Illogical Part 1 - John 3:1-8

From Logic to Discernment

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. - John 2:13-25

Curiosity

Darkness of Night

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

• A bit about Nicodemus

• Very high ranking Jewish leader

• Pharisee, leader in the Sanhedrin, and later Jesus calls him the teacher of Israel

• By night

  • John has will continue in this theme of light vs darkness

  • In his curiosity, Nicodemus wanted to hide from other Jewish leaders

    • Yet his heart was much more in the dark than he could have known at that time

  Our state

• Nicodemus was curious about Jesus, curious enough to risk in some way meeting him

• Are you curious about Jesus? Curious enough to risk something in your heart to go to Him?

• Teacher

• Nicodemus recognizes that Jesus if from God, but calls Him teacher

• Many people will acknowledge Jesus existed, those who do will probably say He was a teacher

• Some will say He is from God

• Very few people will acknowledge He is God

• Have you given Him reign over all the issues of your heart? 

• Do you treat Him as God in a complete surrender and trust?

It’s Not Logical

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?” 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 3:3-6

• Nicodemus was thinking logical

• It’s hard for our brain to comprehend these sorts of things because we can’t

You can’t logically understand that which must be spiritually discerned

• Herein lies the issue for most people

• We have a curiosity when it comes to Jesus

• Can I trust you God? Will you take care of this? Can I let go? (this is the real question we deal with)

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 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 3:7-8

Learning to Discern

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14

9 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?