Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.11UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.11UNLIKELY
Joy
0.6LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.66LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.53LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.82LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.76LIKELY
Extraversion
0.03UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.79LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.74LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
John 3:1-21 records for us Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus.
What is needed to enter the kingdom of God?
The Old Testament made it clear that only the righteous can enter heaven.
The scriptures also make it clear that no one is righteous.
Therefore Nicodemus’ question.
Jesus pointed out that was was needed was a supernatural birth.
Being born from above.
Being born of God the Spirit.
Nicodemus was perplexed.
He was taught, and had taught his whole life that being a Jew—a descendant of Abraham, and keeping the law of Moses life was what was needed.
Yet in his heart, he knew no one could keep the law perfectly.
No one was truly righteous.
He knew something more was needed.
However, when Jesus spoke of being born from above, being born of the Spirit of God, he did not get it.
Jesus expected him to get it because God had already spoken of this in the scriptures that Nicodemus had.
Passages like Ezekiel 36:26.
That is why Jesus said in John 3:11, 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.
The ‘we’ there is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The three that are one God spoke the truth in the scriptures.
There is none righteous.
All need a new heart, which is something only God can give.
Jesus goes on from this to say,
Nicodemus came seeking more about the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus told him that he would never see it if he was not born from above here on earth.
Nicodemus was not understanding what Jesus was talking about.
So, Jesus said, if you do not believe what happens here on earth, how can you believe what I would share about heaven?
He goes on to say,
Here I believe Jesus is trying to show Nicodemus that He is greater than Moses.
Nicodemus grew up learning about Moses and the Law.
He taught about Moses and the Law.
Moses and the Law were thought to be everything.
However, Moses never ascended to heaven.
Moses was only a messenger.
Now, one has come from heaven, Jesus!
One of favorite ways Jesus referred to himself was as the Son of Man.
This goes back to what Daniel wrote about the coming Messiah.
He was one like a Son of Man.
This Messiah who was going to establish the kingdom, the Son of Man, was Jesus.
He had come from heaven, and was greater than Moses.
He could share more than Moses.
Moses could communicate the Law, which shows all men their just condemnation.
But now the Son of Man, Jesus, comes from heaven full of grace and truth to share this new life for those who will be born from above!
Remember, Nicodemus knew the scriptures.
He would have caught all of these references Jesus was making.
He was looking for the kingdom, and now Jesus is telling him that he is the one come from heaven to establish the kingdom.
But the question is still on the table… how can one enter the kingdom?
How is one born from above, that is, born of the Spirit?
Jesus tries to help Nicodemus understand.
Nicodemus wanted to know how this born from above worked.
How was one born of the Spirit.
To help him understand, Jesus took something he knew.
He spoke to him of something that happened with Moses.
We can still read about it ourselves.
Turn to Numbers 21:4-9.
Recap the story...
You know, the idea of just looking at the serpent on the cross and living must have sounded pretty hokey.
This reminds me of what happened when I was in Papua New Guinea.
{Joseph bitten by the snake.}
M: Joseph, I have good news, and bad news, and good news.
J: What’s the good news?
M: Good news is I know this kind of snake.
J: Okay.
What is the bad news.
M: Bad news is it is deadly.
You are going to die.
J: What’s the good news?
M: Good news.
I have a zapper.
If I zap you with this, you will live.
J: What?
How does it work?
M: I don’t know.
J: What do you mean you don’t know?
Does it work?
M: It does work.
I just really don’t know how.
But I am told it works.
missionaries around the world are using this.
I have used it on a centipede bite, and it worked.
J: What?! Really?
M: I just zap around the bite a few times, and the pain is less.
I mean, there is a little pain from the zapping, but nothing compared to the centipede bite.
J: But this is a snake!
This is deadly.
Can’t you get me antivenom.
M: I could, but you would be dead by the time I got it.
Just let me zap you.
Trust me, you will live!
Just look at the Snake on the cross and you will live.
How?
what do you mean how?
God said to look at the cross and you will live.
How does it work?
Does it draw out the poison?
No, it doesn’t draw out the poison.
does it neutralize the poison?
Well, it neutralizes the effect of the poison.
You won’t die, you will live?
I don’t get it.
Look! Believe God when he says you will live.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9