Coming to Jesus in the Cover of Darkness
Jesus teaches NicodemusJohn 3: 1 - 15
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.[a]”
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[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] 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.”[d]9 “How can this be?”
Nicodemus asked10 “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.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3: 1 - 15
A Thought From the Pastor
I was sent a text this past week in which a church member asked for guidance as they had been “a Christian their whole life and never truly learned how to trust in God and seek his will in their life instead of their own.” I believe this is more common than we believe in our society and even church family. We seem to take an attitude of seeking God through criss and not conviction. We then wonder why our lives feel empty and that we have no direction, meaning, and joy in life. The Gospels have many of the same situations in which people approach Jesus out of crisis and he points them in a new direction with very clear message.
Nicodemus approaches Jesus in the night and makes a statement of fact about Jesus being a teacher and then it become very interesting. Jesus takes the conversation in a different direction and challenges Nicomedus to follow Him as his Savior and not simply as a teacher. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he needs to surrender his “righteous” lifestyle to a whole new direction that challenged Nicoedumus to the core.
In Mark 9 we find another example a father seeking Jesus to heal his son after the disciples could not heal him. The father then comes to Jesus to heal his son and makes a statement that we often are guilty of saying to the Savior of the world. “If you can do anything Jesus, please take pity on us and help us” Jesus replies, “If you can?” “Everything is possible for one who beleives.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”
We come to Jesus in the night, we come to Jesus with doubt, we come to Jesus with partial requests, we come to Jesus with our own agendas. The beauty of the Gospels is Jesus takes these doubts, fears and failures and gives us the truth. He responds over and over again with a very similar message, “Repent, believe the good news and follow me.” Jesus wants us to be reborn, embrace the grace he provides, and learn to follow Him and his reign”
Jesus sends the same message to us today. The beauty is if we come to Jesus , he will provide the truth. We must learn to accept the truth and then follow it. Let’s not forget that his core message, “I am the way, the truth and life” was spoken to a disciple caught up in doubt and fear. Let’s learn to come to Jesus, let’s learn to listen, let’s learn to follow Him, and see how it changes our direction and ultimately gives us lives of purpose and meaning.
Prayerful Planning
- We will be having a work bee and cook out at the Eby’s on Saturday, September 19th from 10 am to 4 pm. Please plan on coming for a time of work, food and fellowship as we help the Eby family with a list of “to do items” to prepare them for fall. Please bring your gloves, appetite and a let’s serve this beautiful family and our God together as a church family.
Plans and Events at PCOC
- 9/6 - Our food pantry is open today from 12:30 - 1:30 pm.
- 9/7 - Community Kitchen @ 11:30 - 12:30 @ PCoC.
- 9/9 - Women’s and Men’s Bible Studies @ 6:30 pm @ PCoC.
- 9/10 - Church Prayer Group @ 10:30 am @ PCoC.
- 9/11 - Bridge Street Service @ 6:30 pm @ The Bridge
Purpose For This Week
- Pray that we would seek to follow Jesus.
- Pray that we would learn to live as His disciples.
- Pray that we would find joy in following him and becoming his disciples.
Praise Reports & Prayer Requests
- Praise God for the safe delivery of baby Kaliya Constance McLeod who was born to Trent and Myrissa. Mother and baby are doing well and continue to pray for this family as they seek jobs, a home and family reunification.
- Izzy is going to be a big sister! Please pray Chaning and Cody as they are expecting a girl. Please cover this pregnancy in your prayers and that Chaning’s health would be stable during the pregnancy as well.
- Please pray for those who are struggling with difficult family and relationship problems. Many of church family have asked for wisdom and guidance during these difficult times.
- Please continue to cover many of church members in prayer that are walking in recovery everyday. Pray for their strength in this battle and that God would provide the strength to say sober.