Moments with the Master: Nicodemus

Second Chances

John 3:1-10

Opening Words: There are approximately 800,000 words in the English language. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know them all. Approximately 300,000 of those words are technical in nature. The average person only knows about 10,000 words and uses only half that number daily. However, it is not the number of words you know that matters. What matters is the numbers of discussions you have with the people in your life. How many people do you talk to on an average day?

Throughout the season of Lent we have been looking at various discussions Jesus had with various individuals. I have called this collection of discussions Moments with the Master. This morning we look at the story of Jesus discussion with Nicodemus. His is a story of second chances. May God give you ears to hear his story from the third chapter of John, verses one through ten. Let me call this message, “Second Chances.”

John 3:1-10 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The 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." 9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?”

A college-football coach was faced with the possibility that his star player might be declared academically ineligible, so he pleaded with the math professor not to flunk the kid. "Tell you what, coach," said the professor, "I'll ask him a question in your presence. If he gets it right, I'll pass him." The athlete was called in, and the math professor asked, "What's two and two?" "Four," replied the player. Frantically the coach cried, "Give him another chance! Give him another chance!" Is there anyone here this morning that would like a second chance at life?

This morning we are in the third chapter of John. The main character in the story is symbolic of many people in our society today. At this point in his life, Nicodemus admired Jesus but he wasn’t a genuine believer. How many people do you know that dadmire Jesus but aren’t genuine believers? It is for this reason Nicodemus was spiritually restless. He may have been what church growth people call the very first “seeker.” Verse two tells us Nicodemus came to Jesus in the darkness of the night. Biblical scholars have wondered why he came to Jesus at night for generations. There are several options. Perhaps he came in the darkness because rabbis studied at night. Perhaps he came in the darkness to avoid the crowd. It is hard to have a one on one discussion with someone in the middle of the crowd. At night Jesus would be alone so the two men could have a long talk. I think he came in the darkness to hide. Nicodemus is trying to protect his reputation. For years people had come to him to get answers to the most difficult questions in life. How would it look if he was going to this holy nobody to get his questions answered?

What Nicodemus discovers in his moment with the Master is that God is not looking for religious people, God is looking for people who want to have a relationship with Him. That is why Jesus came. The Master didn’t come into this world to create a new religion called Christianity; Jesus came into the world to bridge the great gap between mankind and God. His life was the greatest life that ever lived. It is not enough to admire Jesus; you must be a genuine believer. On the day you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you traveled over the bridge and change your life forever.

This morning I want to talk about how being a genuine believer changes everything about your life. Let us call them second chances. There are three second chances. Each one of these second chances is illustrated in the story of Nicodemus. Don’t miss this point! Your second chances would not have come if Jesus would not have come. On the moment Jesus became your Lord and Savior you were given a second chance at life, itself! On the moment Jesus became your Lord and Savior you were given a second chance at a relationship with God. On the moment Jesus became your Lord and Savior you were given a second chance at eternity. So if you are ready to start looking at these second chances say, “Amen!”

A second chance at life.

Because of Jesus you are getting a second chance at life, itself! The scriptures tell us a great deal about Nicodemus. He had a good life. He was a rich respected ruler, who had risen to the top of his class. To the outside world he was the complete package but he lacked one thing in his life. It was one thing he couldn‘t buy, purpose. Nicodemus knew what so many people in our world have never known. Nicodemus could buy anything but everything isn’t enough. Most people miss this point because we are just trying to survive. Nicodemus has moved beyond survival. Nicodemus discovered there is more to life than accumulating your purchases. Every life, your life, must have meaning and purpose. On the moment you became a genuine believer in Jesus you got a second chance at life, itself. At that moment your life suddenly had meaning and purpose.

Would anyone here like a second chance at life? I don’t mean on your college math exam. I mean your life, itself. Is there any aspect of your life that you would like a second chance at? Are there any parents who are here this morning that wouldn’t like a second chance at raising your children? Maybe you would be a little more encouraging and a little less critical? Is there anyone here this morning that would like to take a second chance at college? Maybe this time you would study more and party less. Is there any one here this morning that would like a second chance at their health? Maybe this time you wouldn’t have gotten down on the floor to scrub that dirty floor, which lead to your knee replacement? If there anyone here this morning that would like to take a second chance at love. Your career became more important than your heart and today you are alone. Is t here anyone here that would like a second chance at marriage? You married the wrong person and you regret it everyday. Is there anyone here this this morning that doesn’t regret something in their life? Do I have to go on? I have never met a person who didn’t want a second chance at something. I have never met a person who didn’t have a few regrets.

