'Demus Dialogue, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Background
Background
We are going back to some foundational doctrine
Summary of Opening Round
Summary of Opening Round
Remembering the context
Without the understanding that he was a Pharisee, a teacher, a ruler of Israel…much is lost
We do best when we put ourselves into the mindset/circumstances of the man spoken to
A continuation of the discussion
Didn’t understand the need for a spiritual renewal—a personal one
Is not, cannot be a, matter of birthright, inheritance, works, anything else
That comes by way of Jesus, no other way
Jesus would state this again, to one of His disciples, as he neared the point of the cross
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
…that born again concept, entering the Kingdom of Heaven, gaining eternal life
We gave Nicodemus high marks for sticking with the conversation
Nerdy Details
Nerdy Details
Y’all versus all y’all concept from last week
What things from v. 9? Those already mentioned, that spiritual reality
Understand in v. 10 expresses an experiential knowledge…he’s not yet experienced this transformation by the Spirit; know in v. 11, is knowledge by observation
We in v. 11—going to parallel Nicodemus’ usage of the plural (used selectively)
Could be a shadowing of the Trinity…maybe not...
Conditional statement in v. 12, if I had told you, assumed true for the sake of this discussion
Ascending and descending to/from Heaven in v. 13
Jesus’ residence, pre-incarnation, was Heaven
Might make an argument that he had been seen in personal form on Earth several times (Christophanies)—a lesson for another time and venue
Main Idea—directly from v.15
Main Idea—directly from v.15
...that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) may have eternal life
...that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) may have eternal life
The Surprise
The Surprise
v. 9
Almost a re-asking of v. 4 …entering a second time into his mother’s womb...
Though now the question had a spiritual question within it, due to Jesus statements
Goes against all his understandings of life, history, religion, culture
It is a surprise to him that he has never understood this; likely never been taught this
It was an all new concept and it was taking some time to drive it home…get the light of comprehension to turn on
…the Light of the World to penetrate the darkness of his clouded eyes…sin-darkened heart
The Setup
The Setup
vv. 10-13
Are you the teacher...could also be understood as you are the teacher of Israel and yet...
Makes the question a bit more penetrating
What does he not understand?
Jesus is telling him that HE knows these things (observation) speaks to one of the divine attributes—omniscience—He sees all
Perfect tense (more nerd stuff) expresses completion—shows that God transcends all time
If Nicodemus is unable to understand the common things Jesus was teaching, how could he ever understand great truths—Heavenly thing?
The reality of Jesus being the Son of man, as spoken in Daniel 7:13
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
The nature of the end-times, coming of the Day of the LORD
The Summation
The Summation
vv. 14-15
As Moses lifted up the serpent..
Hearkens back to an unfortunate event during the Exodus, Numbers 21 4 ff.
The people had grumbled against God and against Moses
God sent “fiery serpents” among them…many died
English Standard Version Chapter 21
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole
English Standard Version Chapter 21
And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
This is an example of foreshadowing—Jesus drew it out here
If the serpent bit, the victim died UNLESS he looked at the bronze serpent
(not going down the path of sounds like a myth…miracles do not demand an explanation, they are works of God for good—another lesson for another time)
The Son of Man would now soon be lifted up…twice
Once on the cross
A second time at His ascension to Heaven , Daniel passage above and
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
We also have from the OT
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
Once again, we identify Jesus as God, using this passage; surely Nicodemus knew this prophetic passage
The searching question, not spoken—or at least not recorded—at this point of the dialogue is “will you look at me, Nicodemus? Will you see me as the salvation of Israel and all people?”
Significance
Significance
Persistence of improper thinking
As Nicodemus had been trained—he was old—so went his thinking
Spiritual Blinders because of tradition of the elders
Tradition—brought in rote, rut and rot
Jesus had not dreamed up what he had been teaching; He had observed it
Looking on the uplifted Christ was an option soon to be available to all mankind
All of us have been bitten by the serpent of sin—it is universal
This clearly shows the
Necessity of the Cross!
Sad reality
Many look for the “historic Jesus”
They make His death look like a mistake, poor planning, misjudgment by Jesus...
It was God’s plan—from eternity past
Without the death, then the resurrection of Jesus Christianity would be “just another religion”
Following/worshipping a dead leader
We have a remedy for the problem of sin
All have sinned… Romans 3:23; Wages of Sin…Romans 6:23
…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:3
Like those bitten by the fiery serpents, death is coming unless, we look on Jesus who is the
…founder and protector of our faith… Hebrews 12:2
Understanding of Christ as the founder makes him God, agrees with John 1
Putting it Together
Putting it Together
Nicodemus came with questions
He seems to be making every attempt to understand…he was diligent
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Some approach God/Jesus wanting itches scratched, needs met, problems eased
That’s not what coming to God is all about
Diligence/earnestness is about willingness to accept Him for who He is
…accept His being; his attributes; His will…for what they are
…being obedient to His Word, His will
We cannot make any attempt to manipulate Him into what we want, to do our will
Let’s look back on Nicodemus as an example
He wanted answers…got a set he had to work through…not exactly what he’d planned
However, he came to the point of spiritual transformation, rebirth, being born-again
Placing his faith and trust in Christ; put himself on the line; identifying as His follower