MPC
12th June 2017.June 12 - John 3 - "Cross Examination"
MPC
12th June 2017.
Phil Campbell
In a post-truth world we live in, it's hard to know which way to turn, isn't it?
I mean, who can you trust? If you can't trust the media to tell it straight, and you can't trust the president of the USA to tell it straight, and if you can't even trust Facebook to not skew the facts; and if you can't even trust experts any more, on the economy or on climate science or on anything at all; and if everything is just driven by who's sponsoring the comments and what's in it for them, how, on earth, do you know where to look to get any kind of grounding in reality.
You might be here this morning and be pretty cynical about that. Used to living post truth, sceptical about anyone who claims to know anything more.
And I've got to say I'm kind of with you on that. That scepticism is a reasonable starting point.
Mind you, as G.K. Chesterton pointed out, the problem in a post-truth world isn't so much scepticism. It's the opposite.
Chesterton was an English writer in his prime in the early 1900s. He was often called the prince of paradox. And here's the paradox... he said,
When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.
And it's never been more true.
This is week 2 in a series on John's gospel; the eye witness account of one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Who leads us on a quest for the truth.
It's almost as if John's imagining it's a trial. Where Jesus himself is under constant cross examination. It's not a real trial. Yet. That's still to come. But right from the start, John maps it out like a long interrogation. Where there are witnesses, testifying. Jesus himself, testifying. People testing his claims.
And the question is, with all the other truth claims out there, or with the overall scepticism about truth.. why believe him? Over anyone else? Why believe his claims. About God. Over any other?
Now ultimately, the question of whether or not you take any notice of Jesus comes down to a deeper level. That's up to you. But at the very least here in John chapter 3 you'll see him staking an astonishing claim. That if it's actually true has big implications. And making an offer. That if it's true, is the best news ever.
It's the story, on one level, of Jesus coming face to face with a Jewish teacher. Nicodemus. Who's apparently been impressed by the reputation Jesus is building as a miracle worker.
Interesting though. The end of chapter 2, where the reading started, John says there are lots of people like that. Impressed by the signs he's performing. And Jesus doesn't trust them. Because he knows what they're like. Jesus. Is not particularly impressed by the kind of people who are only impressed by his works. Because they're meant to be pointers to something more.
So here's Nicodemus. Teacher. a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council. In verse 2, coming to Jesus at night.
Because he's impressed by the signs he's hearing about. And it's a curious conversation. It's got a word play in it. That leads to a misunderstanding. That's not even clear today.
It's got Jesus being oblique in it. Speaking in riddles. Which doesn't really help. But in another sense he's not particularly trying to be obvious. Because John's just said, the people chasing him because they've seen his miracles, they're not he kind of people he's actually looking for. He's looking for a faith on a deeper level. That gets where he's really coming from. The kind of belief that translates more like I trust you. Than I just want to use you.
So look, verse 2, here's Nicodemus; under cover of darkness. Saying,
Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.
Now the question is, what does he actually mean by that? You're a teacher who's come from God?
There used to be that show on TV, Thank God you're here. Comedians dropped into the middle of unlikely scenarios. We'll say it sometimes when the right person turns up at exactly the right time. The RACQ van when you've just broken down. "You're a God-send."
Nicodemus. Is that what he means?
Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. Because you're putting on such a good display!
Well, get ready for the word play. Get ready for the riddle. Get ready for the word with two meanings.
Sometimes. In English. The same word can have two completely different meanings. We call them homonyms, and we learned about them back in second grade at school.
Words like ball. Are you going to throw it. Or is it a dance.
Or bat. Is it a flying mammal, or something you use playing cricket.
So here are two different pictures of a bat and ball.
I don't want to bore you with bowl. Or cricket. Homonyms are everywhere.
Now. The Greek language has homonyms too. And Jesus is about to use one of them.
The word is ano-then.
It means again.
It equally means from above.
It can mean both of those things. Same word. Looks the same. Sounds the same. And when Jesus says the next sentence, on the screen you can see what he's literally saying...
3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born anothen."
You'll see both the options down in the small print at the bottom of the page in your bible.
Born again. Born from above. Which does he mean?
Nicodemus, teacher of Israel, takes option 1. "Whaddya mean go back in your mum and be born all over again?" Verse 4.
But Jesus, I want to suggest, is taking meaning number 2. Born from above.
Because, see, over and over again John's been telling us already that's where Jesus himself has come from. He's the one. Who's been literally born from above.
Nicodemus says, "We know you're a teacher who has come from God - you're inspired - because of the signs you're doing."
And Jesus says, "Truly... you're right. No one can see the kingdom... unless they're born from above."
Otherwise... it's just guesswork.
He's saying, "I'm not just a God inspired teacher with a few good tricks." Here's his claim. I am born... from above. So I genuinely know what I'm talking about.
