What Jesus Said about Knowing God through Him

What Jesus Said about

Knowing God through Him

Adapted from the series, “Jesus Said”by Michael Wiley

http://www.sermoncloud.com/the-vine/what-jesus-said-about-a-relationship-with-god-through-him/

A family from the hills was visiting the city and they were in a mall for the first time in their life. The father and son

were strolling around while the wife shopped. They were

amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two

shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide

back together again.The boy asked, "Paw, What's

'at?"

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, "Son, I

dunno. I ain't never seen anything like that in my entire life, I ain't go no idea'r what it

is."While the boy and his father

were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls

and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled

between them into a small room.

The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the

numbers above the walls count up. They continued to watch until it reached 10 and then the numbers began to count

back down.

Then the walls opened up again and a

gorgeous, voluptuous 24-year-old blonde

woman stepped out.The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his Son, “Boy, go git yo

Momma...”

We can be changed, but it’s not going to happen by stepping into an elevator.Change comes from our Creator who

has become our Savior & Lord.

John 3:14 ESV And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must

the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have

eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not

perish but have eternal life.

John 14:6 ESV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now

on you do know him and have seen him."

The Highway to Heaven is covered with the potholes of the world.

Today we want to look at the familiar message of what the world says and we want to look at what Jesus said about

our journey to God. To do this I want to look at two conversations Jesus had, one with a prominent religious leader

and another with his disciples.

John 3:1 ESV Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus

by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that

you do unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he

cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a

second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of

God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know

where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the

Spirit.”

man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus,

PHARISEES [FARE uh sees] (separated ones) — a religious and political party in

Palestine in New Testament times.

The Pharisees were known for insisting that the law of God be observed as the

scribes interpreted it and for their special commitment to keeping the laws

of tithing and ritual purity. (NNIBD)

"a ruler of the Jews" (denoting a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest

legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). (NETnotes)

There couldn’t be a greater combination. We need to know who we are talking about. If we are going to put together Nic and Jesus we need to know Nic.

Malachi was the last book of the OT, Matthew is the first book of the NT.

There are over 300, probably closer to 400 years between the close of Malachi

and the opening of Matthew.

During that time, Israel was occupied and governed by several different

countries. The Temple rights were taken and given back.

Sometime during this time, things began to appear, like the Synagogue (a place of teaching) which probably began during

the Babylonian captivity and the political party known as the Herodians and the religious sects we know as the Essenes, Sadducees and Pharisees.

During Christ’s visit to earth the Pharisees carried the favor of the

people.

There was much that was sound in their teachings, yet their system of religion was a form and tradition and nothing

more.

The first time we hear of them in the New Testament, they are ranked by John

the Immerser with the Sadducees as a “brood of vipers.”

Matthew 3:7 ESV But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming

to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee

from the wrath to come?Jesus also refers to Pharisees the same

way, “You brood of vipers.”

Matthew 12:34 ESV You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are

evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

They were noted for their self-righteousness and their pride.

Matthew 9:11 ESV And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his

disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Luke 7:39 ESV Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for

she is a sinner."

Luke 18:11 ESV The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank

you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a

week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

They were frequently rebuked by Jesus. Matthew 12:38 ESV Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him,

saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be

given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Pharisees and Sadducees always test him, trying to trip him up, wanting,

Jesus to amaze them, perform a miracle.Matthew 16:1 ESV And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,

"When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for

the sky is red and threatening.’

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot

interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a

sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left

them and departed.

From the very beginning of his ministry the Pharisees showed themselves bitter and persistent enemies of Jesus. They could not bear his doctrines, and they sought by every means to destroy his

influence among the people.

So we have Nicodemus, upright, educated, came from the right family, a

part of the influential party of the Pharisees and sat on the ruling council of the Sanhedrin. AND, we have Jesus,

born in the poorest of conditions to working class parents, grew up as a

carpenter in Nazareth.

For Nicodemus, righteousness came from observing (not the law) but the traditions of the elders. Because the

elders words (by 1st. century) had began to supersede even the law.

Jesus says “NO” righteousness comes from a radical rebirth.

The World saysthere are many ways to God.

Even in “Christian” Religion, Mormons have their way, JW have there way,

Catholics say through Christ but only through the sacraments, Oprah is the

largest and most dangerous proponent of the “many ways to God” idea.

In 2002 Christianity Today declared she “has become one of the most influential

spiritual leaders in America.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/

april1/1.38.html?order=&start=1Some Christians view her as “the most

dangerous woman on the planet.”

Sharing her views on the “multiple paths” Grace Li wrote:

I think that every single person who has ever walked this earth, no matter what their faith or nationality, can agree on

one thing; people are different.

I am different from my next-door neighbor, who is different from her

teacher, who in turn is different from his pastor. At very least, all human beings

are physically different, but we also have psychological and emotional

differences in how we function, how we react to the world, and how we think.

Therefore, if one believes in the idea of God and in salvation, there should be different ways of reaching a level of

salvation, enlightenment, whatever you believe in. I find it rather difficult to

comprehend the common belief that one religion, one path is the way to

salvation.

A religious leader shouldn’t preach the exact same "path" or "way to salvation"

for all his listeners any more than a doctor should prescribe the exact same

medication to all of his patients. It is important to have faith in what you happen to believe in, but it is also important to show tolerance, if not

respect, for the faith of others. http://www.religioustolerance.org/li_01.htm

There are two primary flaws in Grace’s thinking.

1. She speaks as though Man created God. “idea of God” If I create God, then I can create one path or many paths. You can create a path too. Our Bible teaches that God is. Man didn’t go searching for Him, He came seeking us. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Luke 19:10 ESV

Secondly, if man created God then Faith in this god of my psyche is of no

importance.

