Our preaching text this Sunday will be John 3:1-15. Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Passover festival and during these festivals the city of Jerusalem swells some three or four times beyond its normal population. The point is, there are a lot of people in Jerusalem at this particular time. Jesus isn’t just another traveler among thousands of travelers. Jesus has cleansed the temple (2:2:13-22) and according to John, Jesus is performing many other signs amongst the people that aren’t recorded (2:23). We are told that there were many who were fascinated by the power on display in Jesus’ signs and wonders, but Jesus knew what was in their hearts. They weren’t trusting in Him for the forgiveness of their sin and the righteousness necessary to be innocent before God. They were interested in what they could get out of him, so Jesus doesn’t entrust himself to them. It is obvious that Jesus is attracting a lot of attention, and it seems that the Jewish religious leaders are taking a particular interest. In our text this week we have one from their ranks, Nicodemus, seeking Jesus out to try and get a handle on who he is and what he has come to do. It is here, in this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus where we learn about one of the most important truths the Bible means to teach us. And, I don’t mean for the sake of merely instructing our minds, but that our very nature would be changed. That we would be made new and in being made new that we would have new life, eternal life. The truth I’m referring to is the new birth. This isn’t what Nicodemus has come to talk to Jesus about as he had other questions and priorities but this is where Jesus leads him. He leads him here because there is nothing more important for him to know, and there is nothing more important for us to know. May God, in his grace and for his glory give us eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to understand and hearts to receive the truth of his Word!
Sermon Title: “You Must Be Born From Above”
Sermon Text: John 3:1-15
Meditation Passage: Ezekiel 36:16-38
Call To Worship: Psalm 100
Benediction: 1 Peter 1:3-7
Songs For Sunday: