LutheranLectionary.org

Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:00	[Music]
0:10	hello
0:12	today let’s talk about being under
0:16	construction the text before us is
0:19	appointed for Holy Trinity Sunday the
0:22	third chapter of the Gospel of St John
0:25	verses 1-1
0:27	17 introduction
0:30	tear it
0:32	down recently I read a story about a
0:35	London businessman Lindsay
0:38	clay he was in the business of buying
0:40	and selling real estate one property
0:43	that CLE owned was a
0:45	warehouse the building had been empty
0:47	for several months and it had been
0:50	vandalized it had broken windows damaged
0:54	doors and was filled with all kinds of
0:57	garbage CLE wanted to find a bike for
1:00	the place and when he began to show it
1:02	he offered to correct all of the
1:04	problems he would hire a crew
1:07	immediately they would repair the doors
1:09	and the windows if there were any
1:11	structural problems they would bring
1:13	everything up to code and of course the
1:15	building would be cleaned as good as new
1:19	said
1:20	CLE but the buyer who was interested did
1:24	not care about any
1:25	repairs forget about fixing up this
1:28	place he said no sir sir I don’t want
1:31	this old place you see when I buy this
1:34	one I’m going to tear it down I’m going
1:37	to build something completely different
1:39	here I’m going to build something brand
1:44	new think about that for just a moment
1:47	please because of course this is an
1:50	example of the way God works with
1:54	us we need the old life of sin to be
1:57	torn down and instead God is going to
2:00	build something completely different
2:03	here God is going to build something
2:06	brand
2:08	new I think that most often we just
2:10	cannot imagine what God has in mind for
2:13	us we think that when God has his way in
2:16	our lives when God purchases US by the
2:20	blood of Christ well there may be a
2:22	couple of changes you know he might have
2:25	to fix up some damaged windows or maybe
2:28	he’ll just do a general house cleaning
2:32	right but God says no ma’am or no
2:38	sir I’m tearing it
2:40	down when I buy this one I’m going to
2:43	build something completely different
2:45	here I’m going to build something brand
2:49	new
2:51	wow what do you think that means for
2:55	you point one Nicodemus
3:00	in the Gospel reading we meet Nicodemus
3:04	what do we know about him well verse one
3:08	there was a man of the Pharisees named
3:11	Nicodemus that means he was a very
3:14	respected very holy and very righteous
3:17	man he kept all of The Commandments of
3:21	God also verse one says that Nicodemus
3:24	was a ruler of the Jews that means he
3:29	was a member of the Sanhedrin the 70
3:32	member Supreme Court of the Jewish
3:35	people in verse 10 Jesus calls Nicodemus
3:39	Israel’s teacher so we begin to get a
3:42	good idea about him Nicodemus is a
3:44	religious hero he’s a national celebrity
3:49	a renowned teacher a religious leader
3:53	Nicodemus visited Jesus by night because
3:56	many other members of the Sanhedrin
3:59	especially the Sadducees would have been
4:02	scandalized by him doing so perhaps they
4:05	would have removed him perhaps they
4:06	would have even punished him for meeting
4:09	with
4:10	Jesus but Nicodemus wanted to meet the
4:14	Galilean Rabbi because as he said in
4:16	verse two Rabbi we know that you have
4:21	come from God as a teacher for no one
4:24	can do these signs that you do unless
4:27	God is with him
4:30	now Nicodemus knew that he was respected
4:34	for his holy life and for his adherence
4:36	to God’s laws Nicodemus knew that he was
4:41	righteous of course he was that was not
4:43	in question
4:45	but when Jesus met
4:49	Nicodemus Jesus did not greet Nicodemus
4:53	with the respect and honor that the
4:56	Pharisee expected Jesus was not going to
5:00	honor the way he kept the law of Moses
5:02	Jesus was not going to encourage his
5:04	life that observed all of the religious
5:07	regulations no
5:09	sir Jesus did not want that old building
5:12	Jesus was going to tear it down Jesus
5:15	wanted to build something completely
5:18	different there Jesus wanted to build