I can believe what I want to believe. It is of no importance.

The Apostle Peter did not think that.

John 6:67 ESV So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"68 Simon Peter answered him,

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that

you are the Holy One of God."

Jesus tells Nicodemus, YOU MUST be born again. He goes on to say in verse. John 3:16 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not

perish but have eternal life.

That’s the rub isn’t it? Most people have no problem with God. It’s the son we

stumble over.God is ok. I can make him what I want.

He seems so grand – so aloof – so many descriptions of Him in various religions – it’s safe. SO, the world puts Him in a box. My box, my little God, like a pet

rock.

People Wrestle with Jesus

I keep Him right here, take him out when I need him, and put him back when I’m

done.He’s a cool God, when He agrees with

me. When He doesn’t? Well I ignore him, or mold him to be the God I want. Yes,

the world puts Him in a box. We Christians tend to keep Him in a book.

As long as He’s in here it’s safe. As long as I don’t read it, he agrees with me. OR,

I say He does…

JESUS is radical He was radical then!He is radical Now!

Nic believed he was a good teacher – from God. He believed in His miracles. It seems he fell short of accepting Him as

Messiah.The story of Nicodemus is interesting. I’m intrigued by what we know of him and even more intrigued by what we

don’t know.

We are introduced to Nic here in John 3. BUT the story drops, before Nic

responds to this new revelation from Jesus. We do not know if he accepted

and was “Born Again.”We find him again in John 7 when Nic

sticks up for Jesus with the other Pharisees.

John 7:47 ESV The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?

48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this

crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus, who had

gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?“

It appears he is not a believer or he has not told the others.

We find him again in chapter 19. John 19:38 ESV After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a

disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might

take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and

took away his body.

39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a

mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So

they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is

the burial custom of the Jews.John points out that Joseph is a disciple

of Jesus but that comment is suspiciously absent when speaking

about Nic.

If he was a secret disciple like Joseph wouldn’t he said so?

It seems he may have been a sympathizer but not “Born Again.”

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE JESUS IS A GOOD TEACHER!

It is not enough to believe he was a historical figure! It is not enough to go to church, read the Bible , or ________,

you fill in the blank. Nic was the epitome of the “Most religious man!” Jesus

looks at him and says, “THAT’S NOT ENOUGH!” You must be born again.

How? You must be born of water and of spirit. There are two schools of thought

on a correct interpretation.

Some believe it to mean a physical birth and then a spiritual birth. Why mention

the physical birth at all? You did not have the 1st birth if you did not come out

of your mother so there is no way you can be born again!

I believe Jesus was talking about the baptism that the Pharisees had already rejected and the regenerating power of

the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 ESV And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy

Spirit. Romans 6:3 ESV Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his

death?

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the

glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a

resurrection like his.You can stumble over Jesus as the

world does, but without him there is no new birth.

John 1:12 ESV But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,

but of God.Our physical birth is from the will of the flesh & of the will of man. The blood of

our parents is rushing though our veins. This is the 1st birth.

Being born again is being born of God. Jesus says being born again requires

being born of water and of spirit. Where do we find those two together?

20 verses later,John 1:32 ESV And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven

like a dove, and it remained on him.

33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit

descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that

this is the Son of God."

Matthew 3:13 ESV Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be

baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to

me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to

fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water,

and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Just as the Spirit of God came on Jesus at His baptism, Peter said we will receive the

Spirit at baptism.

That brings us to one of the most poignant passages in the entire Bible.

The second conversation I want to look at, this one with his disciples.

John 14:6 ESV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now

on you do know him and have seen him.”

We Christians get accused of being closed minded, rigid, too conservative. Right wing, all kinds of labels. It’s this

issue. You Christians think you have the only way to heaven! That’s ridiculous. I didn’t say it. I didn’t make it up. Jesus

said it. Jesus said, “I am the ONLY way!”

Here’s the rub.If Christ isn’t the only way to God, then he can’t be what the other religions call

him. The hindus call him a God-Man. The Muslims call him a prophet. Many religions around the world call him a

good teacher. Do you understand this? Jesus can’t be, God-Man, a prophet, a

good teacher if He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me,” & it’s

not true!

As Josh McDowell said years ago, “If he isn’t Lord, He is a Liar or a Lunatic!

Even Christians are buying into the worldly “tolerant” idea that there are

other ways. If Jesus isn’t the only way, then this Bible is fantasy, and we may as

well sleep in on Sundays and give our money to other charities.

One of the most well known authors of the 21st century Ann Rice began her

career in 1973 with her first book, Interview with the Vampire. This

book would be the first in Rice's popular Vampire Chronicles series, which

includes 1985's The Vampire Lestat and 1988's The Queen of the Damned.

Then everything changed In October 2005, Rice announced in

a Newsweek article that she would “write only for the Lord.”

In “Essay On Earlier Works” dated 8/15/2007 she writes: For me, the entire

body of my earlier work, reflects a movement towards Jesus Christ. In

2002, I consecrated my work to Jesus Christ.

This did not involve a denunciation of works that reflected the journey. It was rather a statement that from then on I

would write directly for Jesus Christ. I would write works about salvation, as

opposed to alienation;

I would write books about reconciliation in Christ, rather than books about the struggle for answers in a post World

War II seemingly atheistic world. http://www.annerice.com/Bookshelf-

EarlierWorks.html

When you come to know Christ as Lord of your life,

Everything Changes!

Several years later she distanced herself from organized Christianity, citing

disagreement with the Church's stances on social issues but pledging that faith in God remained "central to [her] life." However, she now considers herself a

secular humanist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice

John 14:6 ESV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now

on you do know him and have seen him.“

To Know God, Know Jesus