John 3:1-17

Not to Condemn

When people ask questions that aren’t really questions, then you have what we call a “gotcha” question. It’s what you do if you’re trying to win an argument and think you have the final blow. And the sad reality, is that this is common among us all. Indeed, you can look at politics and see this in mass. You know, when one side thinks they’ve won an argument but they’re really saying the same thing over and over again. But aside from the low-hanging fruit, I find this isn’t uncommon in our relationships either. Why didn’t you take out the trash when you said you would? Why did you go out for fast food when you said you were on a diet? Why weren’t you home on time when your phone said you were elsewhere? For you see, gotcha questions really have one point behind them… proving that I’m right and you’re wrong. In our argumentative world, we’ve become accustomed to this because all we ever want to do is be right. It’s practically ingrained in our nature that it’s an “us vs. them” mentality. So, when someone disagrees with you, we begin to think about it as life or death. I must win, or else. There seems to be little, if any, truly innocent questions anymore. But when this is how we behave, we quickly find that we can be both right and wrong at the same time. That is, we can say all the right things, win the argument, but do it in the wrong way. And when we’re wrong in this way, there’s always pain and suffering with it. We lose a friend, lose a job, divide a family, split a country in two, and so on. When did we only ask questions to be right, instead of asking question because we care?

            For in our Gospel lesson today, Jesus is visited by someone with questions… not the typical gotcha questions that he faced. But honest, real questions. And how Jesus answers them is meant to show us far more than a desire to be right. It shows us he cares. Let us   learn today:

GOD SENT JESUS TO BRING NEW LIFE!

I.

            You can tell very quickly when someone’s only goal in a conversation is to win the argument. Whether it comes out in their words or in other forms of communication, like body language, you’ll see very quickly what their priorities are. But Jesus, as stern as he can be at times with his words, often shows the exact opposite of this. Rather, in his words, you can see that his care isn’t in the argument perse, but in the person. And Nicodemus recognizes this, as he addresses him, as we read, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him,” John 3:2. Despite everything Jesus has said about the Pharisees, this Pharisee, Nicodemus, calls Jesus a “teacher come from God.” Now, I’m not trying to make more out of this then what it is, but we understand that the point of being a teacher is to care for the learning of your students. Your goal isn’t to win arguments, but to teach and instruct students so they can learn and grow. And this is exactly what Nicodemus is mentioning. He’s seen Jesus’ teaching in action. He’s seen many people grow and improve because of Jesus’ teaching, in ways that only God can do.

            With all that said, I think this is the surprising thing about the words Jesus speaks to Nicodemus. He’s not pulling his punches if you will. He’s rather straightforward with his words. Consider, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,” John 3:3. And consider also, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” John 3:10. While Jesus may sound quite harsh, the reality is… he needs to be, especially as a teacher. For he needs to correct us when we’re wrong. He needs to pound into our heads at times how we’ve messed up, and do it in such a way that we’ll learn from it. For just as Nicodemus was, so are we. We’re sinners who can’t comprehend the heavenly things of which Jesus speaks. We can’t grasp this greater truth that Jesus is giving us… if it weren’t for the Spirit who aids us in this teaching. 

II.

            While Nicodemus was at a loss for all that Jesus was teaching him, we see by Jesus’ words that he never stopped teaching. Jesus never stopped caring for the eternal well-being of Nicodemus, for which we know that later Nicodemus becomes a disciple of Jesus, even helping care for his body in his death. But of course, we can’t fully comprehend this interaction if we leave off the final two verses, the most well-known in the entire bible. John 3:16… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” As if this weren’t clear enough, John further records, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him,” John 3:17. This is the amazing point I want you to walk away with today. Jesus didn’t show up with a “gotcha” question. He didn’t come to point a finger at you and tell you how badly you’ve messed up. His goal isn’t to come and say “I told you so.” No, his goal is to save you! His goal is to teach you! His goal is to lead you through the pearly gates and into eternity!

            God doesn’t desire us or anyone else to be condemned in our sin which is why He gave us his only Son. Yes, God sent Jesus to bring new life to us, not death. He sent him, not to reprimand us for our failures, but to lead us into the truth. Hence, we must be born again… or rather, born again from above, by the Spirit being sent into our hearts through water and the Word. By this new birth, we understand now the deeper mysteries of God, which flesh and blood has concealed from us, but the Spirit has shouted from the rooftops. What we now know and learn is that God’s love is displayed for us in the cross. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life,” John 3:14-15. Yes, just like the serpent in the wilderness, God has raised up Jesus on the cross so that we in our sin may look upon him and be saved! By the faith granted us through our baptism, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the raising up of his Son, God has shown his immense love for us. Just as God has shown such love to us, may we show it to one another, by not seeking the condemnation of any, but offering Jesus through our words and deeds!

            Now, born of water and the Spirit, may we look upon Jesus crucified for us and see this wonderful truth. God has forgiven us all of our sins for the sake of Christ and given us new life in the Spirit so that we may enter his eternal kingdom! In Jesus’ name! Amen!