Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

Epiphany 4 - February 2, 2003

Lessons: Numbers 21:4-9; Titus 3:3-7; John 3:1-15

"Four Puns and a Straight Man"

Introduction:

American comedy has been filled with two-person comedy teams- Laurel and Hardy, Burns & Allen, Abbot & Costello, Lewis and Martin and Cheech and Chong. In each of these teams, one guy is the funny guy, the other guy sets up the humor. He's called the straight man. Oddly enough, that structure is used throughout the Gospel of John. In our text today, Jesus is the straight man. As we continue to introduce the Gospel of John for the year, this is one of the two things we're going to look at this morning. Jesus keeps having encounters with people, often times the high and mighty, and they end up looking foolish. Indeed, as these ones who seemed so wise came to Jesus, they were humbled. It's also a way for John to keep his audience interested. Today we have the first of those stories. Jesus meets a man named Nicodemus.

The other notable things we're going to look at this morning are John's puns. Only John, Jesus' best friend, reports these deep but clever word plays that Jesus made. John recognizes the most creative mind in the universe, and recognizes as well that often when Jesus says one thing, it has a deeper or second meaning. These puns run all the way through John, but are often missed when we read the text in English. As we study the texts deeply in a good study Bible, or especially if we can see the original Greek, these puns jump right out at us.

The Story:

This morning we have four puns, and one straight man. Let's look.

(Read John 3:1-15)

I) Born Again

Nicodemus comes to Jesus and acknowledges him to be a great teacher. Immediately Jesus gives him a statement which has nothing to do with what Nicodemus has just said. Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." As you look at that, Jesus is throwing this out as a truth, as a riddle and as a discussion starter. But it's also our first pun.

The end of the phrase can be translated 'born again' or 'born from above.' Nicodemus understood neither meaning. He hears 'born again' and all he can understand is the idea of a second physical birth. He doesn't understand the idea of a spiritual rebirth, being born again; nor does he understand being 'born from above'- being given a second birth by God himself. To be 'born again' means to be given a second birth, a birth from above, by God himself. To experience this new birth is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God. This is the new birth of faith, the faith that the whole Gospel of John will call us to. John says of his Gospel: John 20:31 (It is) ...written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. That's the whole reason John wrote the Gospel. That's the whole reason we gather here every Sunday. ...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Nicodemus still doesn't get it. Nicodemus acts as dumb as the funny man in any comedy setup. He says, [4] "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

II) Water and Spirit

Jesus now keeps the straight face, but he also gets to poke a little fun at the establishment of the religious and powerful. [5] Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Jesus says he must be born of 'water and the Spirit.' This is like a second pun. Water and Spirit means a physical birth and a spiritual birth. It also refers to Baptism. Jesus is saying things here on two levels. This is the way John writes his Gospel. You have to stop and think. Jesus goes on:

III) Wind/Spirit

[7] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You 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." (Here's our third pun- the word 'wind' and 'spirit' are the same in Greek- you hear the wind/Spirit blow and you cannot tell where it comes from-but it happens. You get born again when the Spirit grabs you. You can't control it. You can't cause it- the wind/Spirit blows where it wills.

By this time, Nicodemus is completely confused. "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. Jesus gets to poke a bit of fun: [10] "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? John is showing us that we can't understand this unless we know Jesus. John's Gospel is written to the Church. You understand these things, even if Nicodemus doesn't. It's an inside joke.

Then Jesus goes even further: [11] I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. Who is the 'we?' Jesus and the disciples? Jesus and you and me, the readers? Yes.

[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? This really is the introduction to all of Jesus' teaching in John's Gospel. Will the Jewish leaders be able to believe? Then Jesus begins to reveal the outcome of the whole story, but Nicodemus won't get this yet, either. But Nicodemus will show up three times in John's Gospel, finally to take his body and prepare it for burial. By the end Nicodemus gets it. What does Jesus tell him here at the beginning?

IV) Crucified/Glorified

[13] No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. [14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

In Moses' day, when the people sinned, they had to look up, look toward heaven, and a serpent lifted up, hung on a pole, toward God and be healed. Jesus says the people will need to be healed, and it's only going to happen when they look to him. 'Lifted up' is our fourth pun- it means both to be 'lifted up' on a cross, as well as 'lifted up' to be glorified and praised. Jesus will mention this three times in John's Gospel as well*. In fact, as the evil ones lift Jesus up on the cross to crucify him, they are indeed beginning the 'praise' and worship of Jesus, as he begins there to ascend to heaven. Jesus speaks of his crucifixion as his 'glorification' in John, which is very different from the other three Gospels. Further, in John, Jesus is very much in control of the whole situation- he decides to lay down his life. And he will take it back up again.

Conclusion:

What a busy text! So, we've got one pun dealing with being born from 'above and again.' We've got a second pun, with the action of the Spirit/wind. We've got a third pun a phrase, 'water and Spirit' meaning we need both natural and supernatural birth, and a new birth by water and the Spirit in baptism; and a fourth pun 'lifted up' meaning the interplay between Jesus crucifixion and the glorification this will bring.

That's how John's Gospel works. We can read it like a story. We can take each verse apart and think about what it means, and it opens up into deeper and deeper meaning. It's very different from the other Gospels, but it's meant to be both a good first Gospel and one you can read and read and read and find deeper and deeper things.

The key part of this passage is that Jesus calls us to be 'born again,' 'born anew,' 'born from above.' This means to experience a new birth. It isn't something you can do for yourself, any more than you could cause your first birth. But the Spirit/wind is blowing into your heard today as you hear of Jesus' invitation to John.

And Jesus invites you to receive him today by faith. He invites you to his table to receive him. To say 'Jesus, come into me and make me yours.' The message is simple. The message is deep. Come and receive new birth. Amen.

*John 3:14 John 8:28 John 12:32 John 12:34

Epiphany 4 - February 2, 2003

NUM 21:4-9

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." 6 Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live. 10 The Israelites set out, and camped in Oboth.

TIT 3:3-7

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

JOH 3:1-15

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just 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.