ADVENT: LOVE
A man a man. Well, we've been doing this little Advent series preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus and that we've been looking at it through kind of to Frameworks one is just a simple question. Why did Jesus come why do we celebrate? Anyway, what's the big deal? What's the point? What's the purpose? Why did Jesus come and then there's a traditional kind of Advent order that the church has been using for really 1500 years or so that in the four weeks leading up to it. We we have these the Matic ideas of Hope and peace and joy and this morning we want to look at love. Why did Jesus come through the framework of love? You know love is something I can think of very few things that our culture talks about or desires more than love and I can think of very few things that were more confused about. Love Is Love is such a nebulous thing that it almost becomes meaningless at some level. We use the word love in such a vast array of meanings that is very difficult to understand what it is that we're actually talking about sometimes. And at the core of our challenge with love in our culture is that we are the most individualistic culture that has ever existed on the face of the planet. Yay for us. We're number one.
It's not something to celebrate. We filter the idea of Love through the lens of what do I get out of it? How does this help me? How does this benefit me in the moment. We try to filter something like love through that filter. It's it's not really love anymore because love at its core is other Center love at its core is giving not receiving love is bigger then the individual and so in that sense, we need love more than we've ever needed it. But not the love that our culture sees our values but the love of our father our heavenly father the love of Jesus his son who came to rescue.
I want to look this morning at a text that I imagine. Everyone of us in this room knows has memorized has heard when we think about love it probably is the first or second verse that pops into your mind John 3:16 for God so loved it with me the world that he gave his only begotten son. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son is probably the most well-known verse of scripture. in our culture just because we know it doesn't mean we understand it. I want us to think about it this morning and want us to think about it in context because this is not just a proverb. It's not just an idea. This is a word spoken by Jesus in the middle of a conversation. It has context and context is King in determining meaning of a pet. I saw this I want us to look at at at this number for God so loved the world that he gave his only wants to look at it in the context of the conversation. The Jesus was having with a man named Nicodemus you're going to find there are some incredible parallels here. 2R series that we've been doing on Genesis and that we're going to pick up again in the new year and I'm going to have some fun trying to point those out this morning already. Got your Bibles. Let's go to John chapter 3 John chapter 3 Does this now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus? a ruler of the Jews Here's this man. This is what we know about him. He is he's a Pharisee and I know that often in the Evangelical Church, especially last hundred years Pharisee is automatically a bad word bad do the bad term. We we hear the word Pharisee and we think all sorts of things about him that tend to be in a negative light. That's not necessarily a good thing. Jesus does have some very harsh statements towards the Pharisees, but when you actually look at the teaching of Jesus It lines up more in line with the Pharisees been with anybody else at the time at here's this man Nicodemus and he's a Pharisee. He's a ruler he's significant. He's important. He's a he's kind of a big deal right Nicodemus ruler, but he wants to talk to Jesus verse 2 says this man came to Jesus. by night said to him Rabbi. We know you're a teacher that comes from God for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. I emphasize those two words by night because in John's gospel night and day Darkness and Light play a significant structural 3 theme throughout the entire book. It starts in the beginning was the word Darkness. It's pulling into all of these Old Testament Prophecies of a life Donnie and upon the people who dwell in darkness this whole setup and John is of Jesus coming as the light of the world. In the context of a creation narrative, very interesting that this conversation that Nicodemus has he comes at night. Is he ashamed is he embarrassed does he want to meet with Jesus in private? In seclusion. It's very interesting structurally to me. When you look at the whole book of John because the very next chapter is what John chapter 4. Okay. That was a freebie. What happens in John chapter 4 Jesus has another conversation in John chapter 3 as a conversation with a Jewish male leader in John chapter 4 he has a conversation with a Samaritan female outcast in John chapter three ski meets with him at night in John chapter 4 he meets with her at noon. Is arranging his material to tell us something about what's going on. We got to pay attention. It's it's drawing us into a larger narrative A Narrative of the god. Who is come in Flash the God who spoke all of creation into existence?
You're comes Nicodemus by night saying.
You got to be from God. Only somebody from God could do the things that you're doing.
And Ino doesn't say in the text, but I here I here in between the lines. So what's up with that?
Help with that Jesus. Jesus answered and I said truly truly I say to you unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God is like Jesus. Are you in the same conversation?
Nicodemus insane You really must be from God because only somebody from God can do this, but he's coming at night. He's not willing to embrace Jesus public like he's not willing to own him in the day. He's not willing to take that risk and step out and say publicly your man from got privately he's all good about saying it, but he won't he won't take that public. It's a Jesus response to him. He says, you know.
