Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

How many of you have ever misheard a song lyric?

Perhaps the most famous is the 1968 song by Iron Butterfly that most people think is “ina godda da Vida, honey” which is actually “in the Garden of Eden”.

Or perhaps you’ve seen some of the “bad lip-sync” videos that circulate on social media.

One of the misheard or bad lip sync lyrics that is connected to the Bible is a combination of Jer 13:23 and Luke 4:27/5:12.

Jeremiah speaks of the unchangeable nature of an Ethiopian’s skin or a Leopard’s (big cat) spots.

Luke describes the terminal condition of a person with leprosy.

Which has led some (including yours truly) to mistakenly say “a leper cannot change his spots.”

I have heard some people use this misquoted verse as an excuse not to forgive another person.

They reason that a person cannot really change — “once a drunk, always a drunk”, “once a cheater, always a cheater” after all “a Leper can’t change his spots”.

In today’s text we find that a person is NOT doomed to continue in the circumstance in which he was born.

Jesus says, “even though a person is born one way, it is possible to be Reborn, to live a new life and to gain a new inheritance”.

It is possible to correct many birth conditions.

Our society loudly and proudly announces, “I shouldn’t change.

I was born this way.”

Yet thousands of people with crooked teeth chose to go to an orthodontist.

Millions of people with poor eyesight wear glasses, contacts or get surgery.

My sister was born with toes pointing in, but after several months in painful braces, she walks straight and without even a limp.

A survey done last year by lookfantastic.com

estimates that women “invest” an average of $80 and 11 hours each month on hair products.

This works out to $55,000 in a lifetime with Californians averaging about 50% more and North Carolinians averaging ¼ of the national average.

If people devote that much attention to the color of hair they were born with, perhaps we ought to give some attention to the condition of the souls we were born with.

Not only is this new birth possible, it is essential.

Transition: Join with me in the Gospel of John, chapter 3 where we learn that God is a God who gives New Birth, who gives spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead.

An Interview with Jesus (John 3:1-8)

Explanation

1. Who Is Nicodemus?

(v.1)

· A Pharisee mentioned 3x in John’s Gospel

i.

Here he doubts Jesus

ii.

In 7:50 he defends Jesus by giving Him the benefit of doubt.

iii.

In 19:39 he cooperates with Joseph of Arimathea in giving Jesus a dignified, proper burial.

2. Why did He come at night? (v.2)

a.

Some claim he was embarrassed to be seen with Jesus

b.

Some claim he didn’t want to be disturbed

c.

Some claim night was when the teachers did their debate and study

d.

Some claim he was trying to protect Jesus reputation from suspicious and hostile members of the Sanhedrin

e.

I think John is emphasizing Nicodemus’ spiritual condition – last week as we looked at John 1:4 we saw the contrast between Jesus being the light that shines into the darkness of our human experience.

At this time Nick is still in spiritual darkness.

3. “Predominant religious thought in Jesus’ day affirmed that all Jews would be admitted to that kingdom apart from those guilty of deliberate apostasy or extraordinary wickedness (e.g.

Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1).

But here was Jesus telling Nicodemus, a respected and conscientious member not only of Israel but of the Sanhedrin, that he cannot enter the kingdom unless he is born again.”[i]

4.

This upstanding member of the community is introduced to a new birth/reality/kingdom/citizenship/way of life.

(v.3)

5.

As Nick contemplates Jesus’ words, the very idea that he might not be part of God’s kingdom is so bizarre that he asks Jesus to clarify.

(v.4)

6. Jesus clarifies that Nick doesn’t need the same type of birth 2x, then need 2 types of birth.

(v.5)

When I was a child, our Sunday School celebrated birthday’s very much like we do here at FHCC.

Only the child would bring a “birthday offering”, receive a gift (a pencil or some other trinket) and the rest of the children would sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

The 2nd verse was: Happy Birthday to You, Only 1 will not do.

Born Again means salvation.

How many have you?

7. Verses 6-8 describes that spiritual birth is quite different than physical birth.

Transition: Let’s take a little time to drill down into how Jesus describes this 2nd birth

Cleansing & Power (Ezekiel 36:25 & 27)

1.

What is meant by “water and of Spirit” in v.5?

2.

Not physical birth/amniotic fluid – the rupturing of the amniotic sack is a precursor to actual birth and is not a common word picture for birth in the first century.

3.

Not Baptism (as we think of it)

a. Jewish Proselyte baptism – conversion to Judaism was a 3-part process involving cleansing, sacrifice and ceremony.

b.

John’s Baptism was a baptism of repentance, not of forgiveness.

c.

Believer’s baptism (doesn’t start until after Pentecost) so our understanding of being identified with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ would not even enter Nick’s mind.

4. Parallelism again = water and Spirit (Jn 3:3 & Jn 3:5)

a.

Just as in English one word can have several meanings depending upon how it is used.

In the language John wrote this word can mean either “a second time” or “from above”.

Commentators conclude that John intentionally chose this word because of the double meaning.

b.

As an expert teacher in Israel (v.10), Nick would have been familiar with the prophecy of Ezekiel.

5. Ezekiel prophesied and Jesus repeated that a new heart involves 2 steps – cleansing and power (Just as our salvation involves 2 steps – turning from sin and to Christ) .

Application (v.7)

1.

This new birth is not only a good option, it is absolutely essential.

2. Jesus said to Nicodemus that night and he is saying to you this morning, “If you ever want to see God’s kingdom it requires that the Holy Spirit cleanse you from your past sin and that He gives you power to live a new way.”

Transition: This type of birth is a whole new idea for Nicodemus so he questions again.

Take It from Someone Who has Been There (John 3:9-13)

Explanation

1. Jesus admits that Nicodemus (and the other Pharisees) don’t understand the things He does on earth (water into wine and cleansing of money changers in John 2).

2.

He doesn’t expect them to believe about things related to Heaven unless someone who had experienced Heaven actually describes them.

3. Since Jesus came from Heaven He has the authority to speak of Heavenly things.

Last March I tried to take a picture of the Spring Burn at night, but the pictures just didn’t do justice to the sight.

To truly understand it, you have to experience it.llustration

4. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he can trust Jesus’ description, because He has been there!

Transition: Jesus has described the new birth, he has spoken of his authority to talk about it, and finally He describes how it happens by drawing from an Old Testament experience.

The Prescription for Eternal Life (John 3:14-15)

Explanation (Numbers 21:5-9)

1.

To understand the reference that Jesus is citing, one must understand and incident from the OT wanderings.

2. The people complained against God

3. How many of us heard, “Quit your fussing, or I’ll give you something to fuss about”?

4. When the Hebrews were whining, God decided to give them an attitude adjustment.

5. God sent both the judgment and the antidote.