3-14-21 Sermon Notes “Why Jesus?”
I’ll bet that almost everyone (even those who don’t claim to be Christian) can tell you what John 3: 16 says. But what led up to that famous verse? What does Jesus say right before John 3: 16, and what does Jesus say after it? Jesus was talking to a guy named Nicodemus. Who was he?
Nicodemus was “a leader of the Jews,” which means that he was a member of the Jewish ruling council known as the Sanhedrin. He came to Jesus at night. Why? Some have claimed that Nicodemus was a spy, trying to somehow trick Jesus. I don’t think so. I think Nicodemus was someone actually seeking the truth. The main reason I think this, is that Nicodemus is later revealed as a believer. He comes with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus’ body for a proper Jewish burial (John 19: 39).
And what about the other things surrounding John 3:16? Sunday we will look at this passage:
14 And just 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.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (John 3: 14-21)
Join us Sunday as we look at some of the things Jesus says in this famous passage and ask, “Why Jesus?”
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam