Sermon Text: John 3:1-17
Title: Lifted Up
I. Nicodemus doesn’t get it.
II. Sunday school is in session.
III. Christ must be lifted up.
IV. One more lifting up
IN THE LIFTING UP OF OUR SAVIOR ON HIS CROSS – WE TOO ARE LIFTED UP – OUT OF SIN AND INTO HEAVEN.
In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Title: Lifted Up
I. Nicodemus doesn’t get it.
II. Sunday school is in session.
III. Christ must be lifted up.
IV. One more lifting up
IN THE LIFTING UP OF OUR SAVIOR ON HIS CROSS – WE TOO ARE LIFTED UP – OUT OF SIN AND INTO HEAVEN.
In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson just read…
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I.
Nicodemus this ruler of the Jews doesn’t get it. It doesn’t matter that he is a Pharisee. It doesn’t matter that he is a learned man of the Holy Scriptures. It makes no difference that he is a leader and ruler of the people of Israel. Jesus tells him that unless one is born again, born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
The sermon text for this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson just read…
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I.
Nicodemus this ruler of the Jews doesn’t get it. It doesn’t matter that he is a Pharisee. It doesn’t matter that he is a learned man of the Holy Scriptures. It makes no difference that he is a leader and ruler of the people of Israel. Jesus tells him that unless one is born again, born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
And Nicodemus stands there and you can just see him – mouth hanging open not comprehending what Jesus has just said. This man Nicodemus is one of the few of the Pharisees who in secret, follows Jesus. He is a man who has quite possibly risked his life, and certainly his job and reputation to meet with Jesus this night. And this is what Jesus says to him?! With a completely dumfounded look on his face, Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How is this possible?”
Jesus looks at Nicodemus and a heavy sadness fills His voice and maybe even tears glisten in His eyes and He says to Nicodemus…
Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
This should not have been such a foreign concept to this religious leader of the people of Israel. They knew a life of transformation in the rite of circumcision. And yet here is the learned Nicodemus standing there not understanding this basic truth that Jesus is revealing to him. And it is for this reason that Jesus is saddened.
Jesus goes on to say…
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
Who is the “We” that Jesus speaks of? You may have guessed it. Most theologians see this as the divine “We” meaning that this is the Trinity. It would also include those who follow Jesus, that is the disciples, John the Baptist, and other followers.
And then Jesus point blank tells Nicodemus he is wrong when He says, “but you do not receive our testimony.” What a positively refreshing bit of fresh air for us today who are choking on the political correctness of the day when one cannot say another is wrong. Jesus says it to Nicodemus and we need to be more assertive in our pointing out the wrongs of the world when we see them, but do so in Christian love.
Jesus goes on to say…
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
What are the earthly things Jesus speaks of? Here He speaks of the regeneration of Baptism. He goes back to what He was speaking of before, of being born again through water and Spirit. This is an earthly act performed in the hearts of men through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus is about to tell Nicodemus of a very important heavenly thing, namely the atonement, that is the sacrifice that will soon be accomplished for all men. Where Baptism is regenerative in man, the atonement – Christ’s death on the Cross – will be for man.
II.
Then Jesus begins to give Nicodemus a bit of a Sunday School lesson. Jesus says…
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…
Here Jesus refers to something that is very familiar to this teacher of the people of Israel, the story of Moses in the wilderness. Here he is reminded of the wickedness of the children of Israel with their complaining and grumbling against the LORD and Moses which resulted in their being afflicted with a plague of fiery serpents. He is reminded how many in Israel died from this, and those remaining alive and in pain and agony cried out to Moses to intercede for them with the LORD. And the LORD hears their cry for mercy, and by grace – gives them a way out of this terrible affliction. He commands Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a poll and all who are bitten can look to this poll and live. This account is all very familiar to Nicodemus.
III.
Jesus looks at Nicodemus and a heavy sadness fills His voice and maybe even tears glisten in His eyes and He says to Nicodemus…
Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
This should not have been such a foreign concept to this religious leader of the people of Israel. They knew a life of transformation in the rite of circumcision. And yet here is the learned Nicodemus standing there not understanding this basic truth that Jesus is revealing to him. And it is for this reason that Jesus is saddened.
Jesus goes on to say…
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
Who is the “We” that Jesus speaks of? You may have guessed it. Most theologians see this as the divine “We” meaning that this is the Trinity. It would also include those who follow Jesus, that is the disciples, John the Baptist, and other followers.
