Sermon Tone Analysis

Turn to want to talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus through His words and not the actual events (the trial, cross, empty tomb etc).

By doing so, I hope to capture or recapture what the events mean.

Turn to want to talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus through His words and not the actual events (the trial, cross, empty tomb etc).

By doing so, I hope to capture or recapture what the events mean.

What is Nicodemus getting at?

Not all the Pharisees believe Jesus is from God. Nicodemus is the exception.

Several years later, Nicodemus is one of the men who took Jesus off the cross, wrapped His body and placed Him in the tomb.

I believe Nicodemus became a believer of Christ, and what we see here is the initial investigation.

I think Nicodemus is asking the question all of us need to ask – “Are you really the One I am to believe in?

Are you really the Savior?”

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Remember, the Pharisees where not friendly to Jesus.

They were the keepers of the Mosaic Law and they did not like what Jesus was doing and they didn’t like that He had a large following.

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.”

What is Nicodemus getting at?

Not all the Pharisees believe Jesus is from God. Nicodemus is the exception.

Several years later, Nicodemus is one of the men who took Jesus off the cross, wrapped His body and placed Him in the tomb.

I believe Nicodemus became a believer of Christ, and what we see here is the initial investigation.

I think Nicodemus is asking the question all of us need to ask – “Are you really the One I am to believe in?

Are you really the Savior?”

Jesus explains a few things to Nicodemus and we’ll come back to that, but for now, skip down to verse 14.

So Jesus says this

– “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Jesus is making a comparison between his crucifixion (that’s what ‘lifted up’ refers to) and Moses and the bronze snake.

Nicodemus would have been very familiar with the story.

In , while Israel was still in the desert heading to the Promised Land, Israel sinned by complaining against God and Moses.

As a consequence, God sent venomous snakes into the camp.

These snakes did what snakes do – they bit people and people and people began to die.

Jesus is making a comparison between his crucifixion (that’s what ‘lifted up’ refers to) and Moses and the bronze snake.

Nicodemus would have been very familiar with the story.

In , while Israel was still in the desert heading to the Promised Land, Israel sinned by complaining against God and Moses.

As a consequence, God sent venomous snakes into the camp.

These snakes did what snakes do – they bit people and people and people began to die.

(The next time you want to complain about the pastor, read )

They cried out to God and Moses – forgive us!

God could have fried the snakes (have nice snake skin boots and belts); God could have healed everyone – but He didn’t (that’s another topic).

However, God is merciful and in

God told Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”

That’s a creative way to heal people.

That’s what Moses did and people were able to look at the snake and live.

That’s a creative way to heal people.

That’s what Moses did and people were able to look at the snake and live.

But I want you to notice something.

The healing was optional.

God did not force anyone to look at the snake.

See, looking at the snake on a pole sounds silly, but the bottom line is this – it was their only option.

Just believing there was a snake on a pole wasn’t enough - you had to look - which requires faith and obedience - and an action.

Even though it was optional to look or not look, the method of receiving life was not optional.

It was not optional in the fact that God provided no other options.

Looking at the snake was the only means God provided for a dying person to have life.

Back to Jesus – Just as - in the same way as Moses lifted up the snake to provide life for dying people, the Son of Man (that’s Jesus) must be lifted up as well - to give life to dying people.

Believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus is optional – it is your choice.

However, your acceptance or rejection does not change the historical evidence that a man named Jesus was crucified.

Nor does it change the historical evidence of His resurrection.

The tomb is empty – but it’s your option to believe or not believe.

But know this – there are no other options to receive eternal life.

God has not provided any other means for eternal life other than putting your faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(it’s the not optional option)

We need to define two terms before we move on: 1) what does it mean to “believe” and 2) what is “eternal life.”

Believe and faith and trust are from the same Greek word - so they are synonyms.

To believe is to have faith, which is to trust.

To believe goes way beyond just head knowledge.

In the original language, to believe or to have faith is a verb, meaning it is an active belief – not passive.

What does that mean?

Susan, whenever we’re driving through a wooded area, what do I want to see? Bigfoot.

I think the idea of Sasquatch is intriguing.

Now, my belief in Bigfoot is either active or passive.

Passive means this – I think it would be super cool if Bigfeets exist.

(Bigfeets - many Bigfoots?)

I might read a few things about Bigfoot.

I might watch some TV programs about Bigfoot, but that’s where it ends.

See, my belief is not enough for me to go spend the night in the woods looking for a Bigfoot.

I’m not interested in pursuing Bigfoot.

I’m content with believing in Bigfoot, but it’s not enough to change my life.

The same is true with Jesus.

Too many people are content with a passive faith – they’re not interested in pursuing Christ; their faith is not enough to change their lives.

They will engage in a couple of programs here and there - but that’s where it ends.

When Jesus talked about believing in order to have eternal life, He was talking about an active faith – a faith that pursues Him; He’s talking about a life-changing belief.

So let me ask you - where’s your faith?

Is it an active faith or passive?

Let’s define eternal life.

Jesus says this -

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

The emphasis of Eternal life is on knowing God, not that we get to live forever and ever.

Yes, those in Christ will live for ever – but living forever is worthless without God.

God’s bigger concern is not how long you live, but that you know Him intimately and personally.

God’s bigger concern is not that you know about Him (passive), but that you know Him – that you have a real relationship with Him – and that relationship was broken with Adam and Eve, and salvation is the process of restoring that relationship.

The emphasis of Eternal life is on knowing God, not that we get to live forever and ever.

Yes, those in Christ will live for ever – but living forever is worthless without God.

God’s bigger concern is not how long you live, but that you know Him intimately and personally.

God’s bigger concern is not that you know about Him (passive), but that you know Him – that you have a real relationship with Him – and that relationship was broken with Adam and Eve, and salvation is the process of restoring that relationship.

So let me ask you – do you know Him? Do you know what God likes, what He doesn’t like?

Are you mindful of His will for your life?

Are you concerned about loving Him or more concerned about Him fixing your problems?

Are you attempting to use God for your purposes or do you have a real relationship with Him, worshipping Him, loving Him, following Him?

So what does knowing God (eternal life) look like?

To have eternal life is to know Him and to know Him is to make time for Him.

So, do you make time for Christ?

We make time for anything we like, but do you make time for Jesus – to pray, to listen, to read His Word, to meditate on the Word, to fellowship with Jesus?