5:21	something brand
5:23	new
5:25	why Jesus knew something that Nicodemus
5:28	could not yet consider something he
5:30	could not even comprehend you see Jesus
5:34	knew that there was no value in
5:37	attempting to keep the law of Moses or
5:39	the Ten Commandments or the 613
5:42	regulations for Pious living these
5:44	things could not get anyone into the
5:48	kingdom of
5:50	God physical piety was inconsequential
5:55	religious respect was misplaced personal
5:59	holiness
6:00	was a delusion for Nicodemus his entire
6:03	self-image was a falsehood it was a lie
6:06	and worst of all he didn’t even know
6:08	it his personal piety and public
6:13	privilege had nothing to do with
6:16	entrance into the kingdom of God what
6:19	was Jesus
6:22	saying as you stand here Nicodemus you
6:25	are not holy not righteous not blessed
6:28	not even safe D not before
6:32	God Nicodemus was stunned I I I’m good I
6:37	I’ve been
6:38	holy but Jesus said in verse three
6:40	Nicodemus if you want to enter the
6:42	kingdom of God you must be born
6:45	again you may be a big shot in the
6:48	Kingdom of men but you have done nothing
6:50	in the kingdom of God you’re not even
6:52	born yet to enter the kingdom of God you
6:56	must be born again
6:59	verse
7:01	four how said Nicodemus verse 5 you must
7:06	be born of water and the
7:10	spirit point two blowing in the wind
7:14	Jesus confronted the great Pharisee with
7:16	the truth of his spiritual emptiness
7:19	true spirituality is not keeping laws or
7:22	receiving human respect Nicodemus was
7:24	convinced of his own goodness and filled
7:27	with his own Assurance but
7:30	he was
7:31	missing the first and very important
7:34	ingredient for the kingdom of God the
7:37	awareness of his own sin Nicodemus was
7:41	arrogant not humble Nicodemus thought
7:43	that he needed no savior because he
7:45	figured he had already saved
7:48	himself but Jesus suggested a very
7:52	different way of Salvation it was not in
7:55	the hands of Nicodemus to save himself
7:58	it was in the hands of God Alone to save
8:03	him Nicodemus thought so highly of his
8:06	human wisdom and of his human works that
8:09	he failed to see God’s wisdom and God’s
8:13	greater gifts no the old Nicodemus
8:17	needed to be torn down and a new
8:19	Nicodemus needed to be built in his
8:21	place that is what Jesus was doing but
8:24	still Nicodemus did not understand it at
8:27	all verse 8
8:30	the wind blows where it wishes this is a
8:34	mystery of God the wind is in charge of
8:37	Salvation not
8:40	Nicodemus sometimes the wind is cold
8:42	sometimes hot sometimes it’s harsh
8:44	sometimes soft sometimes the wind is
8:46	destructive taking out a whole city
8:49	sometimes it misses a city Skips a house
8:52	spares a person the wind is all around
8:55	you all of the time in fact it’s the
8:58	very air that you bring breathe in
9:00	Hebrew Greek and Latin the word for wind
9:04	is the word for Spirit and the word for
9:07	breath the wind is like God’s spirit
9:09	it’s like God’s breath it blows where he
9:13	wishes verse n nicod Nicodemus responds
9:18	how can this be Jesus is saying that
9:20	being born again is a mysterious work of
9:23	God it’s as mysterious as the wind
9:27	Nicodemus cannot earn it cannot work
9:29	work for it cannot control it it’s a
9:31	gift from God and it comes by water and
9:34	the spirit it comes as a gift through
9:38	holy
9:39	baptism God does it God births it God
9:43	builds
9:44	it here’s another example Nicodemus
9:47	verse 14 do you remember those poisonous
9:50	snakes that bit the ancient Hebrews when
9:52	they sinned in the desert they became
9:54	sick and dying but God gave them an
9:58	antidote a cure
9:59	God told Moses to put a bronze serpent
10:02	on a pole and lift it high everyone who
10:05	looked at it if they were bitten they
10:07	would be
10:08	healed in much the same way
10:11	Nicodemus was a
10:14	sinner he needed an
10:17	antidote Jesus explained that the son of
10:20	man must be lifted up and everyone who
10:22	believes in him will not perish but have
10:24	eternal life they will be saved they
10:27	will be holy and righteous I not by
