Good People and Serial Killers

Nicodemus knew of Jesus’ miracles and teachings, and concluded that God must be with Him.  How else could Jesus do such things?  Nicodemus was also a Pharisee, so sought out Jesus in the night to avoid the hassle of his peers bent on persecuting Jesus. 

It seems Nicodemus was sincerely seeking truth.  So Jesus gave it to him.  “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)  That’s the truth, straight from God Himself.

Nicodemus didn’t need more information, he needed transformation.

How can a grown man be born a second time, he wondered.  Surely that’s not possible.

Jesus went on to explain that we must be born again of water and the Spirit, of God.  With physical birth, we inherit a sinful human nature and separation from God.  By default.

From Adam.  Every single one of us.  Good people, serial killers, and everyone in between.

There is no good that is “good enough for God”.  It doesn’t work that way.  He is perfect, holy, and just, so His penalty for sin is death.  Fortunately, Jesus paid the price for our sins – past, present and future – and now we are saved by faith in Him.  Faith in Jesus recreates us as new beings, born of His righteous Spirit.  And as new creations we are now fit for His kingdom. 

Not perfect.  Not sin-free.  But perfectly forgiven.

Because God loves us, He sent Jesus to pay our penalty.  “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.”  (John 3:16)

Jesus came to save, not condemn.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:17)

We’re the ones who condemn.  “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.”  (John 3:18)

We condemn ourselves by refusing and rejecting Jesus.  We condemn our children by not raising them up in Him and His Word.  We condemn future generations by allowing the world to lead them further and further away from Christ.

Until we understand our own inability to save ourselves, we won’t understand and accept Jesus as the only solution.

Did Nicodemus find the truth he was looking for?  Did you?  Please, please, please don’t stop looking until you do.

Whatever

Jesus’ first public miracle was turning water into wine (John 2:1-12).  He was at a wedding in Cana and his mother came to him because the wine had run out.  I love how she expected a miracle from her son – and such a highly practical, seemingly non-spiritual one.  It’s not like driving out demons, healing the sick, or feeding the multitudes.  We’re talking wine here…

I’ve read that wine in the Bible often symbolizes joy, so when Mary said there was no wine she might also have been implying that the guests lacked joy - the permanent, eternal joy that only comes with being saved.  She may have wanted Jesus to reveal himself as Messiah that evening.  Or, she could have just wanted more wine…

As Son of God, Jesus knew it wasn’t yet time for public miracles, but as son of Mary, he wanted to please her and help out.  So Mary turned to the servants and said “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:4)  And Jesus turned 6 jars of water, 20-30 gallons each, into the best wine.

Do whatever he tells you.  As I read this, I felt like the Lord was talking directly to me.  So often we pick and choose which parts of God’s Word to obey, or we don’t read it at all, content with listening to Sunday morning nuggets and then following what we’re comfortable with and have time for.  Mary was right to instruct total obedience, and obedience only to Christ.

Do whatever he tells you. 

Do I do whatever he says?  Key word being “whatever”.  All of it.  Without compromise.  Without excuses. 

And according to his timing?  Because Jesus had told Mary it wasn’t yet time for his public ministry.  Often times we try to speed things up by “helping God out.”  Part of obeying God is having patience with his timing, not striving on our own outside of his will.  I feel like Mary conceded to this and surrendered to Jesus’ will – whether it meant a miracle then and there, or sending the servants out to the corner party store.  It was up to Jesus.

Jesus chose the miracle route (John 2:11) and people believed in him.  Something that wouldn’t have happened if

a) Mary had handled things on her own rather than going to Jesus,

b) Mary hadn’t surrendered to his timing and plans, and

c) the servants hadn’t done whatever he said.

When we do whatever Jesus says, miracles happen and lives are changed.   

The Voice

Finally they asked, then “Who are you?” (John 1:22)  This was the question posed to John the Baptist by the priests and Levites sent to find out what was going on. 

John had been testifying about Jesus as the Son of God and baptizing new believers.  He had also developed a following of disciples wanting to learn more.  “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’”. (John 1:23)

Because of their departure from God, Israel had become a dry and barren wilderness.  John had been sent by God to give voice to Christ - the living Word of God, the living water that would bring life to a dry land. 

The Word needs a voice to make it known, and the voice is nothing without the word.

As I was reading, I was reminded of my own times of wilderness.  Plodding through the desert in desperate search of water.  Putting hope in mirages only to find they can’t satisfy.  It turns out that Christ is the only source living water, the only way to never go thirsty again. (John 4:13-14)

As I was reading, I could also relate to being merely the voice.  John wasn’t extra-special.  He didn’t possess great skills or have far-reaching power and influence.  He was simply obedient to God’s call as Christ’s forerunner, to be Christ’s voice until he arrived on the scene. 

John shared what he knew from God’s Word.  He shared his testimony.  (I suspect he had his own share of wilderness rescue experiences.)  And he used both to encourage others to repent and follow the way of Christ.

John was just the voice. 

Something we all can be should be.  In total obedience and humility.

John’s message from God was to make straight the way for the Lord.  Clear the path.  Make room in your life for him to reign over you as Savior and Lord.

Giving voice to God’s Word means hearing it, living it, and then sharing it.  Are you willing to give voice to God’s Word?  Are you willing to make room for it in your life?

Not Enough

John’s primary purpose in writing his Gospel can be summed-up in John 20:31.  “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” 

John wanted to prove that Jesus is God’s plan for salvation.  His goal, or should I say God’s goal through him, is to evoke a response of faith and belief in Christ by all who hear the truth.

Knowing isn’t enough.  Choosing to respond in faith and believe is.

John 1 is jam-packed with incredible truths about Jesus.  He existed from the beginning of time (1:1-2).  Through him all things were made (1:3).  He is the life and light of all mankind (1:4).  Darkness cannot overcome him (1:5).  Those who believe in him become children of God (1:12).  He is God’s Word in the flesh, God’s glory, God’s one and only Son, full of grace and truth (1:14).  Both man and Scripture testified to his coming (1:15-17).  And all this in just the first 18 verses.  Wow!

Christ is God’s living Word to man, letting us know what God is like, how much he loves us, even how he expects us to respond.  While Scripture admits that not everyone will receive Christ as their Savior, it also explains that all who do will become children of God, born of God.  Born again. (John 1:11-13)

Verse 13 also tells us how we’re not saved, ways we often take for granted thinking we’re “covered”. 

1) We are not born again through natural descent.  It doesn’t matter if your grandparents, parents, or other relatives believe.  It doesn’t matter if your culture or nationality believes.  Each of us has to decide for ourselves.  Salvation is not passed down through family ties, or passed out like honorable mentions.

2) We are not born again through human decision, meaning the will of our flesh.  In other words, we don’t have the power or ability to save ourselves.  Although we must be willing to be saved, our own will is not enough to do the job.

3) We are not born again through the will of another.  Not a pastor, a parent, a spouse…  While prayer and intercession are powerful, ultimately people can only make the decision for themselves.

To be saved we must be born again of God.  This means that the power to save does not rest in anything or anyone but God.  We just need to make the decision to believe his Word and his Son, and allow him to recreate us as his children.

So is Jesus the only way for salvation?  God himself says that he is.  “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.”(John 3:16)

Some people focus on the lost, thinking God would never let so many perish, therefore Jesus can’t possibly be the only way for salvation.  Except the truth is somewhat opposite.  Because God doesn’t want anyone to perish, he made a way for everyone to be saved…and that way is Christ.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

Think about the great love and generosity of God’s free gift, a gift that is offered to all.

Then throw off any hindrances and misconceptions, respond in faith, and believe.