Are you all in?
Sunday Aug 2, 2020
Sermon Series: The Ministry of Jesus ‘Jesus Teaches Nicodemus’
Message: Are you ‘all in?’
Reverend Glynis Faith (705-765-3797) (muskokalakesministry@gmail.com)
Announcements
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Scripture
Numbers 21:4-9 NIV
The Bronze Snake
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
John 3:1-15 (NIV)
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 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.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, 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? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
Message
“Are you all in?”
There is a term in poker called ‘all in,’ which is when a person is willing to bet everything they have on the cards they hold in their hand. That person would need to be very confident that what they have in their hand is superior to anyone else’s.
That is what God wants from us, for us to be ‘all in.’ To be born again – born of the Spirit is to let go of the desires of the flesh that pull us away from worship and Christian service. To be born of the Spirit, means new life in the Spirit. New birth comes with the expectation of growth, development, failures, successes and maturity.
When a child is born it relies on its mother to supply its needs. Through trial and error and the guidance of others the baby grows, learns and matures.
The process of Spiritual birth is the same. We are born of the Spirit and must trust God to provide our needs. Through trial and error (and yes, Christians make mistakes – we make plenty of them) – through trial and error and the guidance of our Christian community we learn to discern God’s will, we grow in our faith and we mature into the Image of God we were created to be.
Nicodemus was correct, you cannot return into your mother’s womb to be born again. Once you are in the world, you are all in.
A baby cannot be half in. You cannot stay partially in the womb and partially in the world. First of all, that would be terribly awkward, but it would also hinder a baby’s chance to live and grow and experience life.
The same is true of Spiritual birth. We cannot be half in. We cannot grow and mature into the Christians we are called to be if we are not ‘all in.’
This is what Nicodemus was looking for. He saw God through Jesus and He knew Jesus had something he wanted, even if he could not yet identify what it was. He says, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you do if God were not with them.” But he also wanted to keep the comforts of the flesh. We know this because he comes alone and at night, under the cover of darkness, to speak with Jesus. He says, “we know,” yet he comes alone. He comes at night so he will not be seen speaking with Jesus, for his fellow Pharisees disapproved of Jesus and His teachings. Nicodemus sees something desirable in Jesus – something from God, but it is not enough for him to risk his comforts.
Good ole Nic was a Pharisee and a member of the ruling council. He had status, power, influence, money and security. In his mind he was guaranteed the honour of being one of God’s chosen because it was his birthright ~ He was born an Israelite.
He had earned the rank of Pharisee, believing good works and strict adherence to the Laws of Moses would guarantee his place in the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus viewed the Kingdom of God as distant – something he would receive one day because of who he was and what he did, but Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God ‘now’ to all who would be born again – to those who would declare, “I’m all in.”
Through His ministry Jesus leads by example. Anything He calls us to do, He himself is willing to do. Jesus is all in for despite what it may cost, and he gives a hint of what the cost will be when he says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” Jesus knew what the cost would be, but He stayed ‘all in’ so you and I could receive the Kingdom of God and be filled with the blessings of the Spirit. When we choose to be born of the Spirit we receive the Fruits of the Spirit ~ Peace ~ Love ~ Joy ~ Patience ~ Kindness ~ Goodness ~ Faithfulness ~ Gentleness and Self-Control. These are gifts that help us on our journey – gifts that are far greater than the costs.
There is a cost to being all in. Sometimes the cost is turning away from things of the flesh you enjoy. It might mean friends will turn away from you. It may even cost you status, a good paying job, security or benefits. Being all in has cost many people their lives over the centuries, and still today people are persecuted and even executed for their faith.
But being half in is even costlier. Look at the people of Israel from our Old Testament reading. Through Moses, God freed them from slavery and brought them out to the desert. Their time in the wilderness was a time for them to grow and mature in their trust and dependence upon God, but our reading shows yet another instance of their rebellion against God and His chosen leaders.
The people allowed their needs and desires for things of the flesh to cause them to sin. Impatience, we are told, is their downfall this time, as they imply a return to the slavery in Egypt would be better then trusting in God’s provisions. So, God provides them venomous snakes instead of the boring daily rations of manna, BUT He also sends them a symbol of trust to save them. The bronze snake on the pole was a simple test – look upon it and live. Keep your eyes fixed on what God provides and don’t let anything else distract you. It’s not easy!
Jesus came, not only to teach the people about God and to show them how to live, but to be that symbol they were to keep their eyes fixed upon. Christ willingly went to the Cross as an atonement for our sins, that when we choose to be born of the Spirit, we can always look to Him for forgiveness and guidance.
Nicodemus was not reborn that night, but the seed of the Spirit was planted through the truth Jesus spoke. We know this because of the next two times we meet him in John’s Gospel. It is Nicodemus that reminds his colleagues that the Laws of Moses required them to hear Jesus before casting judgement (John 7:50-51). And following the Crucifixion Nicodemus comes with embalming spices to assist Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial (John 19:39-42).
I wonder if Nicodemus looked upon Jesus on the Cross and remembered the words Jesus had spoken that dark night when he went out to talk with Him, “ Just as Moses lifted the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,” and I wonder if those words and image of God’s innocent Son hanging upon the Cross was what lead him to step out of the darkness and into the light – to embrace new life?
Legend has it that following Christ’s death and resurrection, Nicodemus was ‘all in,’ employing his wealth to grow the early church. It cost him dearly – his position of power – the respect of his peers – friends – lifestyle. Good ole Nic gave up the earthly pleasures that do not last and took hold of the Kingdom of God which is eternal.
Jesus was ‘all in’ throughout His ministry, teaching us by His words and actions what life in the Spirit looks like. He calls us to join Him in ministry – to plant the seeds of faith that will germinate and grow in the Nicodemus’ we meet along the way.
We cannot do this on our own. We must trust God with all our heart and follow the footsteps of Jesus and frequently ask the Spirit to lead us along the path God has planned for us.
Friends, it is time to show your hand – are you ‘all in?’
Please pray with me: Thank you Jesus for showing us the way, and thank you for giving Yourself fully for our salvation. You have given us big footsteps to walk in, but you have also given us the Holy Spirit to walk the journey with us. May we continue to grow and mature in our faith, keeping our eyes fixed upon You as we do. Bless us with strength, courage and compassion to live out the ministry You call us to. This we pray with grateful hearts. AMEN