10:30	trying to keep God’s Commandments no no
10:33	one can keep God’s Commandments not even
10:35	you Nicodemus for God sees your
10:38	heart your arrogance your selfishness
10:42	your
10:43	Temptation your
10:45	sin you need to be torn down and you
10:49	must be born
10:50	again the lifting up of the son of man
10:53	is a mystery of God’s mercy and of your
10:56	new birth holy baptism does this that
11:00	God buries you in the baptismal Waters
11:03	and joins you to the crucifixion and
11:05	death of the Son of God then God raises
11:08	you up by joining you to the
11:10	resurrection and the life of the Son of
11:12	God by water and the spirit you are born
11:16	again you are forgiven your sins filled
11:19	with the Holy Spirit and made a child of
11:23	God you may continue to try to keep
11:26	God’s commands or to serve and love your
11:30	neighbor but that will not get you into
11:32	the kingdom of God first repent and
11:37	believe God will make a completely new
11:41	building then then try to keep God’s law
11:45	not to get saved but because you already
11:47	are saved by grace through
11:51	faith point three God so
11:56	loved this was a lot of new information
12:00	so Jesus gave Nicodemus a kind of
12:02	summary statement verse
12:04	16 God so loved you and the whole wide
12:09	world Nicodemus that he gave his only
12:12	begotten son to die that whoever
12:15	believes in him will not perish but have
12:17	eternal
12:18	life
12:20	God had become a human being in order to
12:24	stand in your place take your sin and
12:26	die your death and rise to give you
12:29	eternal life and at the same time God
12:32	remained Divine in order to destroy the
12:35	power of your sin triumph over your
12:37	death and make you a child of God and a
12:40	citizen of
12:42	Heaven look at the one who is lifted up
12:46	having faith in him is the only way to
12:49	enter the kingdom of God God has sent
12:53	his son to do this for you Nicodemus I
12:56	mean you would never have asked God to
12:59	do such a thing yourself would you you
13:02	would never have asked holy and mighty
13:03	God to become a human being and to be
13:05	tortured and to bleed and to die for you
13:08	but you didn’t have to ask God’s already
13:11	done it in this way he can buy your
13:15	broken building tear it down and build
13:18	something completely different here he
13:21	will build something brand
13:24	new
13:27	conclusion tear me down
13:29	Lord
13:31	Jesus yes this was a lot for Nicodemus
13:34	to take in it was the message that by
13:37	Grace you have been saved by water and
13:39	the spirit you enter the kingdom of God
13:43	Jesus teaches it is not by Good Works
13:46	nor by public status nor by religious
13:48	actions that you are saved no salvation
13:51	is a matter of the heart because God has
13:54	given you the gift of faith when that
13:58	happens the the purchase is made by the
14:01	blood of Jesus Christ now you belong now
14:05	you belong to God and he begins his
14:08	building project of tearing down and
14:10	building completely new it’s a lifelong
14:15	process God is a careful and kindly
14:18	Builder and you are his precious and
14:22	Priceless
14:26	project Beloved the scripture tells us
14:28	that it was Nicodemus who came with
14:30	Joseph of ARA to receive the body of
14:33	Christ from the cross Nicodemus lovingly
14:37	wrapped the Lord for burial and church
14:39	tradition says that he became a faithful
14:41	believer in Jesus Christ that meant that
14:45	God was in the construction business
14:49	tearing down and building a brand new
14:52	Nicodemus until he was taken to heaven
14:55	and the project was perfectly completed
14:59	that’s helpful isn’t it it helps you to
15:04	understand that in this life because you
15:06	have been purchased by the blood of
15:09	Jesus you too are under
15:14	construction it is for your good that
15:17	the old building is being torn
15:20	down
15:22	daily it is for your blessing that by
15:25	grace through faith Jesus is building
15:28	some something completely different you
15:31	are in Jesus
15:34	Christ and for that reason all things
15:38	are being made
15:42	new amen
15:50	[Music]