Crisis of Darkness John 3:1-21 People Did Not Always Say Nice Things

Crisis of Darkness whole reason you came to this earth is that people believe this John 3:1-21 and be saved. With that in mind being described as a teacher come from God falls short. What Nicodemus says is not a People did not always say nice things about Jesus. In just three confession of faith. We would like to think that he comes to verses of Mark 3 are two examples: Then Jesus entered a faith. After all, he has this one on one encounter with Jesus. house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his Surely, if anyone was in a position to receive faith and confess disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard it would be Nicodemus. But we don’t see it. about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came Jesus shares a little more after our Gospel reading, and the down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By story ends without us knowing whether or not Nicodemus the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” (20-22) Jesus’ becomes a believer. This is how their time together ends. "For own family said He was out of His mind. Teachers of the law God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that called Him demon possessed. whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn But now, in our text, one of those same teachers of the law the world, but in order that the world might be saved through actually pays Jesus a compliment. Or at least he thinks he him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named does not believe is condemned already, because he has not Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do the darkness rather than the light because their works were unless God is with him." evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and Nicodemus is a little afraid to do it. Not pay Jesus a does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. compliment, but rather to be seen with Him at all. A lot of his But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may buddies think Jesus is demon possessed. Jesus mentions this be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." just a few verses after the end of our reading. He says, For We’re going to take a closer look at one of those sentences. everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. Jesus isn’t and people loved the darkness rather than the light because saying that coming to see Him is a wicked thing. He is making their works were evil. The Greek word translated judgment a point that Nicodemus will understand very well because he would be spelled in our letters krisis. If we replace the k with a has come to Jesus at night so his buddies won’t find out. c what English word do we have? (Crisis) Maybe there has But back to this compliment thing. What Nicodemus says been a crisis in your family recently. This morning someone sounds pretty nice, unless you are the Son of God and the couldn’t find a shoe. This year someone experienced a health or job related crisis. Right now, more people than we can and darkness. Jesus suffered that wrath for you. He took your imagine are facing a crisis because of the corona virus. As bad sin upon Himself and died for it. as these are, as bad as whatever crisis you may be facing is, it And now Jesus extends to you life in his name. Jesus did not is earthly. It is temporary. Jesus’ words point to a crisis with stay dead. His Father accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for you eternal consequences. and raised Him from the dead to live and reign for all eternity. John wrote what he wrote not for Nicodemus, but for you. The Before Jesus ascended to His heavenly throne He promised to point is not whether Nicodemus was saved or not. It is about send His Spirit to deliver to His people the gifts He earned for you. How is this crisis going to be addressed in your life? This them with His perfect life, sacrificial death and glorious is you Jesus is talking about: people loved the darkness rather resurrection. than the light because their works were evil. That is you! Jesus has attached His promise of life and salvation to some There is no denying it. You don’t need to worry about things that are readily available to you here in His house. His Nicodemus. You need to worry about you. How will this crisis Spirit works through the water and word of Holy Baptism to be resolved? In condemnation or salvation? bring light and life in His name. The Holy Spirit works It will be condemnation if you choose to remain in the dark… through His word read from the lectern and proclaimed from That’s not what your heavenly Father wants. For God so loved the pulpit and in the words of absolution to deliver to you the the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in gifts of faith and forgiveness. As you eat and drink the bread him should not perish but have eternal life. and wine of His Supper you receive Jesus’ body and blood to strengthen your faith and assure you of life everlasting. That’s the reason Jesus came. That’s the reason John wrote what he did. He writes at the end of his Gospel, Now Jesus did You can’t escape the crisis of darkness. But with faith in Jesus many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are you can come through it to live with Him in His light forever. not written in this book; but these are written so that you may Amen. believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by As a post script I should let you know that when you have your believing you may have life in his name. (20:30-31) Bible out this week you can read a little more about Jesus came to bring you out of darkness into His light. The life Nicodemus at the end of John 19. He lived, He lived for you. He lived the life of a servant to show the love our heavenly Father has for us. He lived in perfect obedience to the will of His Father in our place because we cannot. The death He died, He died for you. His suffering and death showed the wrath of God against the works of evil