Now maybe if you've been around for a while and you've read that lots of times before you've always taken Jesus to be telling Nicodemus that's what he's got to do. Be born again.
And Nicodemus seems to take it that way. But see, Jesus is talking in riddles. And first and foremost I'm suggesting he's talking about himself.
Look again. Verse 5.
I mean when you're talking to a travel agent and they're talking up a holiday destination, that's one thing. But when they say I've been there it makes all the difference.
Which is what Jesus goes on to say. Again obliquely. Jesus says in verse 5, you can't enter the kingdom of God unless you've been born not just of water in the human way. But of the spirit as well. Like he has been. Fleshly birth. Spirit birth. Human. But from above.
And the same again in verse 7. You shouldn't be surprised at me saying, you've gotta be born from above.
To know anything about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Here's the thing. Jesus is saying I have entered the kingdom. I have been born of the Spirit. I have. Seen the kingdom. So, you might be coming to me in the dark with some half hearted kind of respect Nicodemus; and paying lip service to the fact I'm a teacher. But have you really got what I'm claiming?
To be able to do what I'm doing. To be able to say what I'm saying. You'd have to be born from above, wouldn't you?
And that's, quite seriously, my claim.
That's, quite literally, where I'm saying I've come from.
Now if you're a long term bible reader you might be looking at the passage this morning and listening to what I'm saying and scratching your head. And thinking I'm somehow missing the point. That Jesus is saying to Nicodemus that Nicodemus has gotta be born again. Whereas I'm reading it and I'm suggesting that Jesus is actually talking about himself, and saying you need to understand... I am born: from above. That he's saying as a statement of principle, you've gotta be born from above. To be able to speak and act like I am.
That I really am a teacher who's come from God. In a way Nicodemus can't even start to imagine.
One reason I'm reading it this way because of what comes next.
In verse 8.
Because there's a running question in John's gospel to this point, and it keeps on running through like an 8 lane highway through a quiet country town. The question people keep asking: where Jesus comes from. They just don't know.
Let me show you just a few of them.
Chapter 1. Philip; just recruited by Jesus. Finds Nathanael. And says to him we've found the messiah. It's Jesus of Nazareth. To which Nathanael says,
46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus heals a blind man. Chapter 9. The religious leaders are ropable because it's on their Sabbath day. They cross question the blind guy to get him to dish the dirt on Jesus. And he says, 9:30:
Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
Jesus. Is the one in John's gospel who's origin is the central issue. Where does he come from?
His trial. Chapter 19. Governor Pilate. His climactic question to Jesus. 19:8:
"Where do you come from?" he asks Jesus, but Jesus gives him no answer.
So back in our passage. Verse 8.
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with all born of the Spirit.
Which at this point. Is the perfect description of Jesus. And nobody else. Because at this point he's the only one born of the Spirit! Where on earth has he come from? Where one earth is he going? The question on everyone's lips.
Except Nicodemus, it seems, who's started out by saying we know you've come from God.
Problem is, Jesus doesn't believe that Nicodemus really believes that. Or gets it.
It's interesting when you read John's gospel closely. As I hope you might actually do through these few weeks of studies. I said before it's like a court case with witnesses called to testify.
The first was last week. John the Baptist.
Who said,
I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One.
John the Baptist. He knows. He's seen. But Jesus even moreso.
And Nicodemus might be mouthing positive words. But Jesus pushes back at him. He says,
"Well, very truly I tell you - we speak of what we know." Talking, I think, about himself and John. His forerunner. "And we testify to what we have seen. But still you people don't accept our testimony."
John and Jesus might be testifying. Nicodemus is maybe a bit impressed. But he's coming to Jesus in the darkness. He doesn't actually get it. And neither do the rest of the Jewish religious leaders. Not even in the ballpark.
So verse 12, Jesus says to him, "I've spoken to you of earthly things, and you don't believe. This has been the easy stuff. How then will you believe if I speak to you of heavenly things?"
Because, he says, I really am the one who's born from above.
I really am the one who's born of both water and the spirit.
And I really can. Speak to you about heavenly things.
Verse 13.
Jesus says no one. Has ever gone into heaven. Except the one who came from heaven. The son of man. Only me!!
Now friends, here's the thing. Forget Nicodemus. Step forward a couple of thousand years. Here's the contentious claim. It's still. Only Jesus. Who's got that kind of access to ultimate reality. And has shared it with us.
There are all kinds of people with all kinds of ideas about God. There are people who'll say, well, I like to think of God this way. But it's still. Only Jesus.
There's been a bit of a minor social media storm on my Facebook feed this week. When somebody posted this.
It's a sign. Outside a church in Sydney.
You might be able to read it on the screen.
God is nice and (s)he likes you.
Well, you know, I like to think of God that way. I don't like to think of God as having gender. That's patriarchal. I like to think of God as being nice. Over and above angry. Or judgemental. Or even just. I'll only believe in a nice God. So I'll put a sign up outside my church. For other people the same. Who want to invent God to suit themselves.
