NICODEMUS' PLIGHT BEFORE JESUS

John 3:1-5, 7:50 , 19:39

Dr. Robert F. Toney

* Plight means: His condition or situation, before Jesus.

        (1) Some Scholars believe that Nicodemus was the brother of Josephus, the Jewish historian.

        (2) If this is true, then Nicodemus was one of the three richest men in Jerusalem.

        (3) John is the only Gospel writer that mentions and tells us about Nicodemus.

        (4) John sets him before us in three ways:

            [a] his conversion in John 3:

            [b] his confession in John 7:50

            [c] and his consecration in John 19:39

        (5) The Holy Spirit gave me 5 things about the message of Jesus to Nicodemus

I. FIRST, IT IS A SIMPLE MESSAGE:

     A. look at the description of Nicodemus in the message.

        (1) He was a man of the Pharisees. This speaks of his religion.

        (2) He was a ruler of the Jews. This speaks of his rank.

        (3) He was a member of the Sanhedrin consisting of 70 men.

        (4) When we think of the Pharisees, we think of their standing as hypocrites.

        (5) And in the Gospel records the most of them were enemies of Jesus.

      *(6) But Nicodemus was not a hypocrite, thank goodness.

        (7) He was very religious, and knew much of the O.T. scriptures by heart, and he knew something about Jesus.

        (8) Nicodemus believed that Jesus was sent by God, or he could not do the things that he did.

     B. look with me at the desire of Nicodemus in the message.

        (1) Nicodemus had a plan in his mind, and he wasted no time in putting it into action.

        (2) His plan was to privately seek out Jesus for a meeting with Him.

        (3) Then to talk with Him man to man. * A person is doing well when they get to the place where they will talk about their spiritual needs.]

     C. Now, look at the deposit of truth in the Message.

        (1) In just a few minutes, Jesus swept away everything that Nicodemus was standing on for his salvation. He let the air out of Nicodemus balloon.

        (2) Nicodemus learned that Jesus was not just a man that God sent.

         (3) He was not just Rabbi or teacher. He taught with Authority !

        (4) * you will have to turn loose of anything and everything except Jesus to Get to heaven !

        (5) When Nicodemus said to Jesus: "we know that you are a man sent from God or you could not do the things you do"...

       (6) Jesus immediately deposited the truth to Nicodemus, that "Ye must be born again." Verse. 3 This is the need of every man. The TRUTH to every man !

II. SECOND IT IS A SERIOUS MESSAGE.

     A. The way for a man to be saved and get to God’s heaven is a serious Message and should be preached and heard seriously.

        (1) That was Jesus main concern for Nicodemus and for every man today.

        (2) That he know and understand the need for the New Birth, and "How" to be Born Again, Born from above, is serious.

        (3) The need of Nicodemus spiritually, was serious and there was only ONE WAY, One HOPE, and Only ONE RESPONSE needed.

        (4) It is time that lost people get serious about their salvation !

     B. There is one and only one remedy!

        (1) That was and is the New Birth.

        (2) Anything that you read in the Bible, is serious and should be taken serious.

        (3) Jesus said it, and I believe it, I have experienced it, and every lost person must have the new birth.

     C. There are THREE "must" here in John 3. I want to call attention to two of those "musts."

         (1) "you must be born again." John 3:7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

        (2) "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:" John 3:14 [Ref. To O.T. Num. 21:5-9]

* The third "must" I won’t use is: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

III. THIRD, IT IS A SPECIFIC MESSAGE.

     A. The message of Jesus to Nicodemus was very specific, and to his basic need. To be Born Again.

     B. The basic and specific need of man is To be Born Again to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

IV. FOURTH, IT WAS A MESSAGE OF SALVATION.

     A. Nicodemus did not understand Jesus at first, but he asked a very timely question that most people don’t ask.

     B. He did not ask Jesus "Why" he needed to be born again, but he asked Jesus "How" to be born again.

 Vs. 4 says; "how can a man be born when he is old, can he enter into his Mothers womb the second time and be born?" Jesus answers in vs. 5

(John 3:5 KJV) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Note: Vs. 5 "born of water and the Spirit."

Various interpretations have been suggested for the meaning here of "water":

        (1) it refers to baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, this would contradict many other NT passages (Eph. 2:8-9);

        (2) it stands for the act of repentance that John the Baptizer's baptism signified;

        (3) it also means the Word of God, as in John 15:3;

        (4) it is a synonym for the Holy Spirit and may be translated, "by water, even the Spirit."

** One truth is clear: the new birth is from God through the Spirit.

     C. To be of water, means "Repentance."

        (1) Then he would be ready for the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, and to be born again.

        (2) This was a strong message for Nicodemus.

        (3) Lets face the Biblical facts, and truth about this.

        (4) It takes repentance and regeneration and faith to put a child of Adams ruin into the Kingdom of God, as you tie John 1:11-13 in with this.

        (5) Along with believing, comes receiving Jesus . John 1:11-13.

*** You must "Repent" "Believe" and "Receive" to receive power "Become" a child of God.

        (6) We can thank God for this word "how". Most people ask "why."

        (7) Why wont my good moral life, tithing, perfect attendance get me to heaven?

        (8) The answer is NO!

        (9) I believe that the message of Jesus, led Nicodemus to salvation.

V. THE MESSAGE WAS ONE OF SEPARATION.

(John 19:39) "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."

     A. Nicodemus did not really begin living for Jesus until He was crucified, and the crucifixion dawned on him.

     B. When he saw what the world was like by what it did to Jesus, then he broke with the world once and for all. He separated Himself from the world.

     C. After the crucifixion, Nicodemus no longer cared what the Sanhedrin thought about his allegiance to Jesus.

     D. The cross revolutionized his thinking about the world, and he was done with it.

     E. He stood up to be counted for Jesus boldly and triumphantly.

     F. When a new believer looks at his world in light of the cross and thereafter dies to that world and lives for Jesus, it is proof enough that he has been born again.

     G. "The Cross" made the difference in Nicodemus’ life and his separation.

     H. What happened at Calvary opened the eyes of Nicodemus , took away his fears and put the cross between himself and the world.

Conclusion:

     (1) Friend, that is what you must do.     

     (2) Your place is in your seat here when the doors are open for worship. If you are not, then your influence is dead and crippling to other saints of God.

     (3) The church is the place of worship, not your home or playground or TV.