Welcome to the Pearls from the Word program. My name is Miisu Piipari -
and this time our topic is Nicodemus searching for God.
Let's start by reading the Word from Luke chapter 11, verse 9.
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; -
knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
We will talk a little bit of the story of Nicodemus -
and his positive attitude compared to other Pharisees.
Nicodemus was clearly directed a huge thirst and fear of God.
He needed to experience the true God and a close relationship with Him -
even though I don't think he would have described it with these words, -
but the desire of his heart can be seen throughout the entire story.
This passage of Luke talks about -
continuous asking, searching and knocking, -
about an attitude that prevails the whole time.
So it talks about a persistent attitude -
and I have felt that Nicodemus's attitude was precisely like that.
I spoke about Nicodemus also in the Pearls from the Word episode 13.
In it I talked about Jesus's answer to the real need of his life.
If you want to you can look it up at TV7 online archive.
In this episode we will talk about -
Nicodemus's persistent attitude to get answers from God.
In John 3 verse 2 we can see -
how Nicodemus approached Jesus secretly at night when it was dark.
He wanted to meet Jesus in spite of the opinions of everyone else.
The thirst inside of him had grown so big that it overcame the fear of man.
He really needed to get answers from Jesus and to encounter Him.
I have also noticed in my life that if I must take big leaps of faith -
and I have thoughts about the fear of man or other fears, -
but when the thirst is big enough I don't focus on fears anymore -
but I start moving.
Sometimes God puts us to places where the thirst grows -
a bit bigger all the time until we have the courage to take the step of faith.
So something in Jesus's ministry really touched Nicodemus.
Let's quickly see some things of Nicodemus's life.
He had build up his whole life for serving God.
He wanted to give himself over to God. How was it done back then?
By surrendering to the existing religious structure.
He served in the synagogue -
and was a member of the Sanhedrin.
It means that he was a member of the Jewish Supreme Court.
Typical to this Pharisee was close adherence to the law of Moses -
and to the decrees of the Elders that they also had to follow.
In addition to the law of Moses they also followed the oral tradition.
So there were a lot of rules to follow, and I'm sure Nicodemus felt -
he had surrendered himself to God since he followed the strictest rules.
He felt he had given his all but yet he felt something was missing.
He saw that something in Jesus and wanted to know how he could get it.
If we compare Nicodemus's life to our own lives, -
maybe behind the screen there is someone who feels the same way.
You have given yourself to God and want to serve Him.
You serve the church and do everything you're asked to, -
but something is missing. Maybe it's a close relationship with God, -
such an intimate relationship where the true God -
encounters just you. He talks to you and sees you.
The kind of God who wants to know how you are doing.
If we compare Nicodemus to other Pharisees, -
Nicodemus didn't find peace with his need to understand -
Jesus's ministry and life. For this reason he went to meet Jesus.
Many other Pharisees and other religious leaders of the time -
had seen the same teaching and the same miracle healings, -
but for some reason it didn't touch them. One reason might be -
what is said in Hebrews 4 verse 2 according to the Amplified Classic.
"For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] -
proclaimed to us just as truly as they. but the message they heard -
did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith -
(with [a]the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust -
and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it."
So they didn't receive the Word. It just didn't touch their hearts, -
but it sank into Nicodemus's searching heart and he went to meet Jesus.
It says in John 3 verse 2 -
"The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, -
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: -
for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
Nicodemus recognized that God is with Jesus -
and wanted to get something out of that.
So he wanted answers and decided to look for them persistently.
This verse shows that Nicodemus respected Jesus, -
because the Jewish teachers of that time were called rabbis.
It was a respectful title.
Later in John chapter 7 verse 50 -
Nicodemus stands up for Jesus, so something has happened -
between their first face-to-face encounter -
and the time Jesus was accused at the Jewish Court.
Nicodemus had become more courageous and stood up for Jesus -
up to the point that other Pharisees started to mock him.
And how was Jesus's attitude towards Nicodemus?
If we return to the story of John chapter 3, -
we can see that Jesus cleared out space in His life.
He wanted to be with Nicodemus, to encounter and serve him.
And notice that in the same way Jesus wants to meet and serve you, too.
Jesus gave Nicodemus His time and attention -
and started to thoroughly explain him the miracle of the new birth.
He encountered the real need Nicodemus had.
Think about it. There are eternal elements in the moment -
where the two men are talking. The eternal God and a man meet.
If we look at this moment, God had removed -
His godly privileges just as it says in the Bible, -
in Philippians chapter 2, verses 7-8. "But made himself of no reputation, -
and took upon him the form of a servant, -
and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, -
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, -
even the death of the cross."
Imagine that Jesus gave up all of His divine privileges.
One reason for doing it was precisely that He could encounter -
you and Nicodemus. He came to help and to teach.
He came to show the right way and to offer the road to salvation.
Only Jesus can do this to all of us, because He was willing to die for us.
And all this because Jesus loves us.
It says in John chapter 3 verse 3: -
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, -
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
God wants for us to see His Kingdom. Let's move on to verse 13.
"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down -
from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
Here we see again that He gave up His heavenly privileges -
and came to the earth as a normal human being.
It says in verse 15 that He did it so that everyone, you and me, -
who believes in Him, would have an eternal life. Verse 16 continues: -
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, -
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
In other words Jesus encountered Nicodemus -
and showed him the same longing that Nicodemus had.
"I miss you too, I love you too."
This is also for you. Jesus says: "I miss you too, I love you too.
I came from heaven into this world to encounter you, -
to encounter you and to offer you an eternal life.
And I'm ready to do everything for you, -
even to give up my life, because you are dear to me."
And when you ask and search for God, -
be persistent as it said in the passage of Luke.
Be ready to surrender yourself to His will, -
because Jesus showed in John 3 -
how He has prepared you the way for all the situations in your life, -
and you can receive it by obedience.
It was proceeded by His obedience, so that you can be obedient, -
for without obedience we cannot receive God's love, -
because obedience is based on deeds of faith -
and on the attitude that we trust Jesus.
And in the same way as Nicodemus was surprised by Jesus's answers, -
you might also be surprised of what God says -
when you take your things to God. It might be different than you expected.
I also want to say that He not only saved you from damnation -
but He also saved you from your own life, -
from a life without Christ full of dead works -
with which we try to earn love, acceptance, respect and fellowship.
Imagine. Jesus came so that you could have all this as a free gift.
He wants to give it to you. And even though we are believers, -
often for some reason we cannot receive them.
It might be because maybe we haven't been able to receive Jesus's mercy -
and to love ourselves in spite of what we are.
Jesus came to show us the way of mercy.
It says in Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 -
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun -
a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
It's He who does the work in you. You cannot even make yourself loved.
To finish with I'll pray the Passion translation of the same passage.
"I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced -
that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue -
the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Amen. Be blessed.
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I ask you to pray for us and also to support us financially.
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There is also the bank account number and the reference number -
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Choose the best option for you. May the Lord bless your giving -
and sowing and give you back abundantly. Be blessed. Amen.
English translation: Anni Lähteenmäki / TV7