Jesus says... and it's a big claim. You can think what you like. But I'm the one who's been. and I'm the one who's seen. I'm the one who's from there. I'm the one who's been introduced back in chapter 1 as God's word become flesh.
And yet you guys. You Pharisees. You members of the Jewish ruling council. In spite of your platitudes, you don't really think I'm a teacher from God at all. Do you?
Because already. They're passing their judgement on Jesus. And they're getting ready to kill him.
You know, you might like to think God's just basically nice. But the uncomfortable truth Jesus is about to put to us today is that God isn't just nice.
He's merciful. Which is fundamentally different. And yet he's holy. And just. as well.
So how does he hold those things together?
See, here's the irony in John's gospel as the Jewish rulers are sitting in judgement on Jesus and they're condemning him.
Whereas Jesus hasn't come to condemn them but bring the offer of forgiveness and a new start.
It's there in verses 14 to 19.
Where Jesus talks about the bronze snake God told Moses to put up on a pole; the ultimate horror story, the Israelites are being punished with a plague of snakes, and God says to Moses lift a bronze snake up on a pole, and whoever looks on it will live. a beacon of life.
Jesus says, watch carefully. Because that's pretty much what's going to happen to me. In the midst of a world facing God's justice.
I'm going to be lifted up. If you want life... you can look to me. He's talking, you might have guessed, about the way he's going to be lifted up onto a cross.
Look at his words. Because in the midst of God's judgement, there's a way out.
Because in spite of what that church sign says, God doesn't just like us. He loves us to death. He's the just judge who dishes out justice. But he's going to write a cheque to cover your fine as well.
Here it comes. The most famous verse in the bible. John 3 verse 16.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Which is followed with verse 17. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The world's in trouble already. Do you see that? The natural starting point; it's not Jesus who comes to condemn the world. It's Jesus who comes to a condemned world. With the offer of free forgiveness. With the offer to be the stunt double who'll jump into the judgement scene and take our place. Who'll say take me. And spare them. Who'll say, there's a debt owing; there's a punishment due. But I'll pay it. I'll take it. Just. look to me. When I'm lifted up and hanging there on the cross. And your judgement's taken away.
Here's how he says it's going to work. Here's the challenge he puts to Nicodemus who turns up in the darkness of night.
18 Whoever believes in him; this son of God who he's sent into the world; whoever believes in him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only son. 19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Because they preferred darkness. Because they preferred the cover of night-time. Like Nicodemus. In spite of his words. Like maybe you do... Do you?
So addicted to deeds of darkness that you don't actually want the light? So attached to doing what you know in your heart is wrong. That you're not going to stop for anything.
Like I said, it's an astonishing claim, isn't it? Jesus is saying, I'm sent from the father. To take the punishment you're already facing.
Or if you prefer to stay in the darkness, you can just keep going the way you're going. And take his judgement on yourself. You choose.
Look, if you're here this morning and you're haven't been persuaded by this stuff. Let me say at this point, Nicodemus isn't either. Though Later in John's gospel when you meet him again, I suspect he's much closer.
I'm not for a minute expecting if this is the first time you've ever listened to these claims of Jesus you'll be on board straight away. But at least mark out the ground work in your mind. That these are his central claims. This is his central offer. That he'll take God's punishment for you.
And actually give you the right - for a new start. Born of Spirit. As well. The right to become children of God.
The rest of the chapter, John the Baptist, the guy you met in the first couple of chapters if you were here last Sunday, in the rest of the chapter he's out baptising people, calling them to symbolically wash away their past in the river. And Jesus and his guys are baptising as well.
And people are talking and debating all over the place. Jesus and John. They're the talk of the town. Are they in competition?
And I just want to wrap up by point you to some closing words from John the Baptist. Who says compared to him, I'm nothing. If I'm the best man... then he's the bridegroom. He must become greater. I must become less.
Now follow with me his words. From verse 31. Because it's a summary. Of the whole chapter. Of everything I've said.
31 The one who comes from above; it's that greek anothen word again - is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard... but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
If you're in the process of judging Jesus this morning, if you're still weighing him up; that's the claim.
In a post truth world we live in, it's hard to know which way to turn, isn't it. I mean, who can you trust? There's a load of people here this morning who'll testify to the fact that taking Jesus at his word actually works. In making life work.
There's a load of people here this morning who'll testify to the fact that when you take Jesus at his word it marks out a whole new beginning. That's exactly like a new birth.
There's a whole crowd of us here this morning who'll say, the incredible thing is that those things that are true of Jesus... become true of his people as well. And that we. Get to be born of the spirit. Changed in our hearts. So if you're still judging Jesus. I'm hoping you'll take the time to really check out the evidence. Before you decide.