“Missing Jesus” Sunday, 30 October 2022 10:00 a.m.
We are continuing with our series this Sunday entitled “I'm a Believer” from the book of John. Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Last week we started with John 1: 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
This week, we are moving on to Chap.3 and Jesus’ important conversation with a religious ruler by the name of Nicodemus. Jesus gives Nicodemus the shortest prophetic word in the New Testament about what His mission and mandate was; that He had come to give His life as an atonement for the sins of mankind. It is found in these 2 verses.
John 3: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus says to Nicodemus there is a way to have eternal life through belief in Him. But what do I need to believe about Jesus? And what does it mean… that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Nicodemus was a Jewish ruler and scholar and knew the Torah, he certainly had heard about how the people of God in the wilderness continually complained; about how they rebelled and spoke against God and Moses ….…about how God sent snakes among them as an act of judgement on their unbelief….and about how Moses was instructed to place a bronze snake on the pole for their healing. And many looked and lived, but I’m sure that there were many because of unbelief, who refused and missed Him.
So, we need to be careful…. the road to unbelief can sneak up on you quicker than you think. It starts out as being apprehensive…. that is,” I'm not quite so sure about and whether God is going to meet my needs.” And then it evolves into doubts about whether God really cares about me. We can also have negativity and disappointment with God…. all of it can lead to hardness of heart where I’m not listening to God anymore. And finally, it results in “unbelief.” That’s why Paul says in Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
But to those who believe…there is an antidote for the poisonous venom that is defiling our planet because we all have been “snake-bit” in this polluted world. God gave His Son to be “lifted up” on the cross in my place. And when I look upon Him, the sinless Lamb, who became the sacrifice for my sin and through belief in Him as the atonement for my sin, I receive cleansing, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Missing Jesus.”
Blessings,
Kevin