Emory Baptist Church

Descending Into Greatness

If I were to ask you this morning who is the greatest person to ever live, who would you say and why? 

 

Do you know how Jesus would answer this question?  He wouldn’t say Abraham or Jacob or Joseph or Moses or David or Isaiah or Daniel or Peter or Paul.  He would say John the Baptist.  See Luke 7:28.

 

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

 

Ironically, John went down to be great.  Normally, we think of up as great, but again, John went down, and Jesus called him the greatest man to ever live.

 

In today’s text, John 3:22-36, we are going to see the last of John the Baptist as far as the gospel of John goes.  He is going to go down or descend and at the same time go up.

 

Today’s text is a transition from John the Baptist to Jesus the Christ, and it is also a transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.  My message this morning is entitled, “Descending Into Greatness.”

 

 

24. Jesus and John were Similar, John 3:22-24.

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

 

Verse 22 begins with Jesus and His disciples, and John enters the picture in verse 23.  In these three verses, we see three similarities between Jesus and John. 

 

First of all, both had disciples.  3:22 mentions Jesus and His disciples coming into the land of Judea, and 3:25 reminds us that John had his own disciples as well.

 

Second, Jesus and John also both went about preaching.  Turn to Matthew’s gospel to see this explicitly.  See Matthew 3:1-2 and 4:17.

 

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

 

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

Matthew 3:1-2 says that John preached a message of repentance, and Matthew 4:17 says that Jesus preached a message of repentance.

 

Thirdly, Jesus and John both baptized.  Jesus and His disciples were baptizing in 3:22, and John was baptizing in Aenon where there was a lot of water.

 

By the way, some have argued that immersion could not have been the prescribed mode of baptism in the New Testament because there would not have been enough water to baptize all those people in a desert and extremely hot environment.  John 3:23 seems to say otherwise.

 

Again, Jesus and John were similar!

 

 

31. However, John was Subordinate, John 3:25-31.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”  27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.  31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

 

In verse 25, we are introduced to a discussion that probably arose due in part to the jealousy of John’s disciples.  We don’t know all of the details about this discussion or argument.  We simply know it was about purification, and this is probably about whose baptism was better, John’s or Jesus’?

 

Therefore, they came to John with their complaint.  Essentially they said that Jesus was gaining in popularity, and more people were going to Him to be baptized than John. 

 

Needless to say, John’s disciples didn’t like that.  However, John answered them with a great observation.  He said in verse 27 that no minister prospers without the blessing of God.  You can rest assure that all is well because the hand of God is on Jesus.

 

In 3:28, we see three reasons why John was subordinate to Jesus.  First of all, John was the forerunner.  He says plainly and clearly in this verse that he was not the Christ.  He was the one sent before Him.  He was the forerunner.

 

Secondly, John was the friend.  He uses a wedding analogy to explain the relationship between himself and Jesus.  Jesus is the bridegroom.  John is the friend or the best man.  All the best man wants to do is make the groom look good.  Doing that gave John a heart full of joy.

 

Thirdly, John was from earth.  In 3:31, John said that Jesus was from above, but he is of the earth and speaks earthly things.  On the other hand, Jesus is from heaven and is above all.

 

Again, John is subordinate because he is the forerunner, a friend, and from earth.

 

 

• Jesus is Superior, John 3:31-36.

31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

 

Yes, Jesus and John were similar.  However, John was subordinate, and Jesus is superior. 

 

Even though there is some debate about whether verses 31-36 were the words of John the Baptist or John the Apostle, the content is still the same. Jesus is superior. 

 

Why? First, He is superior because He is from heaven in verse 31.  Second, He is greater because He is divine.  Being the second person of the Trinity, He has the experience of God and testifies to such in verse 32.  Third, He is greater because He speaks on behalf of God and has the fullest measure of the Holy Spirit in verse 34.  Finally, He is greater because God loves Him and has given Him all things in verse 35.

 

 

Application/Conclusion

So Jesus and John are similar, but John is subordinate, and Jesus is superior.  So what?

 

First, if you claim to be a follower of Christ but haven’t been baptized, I would encourage you to do it.  John baptized.  Jesus was baptized and baptized, and it is their baptisms that point to Christian baptism by immersion that pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

 

Second, there is a call here for Christians to model humility.  Because we are naturally self-centered people, it is easy for us to get jealous and resentful and bitter when those around us are succeeding but we aren’t.  This happens at work and in the neighborhood with houses and cars.  It can even happen with hunting and who killed the biggest buck and golfing and who shot the lowest score.

 

However, John the Baptist sets for us an incredible example of humility.  When his disciples came to him and expressed their frustration with Jesus’ growing popularity, what did John say?  He ultimately responded with the utmost humility and said in 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John was grateful and thankful and overjoyed with the success of Jesus’ ministry. 

 

We also as followers of Christ are to model humility, and humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.  See Philippians 2:3-4.

 

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

Finally, there is a call here for the non-Christian to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Because Jesus is superior, He is also Savior and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him. 

 

If you believe in Him as a follower or disciple of Christ, you currently and will have eternal life in heaven and forgiveness of sins.  However, if you do not believe and do not obey and do not receive Him, the wrath of God abides on you now and will abide on you in a literal, Christless hell separated from God.

Don’t Love the Darkness! Come to the Light!

Last Sunday morning, we heard Jesus explain further what it meant to be born again because without being born again, a person cannot see and enter the Kingdom of heaven.  Nicodemus’ role in that life-changing experience was faith or belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world, and that is our role as well.  When we believe in Jesus, we will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Beginning in verse 17, Jesus clarified why He came to earth.   He stated it negatively and then positively.  By the way, Jesus coming to earth is called His incarnation. 

 

 

1. Jesus’ Incarnation and Its Results, 3:17-19a

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world

 

God did not Jesus into the world to condemn or judge the world.  That was not his primary purpose in coming.  Instead, God sent Jesus to save the world. 

 

God’s reason for sending Jesus implies what?  It implies that we need saving, and we do because we are sinners, and our sin has separated us from God.

 

However, not everyone will be saved because everyone won’t believe.  Consequently, when a person doesn’t believe in Jesus or rejects Jesus, that person is condemned.  Why? 

 

Jesus was incarnated to save, but with His incarnation came condemnation and judgement because there is only way to be saved.  There is only one way to have eternal life.  There is only one way to be at peace with God the Father, and that is through believing in God the Son, who is also the light of verse 19.

 

Again, when Jesus came in to the world, He revealed God’s standard of righteousness, which was sinless perfection.  See Matthew 5:48.

 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

 

1. Man’s Condemnation because of His Rebellion, 3:19b-20

and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

 

Naturally, humanity loathes the Light because the Light exposes the darkness and sinfulness of our deeds.  Jesus’ sinless perfection exposes our sin.

 

When I was a teenager and could drive, my curfew was midnight.  That was true even when I was a senior in high school.  I argued and griped and complained about that until I was blue in the face, but my mother would never budge.  Why?  I can hear her saying it now, “Nothing good happens after midnight!” 

 

Isn’t that true?  When is evil most rampant?  It is when the sun goes down.

 

Ever since Genesis 3:6, man has loved sin and darkness, and Paul reminds us of this truth as well.  See Genesis 3:6-8 and Ephesians 5:1-14.

 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.  8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

 

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.  8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

 

 

• The Christian’s Manifestation of Righteousness, 3:21

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

Even though humanity naturally loathes the Light, Christians love the Light.  Christians practice truth and come to the Light so that our deeds can be manifested or shown and identified as from God and therefore, righteous. 

 

However, when we do sin, and we will confess and acknowledge our sin and repent of it.  Lost people loathe the Light.  Christians love the Light.  See 2 Samuel 12:1-13 and Psalm 51.  See 1 John 1:5-10.

 

1 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”  5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”  7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”  13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

 

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

 

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

 

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

 

Conclusion

This morning’s invitation is going to be a little different.  If you have never been born again, I invite you today to believe in Jesus and call upon Him to save you. 

 

If you are saved but living in sin and the deeds of darkness, I am inviting you to repent.  See Galatians 5:19-21.

 

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Most Famous Verse in the Bible

• In the NKJV, it is 25 words.
• The German Reformer Martin Luther called it, “the Gospel in miniature.”
• The 19^th Century American Evangelist DL Moody said this verse brought him to an understanding of God’s love.
• SB NT Scholar AT Robertson called it, “the little Gospel.”
• SB Statesman Herschel Hobbs called it, “the Gospel in superlatives.”

 

For years and years as a little boy, I saw its reference on televised professional football games at every extra point attempt and every field goal try.  This morning, I want to remind you of the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16.

 

Consequently, I believe it is the most famous verse in the Bible because it speaks of God’s heart. 

 

 

1. The Motivation of God’s Heart: His Love

16 For God so loved the world

 

Remember the context of this verse.  Jesus was conversing with Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of Jews who came to Jesus at night time.  He knew Jesus was different and even recognized Him as being from God because of the signs or miracles He had done.  Jesus informed Nicodemus that in order to know or see the kingdom of God, one must be born again.

 

Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus about being born of water and the Spirit.  I suggested to you that this could be a reference to the single act of faith and repentance that leads to salvation.

Nicodemus was an intelligent man, but he didn’t quite understand being born again.  So he asked how to be born again, how to be born of the Spirit, and Jesus gave him the answer in John 3:16.

 

Verse 16 begins with God.  It is the God of creation.  He is the eternal sovereign, and for His children, He is their heavenly Father. 

 

We then see what God did.  He so loved.  The word in the language NT is the word agape.  It means a perfect and complete love that considers others before it considers self.  It is an unconditional love.

 

It is not hard to believe God’s love because His word says that is who He is.  See 1 John 4:8.

 

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

Then notice the object of God’s love.  It is the world.  Here is the word kosmos.  It means everything and all things.  When Christ died on the cross, it provided the possible redemption for the entire world either soon or later.

 

Now please don’t let anyone ever tell that you God only loves His elect or that God only loves the church.  He loves the world. See 1 John 2:2.

 

2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 

Jesus’ words probably would have caught Nicodemus off guard.  He knew that God loved Israel as seen clearly from the OT.  However, what Jesus is saying here is that not only does God love Israel, but He also loves Gentiles.  He loves the entire world’s population, which is over 7 billion people. 

 

You could line up every human being alive today, and I believe that God would say I love you to each one of them.  God loves both Jew and Gentile.  He loves both male and female.  He loves both black and white.  He loves both Republican and Democrat.  He loves both blue-collar and white-collar.  He loves both Aggies and Longhorns.

 

Furthermore, He loves every sinner.  He loves every racist and every adulterer and every liar and every thief and every homosexual and every murderer and every rapist and every child molester and every addict and every alcoholic.  God loves every person who has ever lived because every person who has ever lived was created in the image of God.  Love is the motivation of God’s heart.

 

 

1. The Demonstration of God’s Love: His Son

that He gave His only begotten Son

 

How did God demonstrate or illustrate or prove His love?  He gave.  He gave freely.  He gave with no strings attached.  He gave knowing what would happen. 

 

What did He give?  He gave His only begotten and unique Son.  He didn’t have another Son.  He had only one Son. 

 

This Son was unique in that He was fully divine.  Even though born in a feeding trough for cows, He was born fully God. 

 

Jesus described Himself in this verse using the word “monogene.”  Mono means one.  Gene is seed.  There is only one seed like this.  There are no others. 

 

He didn’t give His house or His car or His wallet or His investment portfolio or His most prized toy.  God gave His only Son to die by the cruelest means of execution that humanity has ever known, and this is the demonstration of God’s love.

 

You have heard the cliché that the proof is in the pudding.  That has actually been shortened from the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. 

 

In other words, you know if the pudding is good by tasting it.  You know that God loves you when you read or remember John 3:16. He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross and in your place and for your sins. 

 

 

• The Invitation to Receive God’s Gift: To Believe

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

God invites us to receive His love, but He will not force us.  God gives us an option.  We can receive this gift, or we can reject this gift. 

 

What would it mean to receive it?  Remember, it is a gift.  Therefore, it can’t be earned. 

 

To receive it means to believe in Jesus.  However, it is not merely mental ascent.  To believe means to trust in, to cling to, and to rely on Jesus. 

 

A person can believe with his mind by trusting that Jesus is the promised Messiah.  He can believe with his heart by clinging to Him as the only way to heaven.  He can believe with his life by relying on Him to enable you to repent of your old ways of life and living a life that is surrendered to Him.

 

On the other hand, to reject Him is to say no thanks.  However, you are also rejecting Him if you do nothing at all. 

 

On occasion, it may be appropriate to be a something, such as apolitical.  However, you cannot be asalvation or aeternallife because that is not an option. 

 

Your options are to receive or reject…no others, and to reject is to perish, to die, to have your soul destroyed, to be spiritually lost and separated from God for eternity, but to receive Him is to have eternal or everlasting life. 

 

 

Conclusion

The story is told of a little boy living in an orphanage who was a hand full to manage or may be even two hands full.  The workers in the home were even looking for an excuse to move him to another orphanage. 

 

One day, they saw the little boy running across the yard, and he climbed up in a tree, and they watched him leave a note posted on one of the branches.  After he climbed down, they immediately went and checked it out.  The note said, “If anybody finds this, I love you.” 

 

Today, if you are within the sound of my voice in this room, internet, or CD, John 3:16 is a note from God, and it says, “I love you.” 

 

Will you respond today by receiving God’s gift of eternal life?

You Must Be Born Again!

If you were to take a survey of your office or your neighborhood or your class or your friend group and asked the following question, “What do you think it takes for a person to go to heaven,” there is one answer that more than likely would be the most popular. 

 

That answer is, “Be a good person and don’t hurt anybody else.”  While that sounds good initially, it is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ as revealed in New Testament, specifically the gospels. 

 

Jesus answered that question in today’s text, and His answer is, “You must be born again.” His answer will also serve as the tittle of my sermon this morning, “You must be born again.” 

 

 

Exposition

Remember from last Sunday that Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover. According to the final verses of chapter 2, while He was there, He performed some signs or miracles.  Consequently, there were some folks that made an initial decision to follow Him because of what they saw.

 

In verse 1, a man named Nicodemus came to meet Jesus at night.  3:1 says he was a man of the Pharisees.  They were Jewish Religious Leaders that were expert students and then teachers of the Old Testament Law. 

 

Also, he was a ruler of the Jews.  In other words, he was a member of the Sanhedrin.  This was the Jewish “supreme court” that governed religion matters and civil matters. 

 

Why did Nicodemus come by night?  Some say that he was afraid to be seen with Jesus.  Other say the darkness symbolizes Nicodemus’ heart. 

 

However, it is probably simplest to understand that he wanted to talk to Jesus uninterrupted without the crowds.  Nighttime was also seen as the time to study the Scriptures and talk theology after work had been finished. 

 

In verse 2, we see that Nicodemus did have some experience with Jesus.  Perhaps he had heard about Him or may have even seen Him do a miracle because he talked about that being evidence that Jesus was from God. 

 

Nicodemus knew enough to know that the average person couldn’t do what Jesus had done.  Jesus’ power and supernatural ability had to come from God.

 

In verse 3, Jesus responded to Nicodemus’ statement with one of His own.  He said that unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God. 

 

Born again is the idea of regeneration.  It means to come to life again. 

 

Why would Jesus say this?  He knew the condition of Nicodemus’ heart.  The story of Nicodemus actually began back at the end of chapter 2.  It seems that he was one of those that initially believed because of what he saw Jesus do.  Remember, that didn’t go over well with Jesus.

 

Nicodemus, like most Jews, thought that participation in God’s kingdom was reserved for the Jews.  However, Jesus made the requirement not one of race or ethnicity but of being born again. 

 

At that time, Nicodemus had not been born again and was not a part of God’s kingdom.  This was shocking to him.

 

What does it mean to be born again?  Nicodemus wondered the same question in 3:4. He seems to sarcastically ask if a man could enter his mother’s womb a second time.  I don’t think Nicodemus was stupid, but he was confused as to what Jesus meant. 

 

In 3:5, Jesus explained.  He said a man must be born of water and the Spirit.  Now what does this mean?  Let’s begin with what this doesn’t mean.  There have been those who had said this verse teaches baptismal regeneration or being saved through the physical act of baptism.  This verse cannot mean that because that would contrary to the rest of the New Testament. 

 

Another option could be that Jesus was referencing to physical birth.  Nicodemus mentioned a woman’s womb.  Jesus is talking about flesh in 3:6. He might be saying that a person had to be physically born when a woman’s water breaks and then born again by the Spirit or born from above to enter heaven. 

 

However, I have come to believe that Jesus may also be meaning water to represent repentance.  Nicodemus would have been familiar with John the Baptist and his message.  His baptism was one that demonstrated repentance, and we know that the Bible teaches that act of faith and repentance is necessary for salvation. 

 

Therefore, Jesus could be saying that a person must repent and be born of the Spirit.  Regardless, He says you must be born again or you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

 

In verses 6-8, we find out more truths about being born again.  First of all, it is essential for salvation.  Jesus said you must do it.  You cannot be saved or enter the kingdom of God or go to heaven without being born again. 

 

Secondly, notice that it is personal.  This entire dialogue is with a single person, Nicodemus.  However, in 3:7, when Jesus said you must be born again, you is plural.  It applies to everyone. 

 

Lastly, it is mysterious.  In 3:8, Jesus compared the act of regeneration to the wind.  You can hear the sound of the wind and the see the effects of the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. 

 

Likewise, you can see the effects of being born again, but you don’t know how it happens, and can’t see it happen.  It is mysterious.  This is regeneration by the Spirit.

 

In 3:9, Nicodemus still couldn’t understand the idea of regeneration or being born again and asked, “How can these things be?”  Therefore, Jesus explained further. 

 

In 3:10, He questioned Nicodemus’ experience.  He was a prominent teacher for the Jews.  Jesus insinuated that he should have known if he knew the Scriptures.  Perhaps, He had Ezekiel 36:25-27 or Joel 2:28-29 in mind.

 

25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

 

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

 

In 3:11, Jesus was at least including His disciples but also maybe the Godhead.  Nicodemus represented the nation of Israel.  They did not accept the testimony of Christ. 

 

Furthermore, Jesus tried to explain regeneration through earthly analogies like water and wind but didn’t get anywhere.  How would Nicodemus understand spiritual matters like the Trinity or the Incarnation or the Resurrection of Christ?

 

In 3:13, Jesus was talking about Himself having come from heaven to earth and having heaven’s authority.  This verse also speaks to Jesus eternality and His pre-incarnation in heaven. 

 

In verses 14-15, Jesus illustrated the idea of regeneration and salvation from Numbers 21.  God had sent poisonous snakes to punish disobedient Israel, but when Moses lifted up the serpent, and they looked at the serpent, they were healed. 

 

In the same way, when Jesus is lifted up on the cross, and whoever looks to Him in believing faith, that person will be saved, having eternal life in heaven. 

 

 

Conclusion

What is the one single point of Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus?  Every person in this room will one-day die physically.  After you die, you will then spend an eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell.  The decision of where you will spend eternity will be made while you are alive on earth.

 

In order for you to spend eternity in heaven, Jesus says that you must be born again of water and the Spirit through the single act of faith and repentance. This is the one and only way to spend eternity in heaven rather than eternity in hell.

 

This was true for Nicodemus.  It was true for the woman at the well that we will see in the next chapter.  It is true for me and for every person in this room this morning. 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters, you must be born again to see and enter God’s kingdom of heaven.  Will you do that this morning through the single act of faith and repentance?

Are You Concerned About What Concerns Jesus?

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find John 2:12.  I want to share with you a message entitled, “Are You Concerned about What Concerns Jesus?” 

 

Last Sunday morning, we were at a wedding feast with Jesus and His mother and His disciples.  Today, we find ourselves in Capernaum and Jerusalem.  Most likely, it is the early spring AD 30. 

 

 

1. Jesus was Passionate about Righteousness, John 12:12-17.

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.  13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

 

Before we get to the temple in Jerusalem, 2:12 tells us that Jesus and His family and His disciples when down to Capernaum.  I want to make two observations here that the casual observer might overlook. 

 

First, notice John’s use of direction.  When John says they went down to Capernaum, he isn’t talking about south but elevation.  Cana was in the hills.  Capernaum was in the valley of the Sea of Galilee. 

 

We see that again in 2:13. Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Jerusalem wasn’t north of Capernaum, but it was higher in elevation than Capernaum.  This why Psalms 120-134 are called Psalms of Ascent.  The Israelites sang those songs when they specifically ascend up to the temple in Jerusalem. 

 

The second thing I want you to notice in verse 12 is the presence of Jesus’ brothers.  This fact lets us know that Mary was only a virgin until Christ was born.  Jesus had younger half-brothers from Joseph and Mary.  Since Joseph wasn’t mentioned here, he was probably already deceased.

 

In 2:13, we see that the Passover was near.  Remember that the Passover is the celebration and remembering when angel of the Lord passed over Egypt and killed the first-born Egyptians and spared the Israelites. 

 

Consequently, He freed the nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery.  Each and every year, the Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem with thousands of Jews in attendance.  Jesus and His family and His disciples were there also.  See Exodus 12:12-16.

 

12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.  14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.

 

When He came to the temple, He found it in disastrous shape.  More than likely, Jesus was in the court of the Gentiles, which was the outer court.  It had been turned into what we might think of as a bazaar or flea market of sorts. 

 

Remember, Jews came from all over and were expected to make their sacrifices and pay their taxes.  Rather than travel with their animals for sacrifice, they began to buy their animals for sacrifice here in Jerusalem in the court of the Gentiles. 

 

The text says there were oxen and sheep and doves and all of their waste, and as you can imagine if you know some simple economics, the prices were less than fair. 

 

When demand is high and supply is low, prices are high.  They were greatly inflated. 

 

Not only were animals being sold for sacrifice at outrageous prices, but Jewish currency was required to pay the annual temple tax.  Therefore, if you need to exchange your Roman currency for the required Jewish currency, that service was available as well but also at inflated exchange rates.  The temple, which was a place of worship, had been turned into a first-class racket. 

 

Jesus wouldn’t stand for it.  Jesus was righteously angry, and in verse 15, we see His passion for righteousness. 

 

He made a whip and turned the animals loose and turned over the tables and the money boxes.  He cleansed the temple for the first time.  By the way, the Synoptic Gospels tell us that Jesus did this again during the last week of His life.

 

Pandemonium ensued.  Animals were running here and there.  Merchants were chasing coins all over.  It was chaos, and Jesus charged them not to make His Father’s house a place of business, and His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9. 

 

9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,

And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

 

Jesus was passionate about righteousness.  It matters to Him what happens in this place.  It isn’t a place to be entertained or a place to be taken lightly, but it is a place to worship God and lift up Jesus and minister to people’s needs.  Jesus was passionate about righteousness.

 

 

2. Jesus Predicted His Resurrection, John 2:18-22.

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”  19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

 

After all the animals had been released and Jesus had a made a real mess of things, the Jews wanted to know who or what authorized Him to do all this?  They wanted a sign to demonstrate His authority. 

 

In one way, Jesus obliged.  He told them of a sign in future.  He told them to destroy the temple, and He would raise it up again in three days. 

 

They thought He was talking about the physical temple.  It took years to build and wasn’t even finished.  However, writing after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, John tells us that He was talking about His body and predicting His resurrection from the dead.

 

Again, her are few more observations that the casual reader might miss.  First, generally speaking, lost people don’t understand spiritual truth likes these unbelieving Jews.  Therefore, we have to pray for God to give them eyes to see and ears to hear.  These Jews thought Jesus was talking about the temple when Jesus was predicting His resurrection.

 

Second, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the difference maker.  It sets Christianity apart.  Judaism doesn’t have a resurrected Savior.  Islam doesn’t have a resurrected Savior.  Hinduism and Buddhism doesn’t have resurrected Saviors. 

The resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity unique and supreme.  Consequently, this ultimate sign or miracle authenticates all that Jesus ever did and said.    

 

 

3. Jesus Passed on Renown, John 2:23-25.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

 

While in Jerusalem, Jesus, evidently, performed multiple miracles or signs that obviously got the crowds stirred up.  However, Jesus wasn’t looking for renown or popularity. 

 

The end of verse 24 says He knew the heart of man.  He knew these folks had only gotten excited about the supernatural and where here today and gone tomorrow. 

 

In same way, brothers and sisters, Jesus knows your heart this morning and if you’re a member of the body of Christ so that your ticket is punched to heaven or if you have surrendered your life to Him as your Lord and Savior. 

 

By the way, in reality, I’m not certain that simply having your ticket punched means you’ll be in heaven.  I believe you have to have been born-again. 

 

 

Conclusion

So what can we conclude regarding Jesus’ clearing the temple?  Do we have temples today like this?  Well, not exactly, but it is interesting how Paul used this word in 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Corinthians 6.

 

3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

 

6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

In chapter 3, the temple of God is the local church, and Jesus is concerned or passionate about who is in the local church and what the local does, specifically their holiness.

 

In chapter 6, the temple of God is not the local church but the individual Christians.  However, that makes perfect sense because the parts make up the whole.

 

Therefore, Christian, because Jesus is concerned about our righteousness, He is concerned about your righteousness and how you live and talk and recreate and parent and spend your money and work and treat your spouse. 

 

So I pray that you are concerned about the righteousness of your temple because Jesus is concerned about the righteousness of our temple.

Turning Your Water into Wine

The purpose of John’s gospel is to reveal the signs or miracles in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ to prove His identity.  Jesus performed miracles to demonstrate His true identity so that those who saw and heard might believe in Him as Lord and Savior.  We saw that in our first message from this book as we looked at John 20:30-31.

 

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

In today’s text, we see the first of thirty-five plus miracles to come in twenty-one chapters of the gospel of John.  Today’s message is entitled, “Turning Your Water into Wine.”

 

 

1. An Invitation for Jesus to Intervene, 2:1-3

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 

 

Verse 1 begins with “on the third day.”  As we have seen before, this is a time marker probably regarding the last time marker in John 1:43.  Today’s scene is three days from when Jesus called Phillip and Nathaniel, and it probably took three days of travel time from Bethsaida to Cana.

 

The situation here is a wedding, and Jesus and His disciples and His mother were all in attendance.  It was probably the wedding of a family member or close friend of Jesus’ family. 

 

The fact that Jesus’ attends this wedding and his first miracle takes place at this wedding should not be lost on us.  Jesus is pro-marriage.  He is pro-family.  He is not about living together.  He is not about multiple wives or multiple husbands or homosexual unions or homosexual marriages.  Jesus is pro-marriage and pro-family. 

 

In this day and time, weddings differed than what we know today.  Marriages were arranged by the parents of the bride and groom.  The bride was between thirteen and fifteen years of age.  The groom was between eighteen and twenty-four years of age. 

 

The marriage was arranged and contracted but not consummated as quickly as we do.  Once the contract had been formalized, there was what is called a betrothal period of between two and twelve months. 

 

During this time, the bride lived with her parents, and the groom lived with his parents, but they were still considered married.  This was the context when Joseph found Mary to be with child.  They were in the betrothal period.