You kind of asking the right question. But you're not quite asking at the right way. Jesus said truly truly. I say to you unless one is born again and again, and I know and we all know that we've memorize that got to be born again Born Again means from above.
It's intentionally vague. It's intentionally dualistic unless you're born again born from above.
Unless God does something to you the kingdom of God is inaccessible to you. The bet that's different than every religious concept that ever existed on the face of the Earth because religion by definition is what we do to get to God. Advent's is about what God did to come to us. Jesus says it's not about what you do that gets you into the kingdom. It's going to be about what God does to you what God does for you what God does through you? It allows you to experience the reality of the Kingdom. Unless one is born again. The last one is born from above. He cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to him. That's crazy. How can a man be born when he is old? Enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born.
Jesus answered truly truly I say to you.
Unless one is born of water and the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God. There's something amazing happening here that if you have the ears to hear in the eyes to see and if you've been paying attention in our series on Genesis your you're already starting to pick this up. We've got all of this imagery all of this language in this text of Darkness and Light now we've got water and spirit. We have all of this language that is taking us to take us to John one, which is creation which takes us to Genesis 1. This is all couched in The Narrative of creation. Jesus is saying I'm not asking you to crawl back into your mother's womb. Of course, no one can do that. But if you want to be reconciled if you want to be reintegrated into the kingdom of God something has got to happen to you. That is on the level of creation. You need to be re created. How did creation happen in the first place where we have Darkness water and the spirit?
And how does that God creates order out of chaos out of that stuff speaks light in the darkness out of that. God brings life.
Jesus is saying if you want back into the kingdom of God with you got kicked out of way back. When you need new creation to take place within your I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirits.
Do not Marvel that I say to you. You must be born again the wind blows where it wishes. Then we're back to Genesis the Numa the breath of the wind the spirit of God where or when or how much the bluff the wind just blows where it wishes. But you hear it sound you do not know where it comes from or where it's going. So does everyone who is born of the spirit?
Why did Jesus come Jesus came for New Creation? Jesus came because what we need is not a tip. What we need is not a better idea. We don't need a crutch. We need a stretcher. We don't need a little self-help. We need God's help. Jesus came. To give us a new creation. We must be made new we must be renewed remay regenerated. That that's what the text says. Listen. Listen to Titus Chapter 3 Titus Chapter 3 verses 3 to 7. It says that we ourselves were once foolish. No amends.
Summit we were we ourselves once foolish disobedient. Let us trade slave to various passions and Pleasures passing our days in Malice and envy hated by others and hating one another.
Sometimes the scriptures a little too accurate.
That's not all that's left. Only who they are. That's who we are. That's who we were. Apart from Christ. That's who we are. write an N that condition It's sew in trench. It's so powerful that what it requires is something that only God as the author of Life can get listen to it when the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appear.
goodness And loving kindness of God our savior appeared he saved us. safe You can just wipe away, you know are bad account. He saved us not because of Works done. I Us in righteousness But according to his own Mercy. By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Do you think maybe? I was sitting on the right this he was thinking about Jesus's words and John chapter 3. What does it take for somebody to enter into the kingdom of God? What does it take for somebody to be saved? What does it mean for somebody to be rescued and saved by Jesus means on active regeneration? Think about what that means it means come from Genesis that comes from a creative work to be regenerated is to be remade.
When we come when Jesus comes to us what he offers us is a grand blue over.
I'm not just going to help you. I'm going to remake you. I'm done from the inside out transform you yeah, you were born by Blood. Yes. You were born of a woman. Yes, you have family and you were born into sin. I'm going to come and I'm going to offer you a new birth the Devin come from flash that comes from the spirits. That doesn't come from woman to come from a new.
the Regeneration
the will of a spirit that will make you new
Show me poured out on switch leaks through Jesus Christ Our Savior. So that being justified by his grace. We might become.
