February 19, 2012 Jesus @ Night

***The following are the notes for the message for Sunrise UMC on Feb. 19, 2012***

 

 We sometimes find ourselves stuck in same old routine

         - in our work

         - in our school

         - in our marriage

         - in our faith

What excites us? For me...learning

I found an old journal entry from back when I was a student at Pfeiffer University. It said this, "The more I learn, the more I know I don't know."

I have found that to be a more profound statement than I ever imagined. Yet, for what it is worth, the church has ordained me as the resident theologian, which, in light of that previous statement, is a scary thought. Many of my seminary professors would probably agree with that too.

Theology is the study of the nature of God and religious Truth. As a theologian, I maintain, the more I learn, the more I know I don't know.

 

Who knows who Sheldon Cooper is?

- a fictitious character on the TV show The Big Bang Theory

- holds a BS, MS,MA, PhD, ScD

- theoretical physicist at CalTech

- Sheldon is smart and he knows it

The text for this morning introduces us to another learned and smart man named Nicodemus

John 3:1-2

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

- John uses night as a metaphor of the separation from God

- leader of Judean people (had to be smart)

- addresses Jesus appropriately

John 3:3-4

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

- Know anyone who while is brilliant, also just misses the point?

Remember our old friend Sheldon?

-grew up in devout and fundamental Christian family

- episodes reveal he has much knowledge of Bible and Christian history, BUT

- For all that knowledge, he misses the point.

John 3:5-7

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

Both the NIV & KJV say, "You must be born again" but the NRSV says, "You must be born from above"

So, which is it? Again or Above?

BOTH

The word in question here is the Greek word anothen. It has a double meaning that cannot be translated into English in to just one word. But it in essence means both again & from above

Yet, Nick seems to focus only on one aspect - again

Jesus, on the other hand, takes the holistic approach and focuses on both - again & from above

- Jesus goes on to explain the from above  a bit more.

John 3:8-9

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 everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?

For all he had, Nick's credentials nor wisdom has opened his understanding of this point.

John 3:11-12

11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

Nick came seeking Jesus knowing Torah. He knew The Law of Moses. He had that head knowledge.

Jesus also had the head knowledge, but he came proclaiming another aspect - faith (heart knowledge)

We see by the text, Nick believes in Jesus (but not fully - head but not heart)

This quandary is found elsewhere in our history. John Wesley, the found of this movement we are a part of, Methodism, was also caught up in it.

- ordained 1725

- still struggled with faith

- March 5, 1738, Wesley wrote in his journal: "I was, in the hand of the great God, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved."

-To the question whether he should cease preaching his friend, Martin Boehler, replied, "By no means." "But what can I preach " asked Wesley. "Preach faith till you have it, and then because you have it you will preach faith."

- And so on Monday morning he offered salvation by faith to a man under sentence of death in Oxford Castle. He was deeply moved when the condemned man he again visited rose from prayer exclaiming eagerly, "I am now ready to die. I know Christ has taken away my sins, and there is no more condemnation for me." So the prisoner died in peace. Wesley on the other hand still struggled with this inner turmoil.

- Yet Wesley continued to wrestle with faith until May 24th when he was at a small group meeting on Aldersgate St, in which one just finished reading Luther's preface to Romans. Suddenly, Wesley made the connection

- Journal entry - About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Wesley mad the connection between head and heart

Text attests to this - BOTH - body & spirit = head & heart = rational & irrational

Some may be struggling - that's okay.

A few months ago, I was looking through some of my dad's notes and found one that said,  "The greatest distance is between a man's head and heart"

It is a great distance, but not a impassable barrier though. The connection can be made.

We can see this as we read through John's gospel. Nick's attitude changes over the course of John's gospel (7:50-52 & 19:39-40).

Benediction - Grow into your faith.