Podcast Preview
Do you know the name Nicodemus? I want to introduce him to you. John does too. He’s an important character in John’s gospel- he appears there three times, and yet he doesn’t appear at all in Matthew, Mark, or Luke’s gospel. Why?
We gotta remember that John is writing his book at a much later date. He’s looking out at young Christians, he’s seeing their struggles, and he sees the history of Nicodemus’s life as a way to minister to their struggles- our struggles.
In the sermon this Sunday, I’m going to attempt to preach not just on one text, but on three. Give them a read if you have the chance! John 3:1-15, John 7:45-52, and John 19:38-42. What you’ll see there is a man who grows in faith. You’ll see his inner battle- the way that he weighs in his mind the risk and reward of following Jesus vs staying as he is.
Come and see this. It was recorded for me and for you. To be confronted with its truth. Confronted, yes, but altogether comforted. There’s a reason that perhaps the Bible’s most famous verse comes through this account.
John 3:16 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.
John 3:1-16
1 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.”
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 gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You 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.” 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. r 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 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.