 

After the betrothal period, the groom and his wedding party made their way to the bride and her home, and brought her and her wedding party back to his house.  Then the wedding feast began and last up to seven days.  This was a joyous, festive occasion with lots of social interaction including food and drink of which the groom and his family were completely responsible.

 

However, this joyful situation turns tragic in verse 3.  The wine ran out.  This was the faux pas or all faux passes.  This would have been social embarrassment for the couple but especially for the groom and his family. 

 

When we see Jesus’ mother taking this very proactive position, we can again conclude that this was a close family member, and perhaps she had some type of official responsibility at the wedding feast.  She came to her son and by implication was inviting Him to intervene. 

 

We also can infer from this that Joseph was out of the picture at this time.  Christian tradition holds to Joseph dying sometime in Jesus’ teen years.

 

 

1. An Explanation of Jesus’ Timing, 2:4-5

4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”  5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

 

Notice Jesus’ response to His mother in 2:4. In our minds, it may seem rude.  He says, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me?”  As Bro. Ronnie would say, “Not my circus; not my monkeys.”

 

However, actually, it would be akin to our ma’am or madam.  He then essentially says that this is not His problem solve.  Why?

 

For His time has not yet come.  That means the full revelation of His character on the cross as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.  Regardless, Mary told the servants to do whatever He said.

 

 

• A Demonstration of Jesus’ Power, 2:6-10

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”  11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

 

Even though Jesus was not obligated to help out in this situation, we see His kindness and grace sparing this young married couple and their family from colossal social embarrassment. 

 

In 2:6, we are introduced to six stone waterpots that was used for the guests to wash their hands before eating.  John tells us that there was about 120 to 180 gallons of water here.  We see this behavior described in Mark 7:3-4.

 

3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

 

Seeing these, Jesus instructed the servants to the fill them with water all the way to the top.  Something special is about to happen, but Jesus doesn’t want anyone to think that a bait and switched has occurred.  The water was all the way to the top so you couldn’t add wine to the pots. 

 

He then told the servants to draw out what was now in the pots and take it to the headwaiter or what John calls the master of the feast.  They did. 

 

Somewhere along the way, Jesus turned that water into wine, some 120 to 180 gallons of wine.  One commentator estimated around 2,400 servings.

 

That fact doesn’t need to escape you either.  Jesus blessed this couple not only for this particular situation but with wine for days to come. 

 

When the headwaiter tasted the new, fresh, sweet wine, he was caught off guard, and he went to commend the groom.  Most of the time, the good wine is served first, and people drink it and get intoxicated, and their senses are dulled.  The poorer wine is then brought out, and at this point, it isn’t that important because the people are intoxicated, and they don’t care.  However, that wasn’t true here.

 

In this case, the good wine was served at the end.  For this, the headwaiter was surprised and impressed.

 

The reality is that the groom and his family had not planned well.  However, Jesus stepped in and bailed them out, but why? 

 

In verse 11, we find the significance or the reason behind all of Jesus’ miracles.  He did what He did to demonstrate who He was so that men and women and boys and girls might believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

 

One more point before I conclude.  Jesus did what He did in response to Mary’s surrender and the servants obedience. Don’t miss that.

 

 

Conclusion

First, Jesus was different, and Christianity is better than Judaism.  As for Jesus, He was not just a man. He wasn’t just a son or just a brother.  He was the God-man, and this story demonstrates such.  He was the promised Messiah.  Jesus was God!

 

As for Christianity compared to Judaism, we see that in verse six and following.  Notice how John mentioned the Jewish custom of purification.  When Jesus turned the water into wine, He was demonstrating that Christianity will be more joyful and abundant than religion, especially Judaism. 

 

Religion is man’s attempt to reach God.  Christianity is God’s success in reaching man.  Christianity provides the joy and abundance of earthly life and eternal life that Judaism cannot.

 

Second, Jesus’ timing is not our timing. As a follower of Christ, not only should surrender our will to Jesus but also our watch to Jesus.  It is so hard to wait, but waiting maybe exactly what God wants for you because His timing is perfect every time.

 

Third, Jesus can still turn water into wine today.  He does when He turns a sinner into saint, when He turns sick to health, when He turns a rocky marriage into a prospering marriage, when He turns an addict into sobriety. 

 

All across the room this morning, there are people whose wine has run out.  Today, Jesus can turn you water to wine through surrender and obedience.  See Romans 8:28.   

 

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Jesus is Our Only Ladder!

This morning, we come to the end of John 1, and I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Is Your Only Ladder!”

 

Last Sunday, we saw we were introduced to Andrew and Peter as some of Jesus’ first disciples.  Today, we are going to be introduced to Phillip and Nathanael. 

 

 

Exposition

43.

In verse 43, we see another one of John the Apostle’s time markers.  It is the next day, and Jesus went to Galilee.  When He got there, He found Phillip.  By the way, on Wednesday nights now, we are digging deeper in John’s Gospel. 

 

It is not a repeat of Sunday morning, but it is in addition to Sunday morning.  This coming Wednesday, we are going to look at the often maligned doctrine of election.  Notice that it wasn’t that Phillip that found Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t lost.  It was Jesus who found Phillip because he was lost, and I would say the same about me and you if you are a follower of Christ.

 

As I said last Sunday, at first, when Jesus said to Phillip to follow Him, He was speaking literally.  He wanted Phillip to literally follow behind Him.  However, this term would evolve to mean following Jesus as a disciple.

 

44.

