Son of Man, Son of God

John 3:13-21

The third chapter of John records a conversation between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus who was one of the most respected theologians of his time. Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless he is reborn from above by water and the Spirit, he can’t enter the kingdom of God. In the part of their discussion we read a few moments ago, Jesus mentions Moses and a serpent on a Pole, a Son of Man and a Son of God, people living in light or darkness, doing evil or truth, and receiving condemnation or eternal life. The things he mentions are all drawn from the Old Testament and all the passages would have been familiar to Nicodemus, but he had not fully understood them. Most Christians know John 3:16 by heart, but many of the things Jesus talks about are still a bit of a mystery to them.

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Wise Fools

1 Corinthians 1:23-25

Jesus once prayed, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” The leading theologians of his day had missed the things he spoke of, but Jesus rejoiced that God had revealed them to simple, unschooled people.

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His Greatest Desire

Sermon on Mark 1:9-15

What power would the devil and the world have over us if they couldn’t use the things we want for leverage? Even our desire to serve God and work for his good pleasure can get so twisted that we fall deeper and deeper into sin. Which raises an interesting question, what did Jesus desire? Mark says he was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. What levers was Satan pulling? What buttons was he pushing? How did Jesus triumph?

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