Jesus Challenges Me - a podcast by Lewis Marsh

The Gospel of John 1-7

Jesus Challenges Me, John 3:1-21

By Louie Marsh, 5-9-2021

 

Some “Dumb Questions”

 

1. A stitch in time saves nine what?
2. Since there is a speed of light and a speed of sound, is there a speed of smell?
3. What is the speed of dark?
4. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
5. What do people in China call their good plates?
6. What happens if you go on a survival course - and you don't pass?
7. Do hummingbirds hum because they don't know the words?
8. How can someone "draw a blank"?
9. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

 

Nicodemus:  Meaning: the people is victor, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin

 

He is first noticed as visiting Jesus by night (John 3:1-21) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which our Lord then unfolded to him, giving prominence to the necessity of being "born again."

 

He is next met with in the Sanhedrin (7:50-52), where he protested against the course they were taking in plotting against Christ.

 

Once more he is mentioned as taking part in the preparation for the anointing and burial of the body of Christ (John 19:39).

 

Jesus Challenges Me

 

1) To choose between LIGHT & DARKNESS.

 

1  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” John 3:1-2 (ESV)

 

19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:19-21 (ESV)

 

2) To start all OVER AGAIN.

 

3  Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” John 3:3-4 (ESV)

 

3) To know there are only TWO ways to live.

 

5  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6 (ESV)

 

63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63 (ESV)

 

17  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17 (ESV)

 

4) To choose the road LESS CERTAIN.

 

8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (ESV)

 

8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

 

Child of the Wind By Bruce Cockburn

 

There’s roads and there’s roads
And they call, can’t you hear it?
Roads of the earth
And roads of the spirit
The best roads of all
Are the ones that aren’t certain
One of those is where you’ll find me
Till they drop the big curtain

 

I’m too old for the term
But I’ll use it anyway
I’ll be a child of the wind
Till the end of my days

 

Little round planet
In a big universe
Sometimes it looks blessed
Sometimes it looks cursed
Depends on what you look at obviously
But even more it depends on the way that you see
 

5) To trust Him ALONE.

 

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. John 3:14-15 (ESV)

 

3  For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

 

6) To see His CENTRALITY.

 

16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18 (ESV)

  

God Loves & Creates

Man Rejects God and Falls

Christ Sacrifices to provide Redemption

Christ Rises from the Dead

Response – BASIS

BELIEVE Jesus is God, died on the cross to forgive my sins, rose from the dead and lives today.

ACCEPT His grace & forgiveness for ME, realize I can do nothing without Christ.

SWITCH – Turn away from self and sin to turn to Christ alone.

INFORM – let everyone know I’m a Christ follower!

SUBMERGE – be baptized into Christ as the sign of this new relationship with God.

 

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