And then Jesus point blank tells Nicodemus he is wrong when He says, “but you do not receive our testimony.” What a positively refreshing bit of fresh air for us today who are choking on the political correctness of the day when one cannot say another is wrong. Jesus says it to Nicodemus and we need to be more assertive in our pointing out the wrongs of the world when we see them, but do so in Christian love.
Jesus goes on to say…
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
What are the earthly things Jesus speaks of? Here He speaks of the regeneration of Baptism. He goes back to what He was speaking of before, of being born again through water and Spirit. This is an earthly act performed in the hearts of men through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus is about to tell Nicodemus of a very important heavenly thing, namely the atonement, that is the sacrifice that will soon be accomplished for all men. Where Baptism is regenerative in man, the atonement – Christ’s death on the Cross – will be for man.
II.
Then Jesus begins to give Nicodemus a bit of a Sunday School lesson. Jesus says…
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…
Here Jesus refers to something that is very familiar to this teacher of the people of Israel, the story of Moses in the wilderness. Here he is reminded of the wickedness of the children of Israel with their complaining and grumbling against the LORD and Moses which resulted in their being afflicted with a plague of fiery serpents. He is reminded how many in Israel died from this, and those remaining alive and in pain and agony cried out to Moses to intercede for them with the LORD. And the LORD hears their cry for mercy, and by grace – gives them a way out of this terrible affliction. He commands Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a poll and all who are bitten can look to this poll and live. This account is all very familiar to Nicodemus.
III.
Then Jesus goes on and says…
…so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
In other words, Jesus tells Nicodemus that He – Jesus Himself – is the Savior of the world. Just as this fiery serpent brought life to all who looked on it, so too will this Son of Man Who will be lifted up on a cross of execution bring life to all who look upon Him and believe.
Here Jesus is speaking words of life to Nicodemus. He is telling Him, “I am the One you’ve been waiting for. I am the One that the fiery serpent foreshadowed. I am the promised Messiah, look no further. I will die the death of all the sinners of the world and all those who have been snake bitten by the serpent, the devil himself, God the Father is providing a way out for them too, just like He did for the Children of Israel in the wilderness. I will be lifted up and all they need do is look upon me and believe, believe that I am their Savior and that God has rescued them. This is the perfect love that the Father has for the world. He sent me not to condemn it, but to save it.”
IV.
And from this lifting up there comes one more lifting up. The lifting up of us from the depths of sin to the heights of heaven through the living waters of Holy Baptism. That’s right. We are lifted up too. But our lifting up is not on a cross. No, for us our lifting up is Jesus scarred hands lifting us up. He bends to us in our shame and sin and lifts us up through Baptism, through the Word. He puts his arm around us and helps us up, cleans us off and says come on, let’s go, the Father is waiting to see you. And then He smiles and tears once again glisten in His eyes, but this time it is for joy – the joy of bringing you home. Amen.
The peace of the LORD – which surpasses all human understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – lifted up for our sins. Amen.
+Soli Deo Gloria+
…so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
In other words, Jesus tells Nicodemus that He – Jesus Himself – is the Savior of the world. Just as this fiery serpent brought life to all who looked on it, so too will this Son of Man Who will be lifted up on a cross of execution bring life to all who look upon Him and believe.
Here Jesus is speaking words of life to Nicodemus. He is telling Him, “I am the One you’ve been waiting for. I am the One that the fiery serpent foreshadowed. I am the promised Messiah, look no further. I will die the death of all the sinners of the world and all those who have been snake bitten by the serpent, the devil himself, God the Father is providing a way out for them too, just like He did for the Children of Israel in the wilderness. I will be lifted up and all they need do is look upon me and believe, believe that I am their Savior and that God has rescued them. This is the perfect love that the Father has for the world. He sent me not to condemn it, but to save it.”
IV.
And from this lifting up there comes one more lifting up. The lifting up of us from the depths of sin to the heights of heaven through the living waters of Holy Baptism. That’s right. We are lifted up too. But our lifting up is not on a cross. No, for us our lifting up is Jesus scarred hands lifting us up. He bends to us in our shame and sin and lifts us up through Baptism, through the Word. He puts his arm around us and helps us up, cleans us off and says come on, let’s go, the Father is waiting to see you. And then He smiles and tears once again glisten in His eyes, but this time it is for joy – the joy of bringing you home. Amen.
The peace of the LORD – which surpasses all human understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – lifted up for our sins. Amen.
+Soli Deo Gloria+
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