Heirs according to the hope of eternal life Jesus came to offer Us New Creation. This is what I could probably quote this verse as much as or more than any other verse. in my preaching
therefore if anyone is in Christ. He or she is a new creation. That's that's not allegorical. That's not metaphorical. That is actually what happens to us in Christ. We are made new born from above Born Again by the Regeneration of watching and the ministry of the spirit. We are made new let's that was always the New Covenant promise. I will take out your heart is still have a place with a heart of Flesh. I will write my law inside of you. I'm going to make you knew I'm going to take your drive bones, breathe upon them and life is going to come into you. That's why Jesus came. Jesus came to make us new why am I stressing this because I don't think The dad come to the Forefront of our mind when we asked when were asked that question. What happens in most American Evangelical churches say, why did Jesus come well, Jesus came to dine across the Forgiveness of our sins so that when we die we can go to heaven and that's kind of true. It's true in the sense that nothing I said is false, but it's only kind of true in the sense that it leaves out big Parts in the whole story. Jesus didn't, just like blood out your sins ago. Alright, you get to come in to have enough. Jesus came for New Creation. paint for New Creation
jump back into the chapter 3 of John it says Nicodemus said to them. What?
how can these things be
and Jesus said to him what are you're the teacher of Israel and yet you don't understand these things
truly truly I say to you we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen but you're not willing to receive our testimony If I told you Earthly things and you do not believe how can you believe if I tell you Heavenly things? No one has ascended into the heavens except he who descended from the heavens. The son of man. Jesus is most common way of referring to himself son of man. It's from Daniel chapter 7. The son of man. It literally is son of Adam.
and as Moses Lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. So must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him might have an eternal kind of life
I just got interesting Jesus. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Not for us. We may not be familiar with that story for Nicodemus story inside and out. comes from Numbers chapter 21
Moses was tasked to leave the people out of Egypt. Into the Promised lands, and God was with him and God was for them. And yet Time After Time After Time After Time, they grumble. They wind they complained they rebelled. They rejected God. This was one of those time. Jesus wants Nicodemus to think about this moment. Does this from Mount hor they sent out by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom and the people? Became impatient on the way now. I know nobody here this morning struggles with him patients, but just try to try to imagine that you did.
And the people spoke against God. And spoke against Moses out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. There's no food and no water and we love this worthless fool. People wine logic goes out the window.
Stop giving Amana every day and it's like yeah, we don't want that Bread of Heaven.
Listen to let it sink in what's going on these people were enslaved. The crying out to God to remember his Covenant promises. They're crying out to God for a deliver and God sends them Moses as a deliver and through Moses. He leaves them out of Egypt. They are slaves no more sparrow and his army are destroyed in the Red Sea. They are taken to the promised land and they're not happy about the diet.
Sometimes it's the littlest of things.
The take us into the biggest problems. That's exactly what happens here because they they're rejecting God. We wish we were back under pharaohs thumb rather than under your care. We wish we were back with the gods of Egypt rather than with you. We wish you never would have sent us Moses. We were doing better off without you God on our own. That's what they're saying.
In a classic example of be careful what you say and what you ask for.
The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they built the people so that many people of Israel. I really want to go back to Egypt.
You want to be under the gods of Egypt? You'd rather have them than me. Let's remember the gods of Egypt fiery serpents. Sarofim nakash blazing ones serpent the Viner these are not there's something deeply Supernatural and spiritual going on here. It's not just a little snake. You want those gods? You want those guys want for you? They want your death? That's what they want. They want to kill you. Don't I want for you guys? I want life. So God sends and I know I know some of your going.
How to do that. Supposed to just be loving and love only does nice things and see that's the problem with our understanding of love love does. The hard thing love is not empathetic talk to Justice and righteousness and Holiness unloving rightfully for the rebellion and sin and in the part of you that doesn't like that is the part of you that needs to be saved by God.
And people came to my office and said oops we've send for we've spoken against the Lord and against you please pray to the Lord and I take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. And if you don't think God has a sense of humor. He prayed the Lord said to Moses write this what I want you to do. I want you to make a fiery serpent. Make an image right of a fiery Serpent and I want you to set it on a pole. And everyone It Was Bitten if they see it the lip. The irony of this is amazing to me. You wanted the snake you got the snake serpent is God's fire serpent. So Moses you put that up on a pole you raise it high up above the camp anybody that gets bitten if they look at it. They just look at it. It just see it.
They shall live. So Moses made a bronze Serpent and set it on a pole and if a serpent bit anyone he would look at the bronze Serpent and the live.
That's what Jesus is referring to. That's what Jesus is saying just as Moses lifted up the serpent. Those who look to it would be safe. He said so the son of man must be lifted up that all who look might have any Turtles type of life. not an eternity floating in a cloud as a disembodied spiritual being No might have the kind of life that death has no power over.
An unending unyielding unsurpassed kind of life it just as the Israelites looked upon the serpent in the wilderness.
Those who look upon the son of man lifted up will be saying.
The cure for Cyn and victory over the serpent is found in looking to the one God sent.
Back to John 3.
Now we get Two Harbors. for God so loved the world. That he gave his only son that whoever believes in him. Should not perish. But have that Eternal kind of life?
Context here. houses something so profound. I know we want it. I want I know we want to interpret this verse individualistically. We want to read it for God so loved Jeremy. For God so loved Damien. Forgot that we want to put our own name it and I've heard that preached. I've heard I've heard that free, you know, if you were the only one here Jesus still would have come and died. And the only thing wrong with that is that the text never says that that's not why Jesus came Jesus did not come just for you.
You didn't come just for you. Didn't um just for us the church. He didn't come just for us Humanity. The mission of Jesus is much faster in greater than that.
Does he save us as individuals? Of course? Does he save us as his family the Church, of course. What is the text say God so loved? the world
not just us. They've been broken bison. It's not just us who are under the cloud of death. All of creation was created for the glory of God. And all of creation has been as Paul says in Romans place in subjection because of the fall of gods imagers man time. Stop ear if God loves the world and wants to rescue all of us. He's got to start by rescuing his imagers who are responsible for the care and stewardship of that world. Ultimately not only we are remade but all of creation is remade. Why did Jesus come?
And there's not a single inch of space. There's not a single atom or subatomic Quark or particle that God does not look upon and say that is mine and I want it back.
Jesus came to get it all back for him. All of it all starts with us. We are the first fruits. But understand this all of creation is groaning in anticipation of the revealing of the sons of God that in Jesus Christ might be made new. church church
There's so much in the Evangelical world. I said man. It's all about the spiritual gospel to all about getting people to Heaven is all about making sure people pray a prayer and who cares about this world. It's all going to burn. Anyway, you know, who cares about this world God cares about this world. You know how I know God cares about this world because he loved it so much. He sent his son.
The Jesus is not happy with a bunch of disembodied Spirits floating in heaven for attorney. Not what he came to do and it's not what he's going to be satisfied with. Jesus is going to sit on the throne. And he's going to declare behold. I have made what they say things knew what a gospel you guys. We minimize if we try to make it palatable and easy and in doing so sweet stripped it of its glory and Grandeur in power season comes to just get us out of house and take us to Heaven. Jesus pants to remake and renew off of creation. And it's his love that drove him to do it. David Ruffin
We stopped too soon. Cuz I think verse 17 is every bit as powerful if not more so. And certainly more timely. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. What a colossal waste of time that would have been. I really think about Jesus. Once you go down to the world and I want you to condemn the world and Jesus gets here and he's like that's already been done.
Sorry been done. Didn't come to condemn the world the world's already condemned.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world not come to condemn.
Trump supporters She's not come to condemn Sanders support. She's not come to condemn. Prostitutes is not come to condemn transsexual just not come to condemn doesn't mean you have to speak truth to all of those things, but he didn't come to condemn it why they're already dams. Why did he come?
Not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order the world might be saved through him.
world might be safe there. You see it. See if this morning is it is it shattering through the individualistic? Filter of just a living in America. He came to save the world. He came to renew the world. He came to make the world. He came to recreate the world.
We get the joy of being a part of that.
Whoever believes in him. This is not intellectual assent. This is Love and Treasury This is Allegiant. This is not coming to Jesus At Night.
This is not coming to Jesus in private. Whoever believes in him whoever acknowledges him, whoever confesses him. Whoever Embraces him whoever Treasures him. Is not condemned anymore? But whoever does not believe is condemned already cuz he's not believe in the name of the only son of God.
love of All
love of life Love of order love of beauty.
That's what drove Jesus to come. There's no one too far. There's no one to broken. There's nothing to broken. that the love of God through the sending of his son cannot and will not bring into regeneration.
That's a bigger Christmas in it. That's a bigger Christmas. Jesus came to do so much now. Let me close with this from 1st John.
First John chapter 4 says this beloved. Let us love. one another for love is from God. And whoever loves has been born of God. And no Scott. True love comes from regeneration true love comes from God. He says anyone who does not know love. Who does not love does not know God because God. is life Reverse isn't true. Love is in God, but God is love. Anyone who does not know does not know God because God is love in this the love of God was made manifest Among Us that God sent his only son into the world. So that we might live through him.
In this is love. Not that we have loved. But that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. beloved
if God so loved us.
we also ought to love one another
Amen, and amen. Let's pray for