As we gather this morning our hearts are heavy with the news of Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. As we have seen in the headlines the last two days marks a deeply uncertain chapter for our world.
In our service today, we pause to lift up a specific and urgent cry for peace:
We pray for the safety and protection of the men and women of the United States military currently in harm’s way across the Middle East. We ask for God’s hand to shield them and for strength Our hearts break for the innocent civilians in Iran, Israel, and the surrounding nations caught in the crossfire of this escalation. We pray for the protection of every life and for the "Prince of Peace" to intervene where human diplomacy has failed.
This morning, we are reflecting on the story of Nicodemus—a man who realized that his own structures of power and status were not enough to sustain him. As the foundations of global peace seem to shake, we are reminded that we must trade our own "shortcuts" for a solid foundation built on God’s will. Join us today for worship as we talk about being born of the Spirit.
Scripture
John 3:1-17 NIV [1] Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” [3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The 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? [11] Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. [12] I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? [13] No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. [14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Text:
John 3:5-7 NIV [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
Introduction:
Have you ever felt like you were "doing" all the right things, but still felt empty? Have you ever looked at your life—your job, your family, your service, what you were giving up for Lent —and wondered if you were just going through the motions?
I'm starting a new series of sermons, that I am calling the Lenten Journey, which will take us up to Easter Sunday.
This series invites us to move beyond the surface of our religious routines and into the transformative depth of a life truly lived in Christ. The series will highlight the amazing encounters found in the Gospel of John. It’s about trading in the shortcuts we usually lean on, for a solid foundation built on what God truly wants for us.
As we encounter figures like Nicodemus and the Woman at the Well over the next several weeks, we’ll learn that God isn’t looking for a 'temporary renovation' of our behavior. He’s inviting us into a deeper realignment of our hearts. It will be a process of looking inward and opening ourselves completely to where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us.
Today, we will meet a man named Nicodemus. He had the perfect religious resume, but he came to Jesus in the dark of night because his foundation was cracking. He didn't need a renovation; he needed a rebirth.
This morning James read verses 1-17 of the third chapter of John. As we dive into that passage of scripture I want us to ask ourselves: Are we trying to "fix" our old lives this Lent, or are we ready to be Born of the Spirit?
I. Seeking in the Shadows
John 3:1-2 NIV [1] Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
We meet Nicodemus in the shadows of the night. He is a man of high status—a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He has devoted his existence to building a life on legalism, ancestral heritage, and the pursuit of moral excellence. His identity was meticulously anchored in the law and his own religious achievements. Yet, he comes to Jesus under the cover of night.
Scripture explicitly identifies Nicodemus’s credentials.
He was a Pharisee which means he was a legal expert dedicated to the strict observance of the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Pharisees were the "foundation" of Jewish religious life.
He was a member of the Member of the Sanhedrin which was the Jewish ruling council or the supreme court of ancient Israel. As a member, Nicodemus held significant political, judicial, and religious power.
Jesus in verse 10 refers to him as Israel’s teacher
10 You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
This suggests he wasn't just a teacher, but a prominent, highly respected scholar
With all these credentials why would he seek out Jesus at night, under the cover of darkness?
While the Bible doesn't explicitly state his motive for the timing of coming to Jesus at night historians and theologians offer two primary reasons based on the cultural context:
As a high-ranking official, being seen with an "unauthorized" rabbi like Jesus could lead to social rejection or removal from the Sanhedrin.
Since night was the traditional time for scholars to study and discuss the Law deeply. It suggests he wanted a serious, private conversation that went beyond the surface-level questions of the crowds.
Nicodemus was spiritually restless. He recognized that Jesus had a connection to God that his own legalistic "foundation" lacked.
Nicodemus himself said in verse 2 “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Nicodemus represents many of us as we enter this second week of Lent. We may have the outward appearance of a solid life, but internally, we feel a tugging at our souls. We realize that our self-made structures—our careers, our reputations, even our routine religious habits—are not enough to sustain us.
Nicodemus recognizes Jesus is "from God," but Jesus tells him that just recognizing the Truth isn't enough; you must be transformed by it.
John 3:3 NIV Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
II. Not a Quick Fix, But a Total Rebirth
When Jesus tells him he must be "born again," Nicodemus is baffled. He thinks in literal, physical terms:
John 3:4 NIV “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
We often make the same mistake. We approach Lent looking for a "quick fix"—a 40-day habit change or a temporary sacrifice. But Jesus clarifies that the spiritual life is not a renovation of our old selves; it is a total rebirth.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
To be Born of the Spirit is to stop relying on our "flesh"—our own effort, ego, and control—and to begin relying on the life-giving power of God.
God made a promise that is found in Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV [26] I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
III. Aligning with the Wind
Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemas, compares the Spirit to the wind
John 3:8 NIV The 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.”
Think of spiritual alignment as a constant pivot. Just as a sailor adjusts to the wind they can’t control, we position our hearts to be moved by God's Spirit. It’s a process of trading our old, rigid ways of doing things for a radical openness to the 'new creation' God is building in us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
IV. The Motivation: Radical Love
This conversation with Nicodemus leads to the most foundational promise in all of scripture:
John 3:16-18 NIV [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Our rebirth isn't something we do to earn God's favor; it is a response to a love that has already been given.
Let us stop trying to "fix" our lives through sheer willpower. Instead, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, allowing God to breathe new life into the areas we thought were dead.
Closing: Step Into the Light
Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark, but Jesus invited him into the light.
John 3:19-21 NIV [19] This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. [20] Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. [21] But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Remember that a life in Christ is a continuous process of letting go of our own control and letting the Holy Spirit blow through our lives like the wind. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to say, "Lord, take my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh."
Don't ask God to fix your problems; ask God to renew your spirit. Let us walk out of the shadows of our own effort and into the light of His radical, transforming love.
Prayer
Lord, we are tired of the 'shadows' and the 'quick fixes.' Today, we trade our religious routines for Your transformative depth. We thank You that in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come. May we walk out of these doors not as people trying to 'fix' our problems, but as people being renewed by Your Spirit. Let Your wind carry us, Your light guide us, and Your love define us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