From verse 44, we know that Phillip was probably a fisherman like Andrew and Peter.  That is because of where he was from.  Bethsaida means house of fishing or house of fishermen. 

 

45.

In verse 45, we see that Phillip couldn’t keep quiet about what he had discovered much like Andrew last week.  Andrew found Peter and told Peter and brought Peter.  Phillip did the same.

 

Phillip found Nathanael and told Nathanael, and in verse 46 with his invitation to come and see, he brought Nathanael to Jesus.

 

More than likely, this Nathanael is who Matthew, Mark, and Luke call Bartholomew.  The synoptic gospels never mention a Nathanael but always pair Phillip with Bartholomew. 

 

Similarly, John never mentions a Bartholomew but always pairs Phillip with Nathanael.  Perhaps this man’s name was Nathanael Bartholomew, which means Nathanael son of Tolmai.

 

What did Phillip tell Nathanael after he found him?  Not exactly the same, but in a similar way, Phillip told Nathanael that Jesus was who the Old Testament promised. 

 

Moses wrote about the promised Messiah in the law.  The Old Testament prophets also wrote about the promised Messiah, and Jesus was Him.

 

Even though He was born in Bethlehem, He had moved to Nazareth and was raised there.  We also know that even though Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, he was His adoptive father.  Did you ever think about that?  Joseph adopted Jesus as his Son?

 

46.

Verse 46 contains Nathanael response to Phillip.  Evidently, he was very impressed or partial to Nazareth. 

 

Nathanael couldn’t believe that anything good could come from Nazareth.  He probably thought the promised Messiah would come from Jerusalem.

 

Perhaps it was a rival or competing community.  However, Phillip invited him to investigate for himself with the invitation of “Come and see.”

 

By the way, here is great example of handling conflict.  When Phillip heard Nathanael’s response, notice that he didn’t argue with him.  He simply asked him to see for himself. 

 

47.

In verse 47, we come back to Jesus, and Jesus saw Nathanael.  He saw him physically, but He also saw him spiritually. 

 

He described Nathanael as a fine, upstanding Israelite.  Your translation may say without any deceit or without guile or guileless.  Literally, this word for deceit means bait or a trap.  There was nothing about Nathanael that would try to trick you or trap you.  Compared to Jacob, who name and character was deceiver, Nathanael was a good man.

 

48.

Nathanael needed to know how Jesus knew him.  Had they met before?  Had their paths crossed previously?

 

How did Jesus know him?  In fact, He was the promised Messiah, and He was the Son of God who knew all through His omniscience.

 

By the way, Jesus everything about you as well.  Do you remember Psalm 139?  Listen to Psalm 139:1-8.

 

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

 

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

 

13 For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

 

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

 

Jesus answered that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree.  Because of what Jesus has already said about him and because of what Jesus will say shortly, Nathanael was probably under the fig tree reading the Old Testament.  Regardless, Jesus, because He was God’s Son, the promised Messiah, Jesus already knew everything about him even though had not previously met.

 

49.

In verse 49, that was all Nathanael needed to hear.  Jesus’ omniscience was proof enough for Nathanael to confess Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.  Jesus was Nathanael’s promised Messiah.

 

50.  

In verse 50, Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see greater things than simply knowing about him before they met.  Beginning next Sunday morning in John 2, commentators tell us that there are some 35+ miracles in John’s gospel that certainly Nathanael witnessed as well.

 

51.

Finally, in verse 51, Jesus was more than likely referencing what Nathanael was studying under the fig tree.  The story is found in in Genesis 28.

 

In Genesis 28:10-17, Jacob had stolen Esau’s birthright, and he was running for his life.  While sleeping at night outside with his head on a rock, Jacob had a vision of angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth on a ladder. 

 

God promised Jacob of his descendants in that land.  Jacob responded with recognizing the grace of God and His presence.

 

Here in 1:51, Jesus equates Himself with ladder.  He is God’s connection with man on the earth.  He is God in the flesh, fully man and fully God, and our only hope for heaven.

 

 

Conclusion

Allow me to make this clear.  Last week, the garland around the baptistery needed to be taken down.  However, nobody that I knew of was tall enough to do it on their own.  Therefore, we need some type of elevation assistance. 

 

I won’t tell you what Ronnie and Chris and I did with scaffolding and a ladder to get that garland down for fear of an appointment with OSHA tomorrow morning.  However, the point is that the scaffolding and ladder was necessary for the reality of the garland being around the baptistery no more.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, listen closely.  You and I need a ladder to get to God the Father in heaven, and our ladder is being a good person.  Our ladder isn’t giving more money.  Our ladder isn’t who is our father or mother or grandfather or grandmother.

 

Our one and only ladder is Jesus Christ.  That is what Jesus said here and in John 14:6 and Peter in Acts 4:12 and Paul in Romans 5:1.

 

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Secondly, one lighted torch lights another.  Back at our Christmas Eve Service, I lit my candle from the Christ Candle.  I then lit Christy’s candle.  Christy and I then lit your candles one by one. 

 

Andrew found and told and brought Peter.  Phillip found and told and brought Nathanael.  What about you?  Has your torch not been lit?  Lighted torches light others.  If you want first century Christianity like on the pages of Scriptures, you need to starting living like first century Christians.

Operation Andrew

The Prestige

The First Christmas

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people.  That is a seven with nine zeros. 

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived.  That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

 

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female.  Some have been red and yellow and black and white.  Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  This morning, we consider the first Christmas.

 

I hope and pray that all of you will have an encouraging and joyful Christmas this next week. However, when we think about the first Christmas, there were some other emotions that we were prominent.

 

In Luke 1:29 and 34, Mary was worried and confused.

 

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was…34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

 

In Matthew 1:19, Joseph was hurt and brokenhearted.

 

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

 

In Luke 2:9, the shepherds were afraid.

 

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

 

Regardless of your Christmas this year, I want you to know that as evidenced by the first Christmas, God wants to share eternity with you.  Think about that.  God didn’t just create for 70 and 80 and 90 years of living on earth.  He created you for billions of years of living with Him in eternity.  We know that because of the first Christmas.

 

 

21. The First Christmas was Detailed by God, Matthew 1:18-21.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 

Verses 18-25 of Matthew 1 tells us of the first Christmas in Matthew’s Gospel.  Luke 2 also speaks of the first Christmas. 

 

Our story today begins with Joseph and Mary.  We know that Joseph was probably a carpenter. As for Mary, she very well could have been a young teen ager at this time.  It was not uncommon for Jewish girls to be married as young as twelve years of age. 

 

Verse 18 says that they were betrothed.  This would be similar to our engagement but more significant.  Jewish families would often arrange the marriages of their children.  The prospective groom’s family would enter a contract that included paying money to the bride’s father for wedding expenses. 

 

After the arrangement, the couple was considered to be in the betrothal period.  This time could last up to one year and served as a probationary period.  Even though the couple was considered married at this point, they did not live together and were not physically intimate. 

 

After the probationary period, the groom would send for the bride, and a weeklong wedding feast would ensue.  This was a weeklong celebration that included both families and the community. 

 

Once the wedding feast was over, the bride and groom would finally consummate the marriage physically.  However, at this point, up and to this point, they had kept themselves pure, but verse 18 introduces a dilemma for Joseph. It was revealed that Mary is pregnant.  The problem was that Joseph was not the father. 

 

Joseph had two options.  If Joseph wasn’t the father, the only other human explanation was that Mary had been unfaithful.  Believe it or not, the OT allowed capital punishment for adultery or he could choose to quietly divorce her. 

 

As you can see in verse 19, his initial choice was the latter.  He was going to quietly divorce her because even though it appeared that he had been wronged, he was a kind and compassionate man. 

 

But how did all this happen?  Verse 18 simply says, “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”  This was a miracle by the Spirit of God.

 

The conception of Jesus was miraculous.  It was mysterious, and it was marvelous.  It was in no way sexual or improper. 

 

Science cannot explain it.  Our finite minds can’t comprehend it.  However, the Holy Spirit accomplished it. 

 

A third detail to note about the birth of Christ is the message for the world.    

 

Mary was going to have a baby boy who was to be named Jesus, and here’s the message for the world and how we know that God wants to spend eternity with us.  Jesus was going to save His people from their sins. 

 

Please don’t miss the implication.  The implication is that we are sinners and separated from God because of our sin.  In other words, we are in need of a Savior because we cannot save ourselves.  Therefore, God made salvation possible for anyone who would turn from his or her sins and turn to Jesus Christ in faith because He created us to spend eternity with Him. 

 

If you are here this morning and you’re trying to live a good enough life to save yourself, it will never happen.  We can’t be good enough, but we don’t have to be.  We only have to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

 

 

23. The First Christmas was Described Long Ago, Matthew 1:22-23.

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 

 

Beginning in verse 22, we see that the birth of Jesus was declared long ago by the Lord and through His prophets.  In other words, the birth of Jesus is a fulfillment of prophecy.

 

Even though these men were human, it was God, the Lord, speaking through them.  Therefore, these prophecies were made by God but through men and about the Savior. 

 

Dave Reagan’s Lamb & Lion Ministry says there are at least 19 fulfilled prophecies in the birth of Christ, but I’ll just remind you of three.

 

Micah 5:2, 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

 

Luke 2:4-6, 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

 

Isaiah 9:6, 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Matthew 1:21, 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 

Isaiah 7:14, 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

 

Matthew 1:23, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

 

 

• The First Christmas Demands a Response, Matthew 1:24-25.

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

 

In the last two verses of Matthew 1, we see Joseph’s commitment to the Lord, and that commitment is seen in one word, “obedience.” 

 

We see that here and elsewhere. 

 

Look at Matthew 2:13-14. What did Joseph do?  He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

 

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”  14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.

 

Look at Matthew 2:19-21. What did Joseph do? He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

 

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

 

Joseph obeyed personally.  Joseph obeyed in his marriage.  Joseph obeyed in his parenting.

 

Unfortunately, he is often the forgotten man of Christmas. 

 

We don’t ever hear Joseph speak.  Therefore, we don’t ever hear him quoted.  We don’t normally sing about Joseph.  We sing about Jesus and Mary and the angels and the shepherds and the wise men and Bethlehem, but not generally about Joseph.

 

However, Joseph shouldn’t be a forgotten man.  His response to the first Christmas should be commended and followed.

 

 

Conclusion

How will you respond this morning to the first Christmas?  Remember, God wants to spend eternity with you.  We know that because Jesus came to save His people from their sins.

 

If you have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will die in your sins and spend eternity in hell separated from God.  However, if the Holy Spirit is convicting you of your lostness and has given you faith to believe, would you call on Jesus this morning to save you?

 

For others, your response to the first Christmas needs to be obedience.  Will you be obedient to forgive someone who has hurt you?  Will you be obedient to say, “I’m sorry?”  Will you be obedient to loving your spouse?  Will you be obedient to obeying your parents?  Will you be obedient to be baptized as Jesus was?  Will you be obedient in uniting with a local church?  Will you be obedient in sharing the message of the first Christmas?