I have said it in the past. The details of your life may not be pretty. That is why it is so important to develop an eternal perspective. Verse three says you must be “born again.” The actual Greek translation is you must be “born from above.” In others words, you must develop an eternal perspective. So many people only look at their lives in the here and now. There is much more. You must develop a perspective in your life, where you are not the star. When you are able to do that it is very liberating. Suddenly the details of your life are not as important as God‘s big picture. Your life doesn’t have to be perfect because you are able to trust your life to the perfect one. On the day you became a genuine believer you got a second chance at life, itself. You didn’t get younger but you did see life from a different perspective, an eternal perspective. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

A second chance with God.

Because of Jesus you are getting a second chance at a relationship with God! The very first verse in this story tells us Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Who are the Pharisees? The word Pharisee means “separated ones.” There were about 6,000 of them spread throughout Palestine. They devoted themselves to the written law of Moses and the unwritten law of the elders. They believed one could only experience God’s grace by the keeping of the law. There were some bad elements in the group but not everyone was bad. I believe Nicodemus was genuine in his pursuit of God. He came that evening because you knew that the law was good but the law would never lead him into a personal relationship with God. On the moment you became a genuine believer in Jesus you entered into a relationship with God. Would anyone here like to have a relationship with God? Augustine once said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.”

The Carnegie Technological Institute has stated that 90% of all people who fail in their life's vocation fail because they cannot get along with people. That does not surprise me because I work with people all the time. Do you know how many discussions I have with people about their relationships? I don’t just mean relationships between men and women or children and parents. I mean relationships between church members. A day does not pass when I don’t hear a criticism about someone else or a statement of why someone doesn’t like them. Those words always surprise me because I like everyone of you. Every time I have one of those discussions I think of that old line from that old Christian hymn, “And they will know we are Christians by our love.” Albert Einstein was right! He said, “Physics is easy; relationships are complex.” How can we have a relationship with God if we have a hard time having a relationship with one another?

An unknown source came up with a list on how to get along with people. Maybe it will help you?

The SIX most important words: I admit I made a mistake.

The FIVE most important words: You did a good job.

The FOUR most important words: What do you think?

The THREE most important words: After you please.

The TWO most important words: Thank you.

The ONE most important word: We

The LEAST important word: I

Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark because he wanted a relationship with God. We want a relationship with God but what is more important is God wants a relationship with us. Perhaps one of the reasons we can’t maintain a relationship with God is that we can’t maintain a relationship with one another! On the day you became a genuine believer in Jesus you got a second chance at a relationship with God. You get a second chance every day to build a relationship with one another. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

A second chance at eternity.

Because of Jesus you are getting a second chance at eternity! One of the great differences between Old Testament theology and New Testament theology is the concept of salvation. In the Old Testament you received your blessings in this world. That is why the Promised Land is so important to God’s chosen people. Old Testament theology is very gray about the after life. When you died, it was over. In New Testament theology we get our blessings in heaven. When we get to heaven we will be reunited with our loved ones and our problems will be northing more than a memory. Heaven is one of the great promises of God and can only be obtained by God’s grace. Nicodemus wanted more than Old Testament theology could offer. On the moment you became a genuine believer in Jesus you got a second chance at eternity. Would anyone here like to go to heaven? Would anyone here like to live for eternity?

One of my favorite places in the world is the Marblehead Lighthouse. It was constructed in 1819 and sets on the rocks that extend into the lake at Sandusky Bay. I believe it has the longest service record of any light house on the Great Lakes. I like being there at sunset because no two sunsets are ever the same. I will meditate on that spot and think about all the sunsets that took place before I was born and I will think about all those sunsets that will take place after I die. When I do that I feel very small and insignificant. But then I remember I am going to live longer than those ancient rocks. I am going to live longer then that lake. I am going to live longer than the sun and suddenly I feel very big. I am thankful I don’t just have Old Testament theology. I am thankful for my New Testament theology, which tells me I am going to live forever! And you can claim that promise too if you are a genuine believer in Jesus Christ. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story. Some of you have heard it in the past.

Did you know it took Thomas A. Edison’s work team worked 24 straight hours to make the very first light bulb? History tells us when Edison finished that first light bulb; he gave it to a young boy who was helping. The young man nervously carried that precious light bulb up a long flight of stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. When he got to the top of the stairs the unthinkable happened. He dropped the first light bulb! It smashed into a million pieces. Edison was unflappable. He and his team simply went back to work on an identical second light bulb. Twenty-four hours later they finished and Edison handed the second light to the same young man. That young man seized his second chance and without a mishap he delivered the second light bulb to the top of the stairs.

Here is the good news for this morning. You are getting a second chance! You are getting a second chance at life! You are getting a second chance at a relationship with God. You are getting a second chance at eternity. You are getting a second chance because God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, Jesus! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”