John 3:14-17 *
Dear Friends in Christ,
There may be more, but I can only think of two instances. I believe calling them to mind is an appropriate way to introduce today’s text…
In chapter three of the Old Testament book of Exodus we
learn how Moses was called by God to lead the People of Israel out of
To his great surprise, the Lord spoke to Moses through that
burning bush. But before He did, God
gave Moses this initial command: “Take
off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Some years later Joshua replaced Moses as leader. Shortly thereafter a heavenly messenger referred
to as “the commander of the Lord’s Army” appeared before Joshua. And in preparation to hear his divine
message, Joshua, too, is told (
In both cases what made those places “holy” was not some sort of miraculous alteration of the soil beneath their feet. No, what God was communicating to both Moses and Joshua was that He was about to address them in a special and marvelous way, and with some very important information. Information that would in essence define and transform their lives from that time forward…
We live in a different time and different place and a different world than Moses and Joshua. But I would suggest that we have this in common. Every time we as 21st Century Christians come to this chapter – and especially these verses – of the Bible, we find ourselves
STANDING ON HOLY GROUND
1. Because here God speaks the
Gospel to us
2. And that Gospel defines and
transforms us
The words we have before us are perhaps some of the best known in the Bible. For those of us who grew up going to church and Sunday school, or who were fortunate enough to attend one of our Lutheran schools, it’s pretty likely that this is the first passage committed to memory. In fact, it may very well be that those among us whom the Lord has allowed lots of birthdays may have even memorized John 3:16 in German…
Familiarity with the Gospel (meaning the good news of Jesus Christ), however, can cut both ways. On the one hand, the Gospel fills our soul with a comfort and confidence unlike anything else; but on the other hand, because we know it so well we may take it for granted…
This morning we’d like to view the Gospel through the eyes of a man for whom the Gospel was all new. His name was Nicodemus. Our text is a part of a conversation Jesus had with him. Let’s work our way through it, but first a little background…
Earlier in this chapter we learn that Nicodemus was a Pharisee (a card-carrying member of an elite religious body within Judaism), a member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious ruling council) and a teacher (meaning he held a position of authority and respect). And although it may only be hinted at later on in the Book of John, it is probably safe to assume that he was also financially set.
This information is significant, because it means that Nicodemus had achieved all the outward trappings of success. From a worldly point of view, Nicodemus had it all – position, prestige, and respect. In today’s terminology, he was the whole package.
And yet, it appears that Nicodemus was empty inside. He needed answers. And he knew that Jesus had them. So the Bible tells us that he came to see Jesus at night. Our text picks up with Jesus giving new meaning to a Bible story Nicodemus the teacher had undoubtedly taught his people hundreds of times…
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” The reference is to our Old Testament lesson for today (Numbers 21:5-9). The point being made is this: when Moses lifted up the bronze snake, God provided physical healing for all who looked to it. In that sense, the “snake in the desert” staved off death and provided temporary salvation…
Jesus uses this event as the springboard for a higher
truth. What the snake did physically,
Jesus did spiritually. The “salvation”
the snake provided for a time, Jesus provided for eternity. And He
did it by willingly and voluntarily being “lifted
up” on the cross of
This is all part of the Gospel message that we know so well. Embracing this is the very foundation and fabric of what we are as Christians: Jesus died in our place to take away our sins so we can live with Him eternally. We trust Him, we “believe in Him,” and we have the certainty of salvation. Again, this is not new to us; but it was to Nicodemus. And try to think what was going through his head!
Because here was a man who had been brought up with the idea that spiritually speaking there is no such thing as a free lunch. Here was a man who had brought up with the idea that God could never really be loved, but only appeased. Here was a man who had based his whole eternity on the idea of salvation through his own personal performance…
Consequently, here was a man who day in and day out dealt with the gnawing uncertainty of ever knowing if he was good enough to make the cut. Here was a man whose outward respectability was but a thin veneer that covered the emptiness inside…
But things were beginning to change. Because Jesus had just made the pronouncement that eternal life does not come to those who work or appease or perform.
And now He hammers the point home with these beloved
words: “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. For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
There it is – undiluted, unrefined, full strength Gospel. There it is – blessed assurance. There it is – the certainty of eternal salvation for those who believe.
Jesus lays it all out. The Gospel originates from the love of God,
the depth of which we will never understand.
The Gospel is carried out through the work of Christ, the length of
which we will never comprehend. And the
Gospel is freely offered to “whoever
believes.”
This was all new. Not only was it new, it was amazing. And when Nicodemus processed all this he very well may have been thinking to himself, “You know, I really should be taking off my sandals right about now, because I am most certainly on holy ground.” And he was. The Gospel is holy ground.
Thanks be to God, we stand there as well.
And because we do, just like they did for Nicodemus – things change. When it comes to our eternal salvation… when it comes to answering the question “what’s next” after we take our last breath and close our eyes for the final time… when it comes to knowing where we’re going – the Gospel moves us...
We move from uncertainty to certainty. We move from doubt to assurance.
The Gospel squashes the troubling little voice within us that periodically asks, “you sure you’re good enough to get to heaven?” by constantly reminding us that our salvation does not depend upon what we do for God, but on what God has done for us through the life, death and resurrection of His Son. So, yes, we can be sure.
And the Gospel doesn’t just pay dividends when we die. The Gospel is relevant and important to us every day of our lives now. Because first and foremost the Gospel means we are loved. To quote the words of Jesus, we are “so loved.” Which means that everything in our lives – even those things which are hard or disappointing or painful – falls against the backdrop of that love.
The Gospel means we are absolved. So when Satan (or others) drag up past sins or shake the skeletons in our closet, the Gospel tells us all is forgiven. The price has been paid on the cross. “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, purifies us from all sin” writes the Apostle John. And “all” means “all.” So now we can move on, secure in Christ’s love. And not only that, because we have been forgiven, we can – and with God’s help will – be forgiving of others.
The Gospel means we have peace. Because of Jesus we enjoy the status of peace with God. He holds nothing against us. And that translates into an inner peace – a pervasive sense of well-being even in the midst of trouble based on the knowledge that God cares for us and that He will never leave us or forsake us.
The Gospel means we have purpose. The big questions in life have been answered. We know who we are – God’s people; we know where we’re going – “heaven is our home”; and we know why we’re here – to glorify God, to spread His Word, and to ultimately enjoy Him forever.
The Gospel means we are liberated from the things which cause others so much stress and strain. Jesus tells us that because the big things have been taken care of we have been liberated from what are really only little things, things like worry and anxiety and fear of the future. Though we may struggle with these issues, the Gospel reminds us that all is well, and that we need only trust.
Finally, the Gospel provides us with a proper perspective on life – both the temporal and the eternal. On that note, we’ll bring our thoughts to a close with an illustration…
Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan there are
three inscriptions spanning each arch. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of
roses, and underneath is the statement: “All that which pleases is but for a
moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a
moment.” But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the
inscription, “That only is important
which is eternal.”
Today Jesus speaks to us about “that only which is
important.” And this is what He says: “Just
as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. “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. For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
As we once again absorb the marvelous Gospel we have heard
from the lips of our Savior in John chapter 3, let us gratefully remember that like
Moses and Joshua and now Nicodemus… we
are standing on holy ground. Amen.