a good person suffer with cancer and a drug pusher and pimp enjoys good health and drives a Mercedes?
3. THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE FAR OUTWEIGH THOSE THINGS WE FEEL ARE SAFELY UNDER CONTROL.
  And so we come to the Master with our mixed up feelings of confidence and hesitation, we know Jesus is God and He is good— but we wouldn't think of stepping out to a public altar, for after all, we have our reputations to consider.
  So like Nicodemus we begin our earnest prayers saying: "Lord, We realize this.. and we know that..." How often we use those words in prayer. It must be comforting to Jesus when He sees how much we know!
  "Lord, this is exactly what You need to do for me!"
  We do need to listen to what we say when we are praying!
The place to begin, in our search for answers, is in this question of control: that hunger, that question deep within that will not go away, IS REALLY OUR HEART'S CRY AFTER THE REALITY OF GOD!
And if we will simply come to Jesus, on His terms, He will speak to about LIFE just as He did to Nicodemus!

Prayer: Lord, Have control of our lives . . . and don't let us settle for anything less than real LIFE in You. Amen.