Numbers
21:4-9 –
From
Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of
Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And 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 loathe this worthless
food." Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the
people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and
said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against
you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses
prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent
and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall
live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a
serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
John
2:23-3:15 –
Now
when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when
they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust
himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness
about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Now
there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 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." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 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?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I
say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be
born again.' 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."
Nicodemus
said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are
you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly,
truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have
seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things
and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No
one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of
Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John
19:38-40 –
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. Nicodemus also,
who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and
aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and
bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
This
church includes several buildings, so we were pleased to have chosen the door
to the narthex. We were early and there appeared to be a class going on, so we
walked around a bit aided by mostly good signage. We learned shortly before
time for the service we came to attend that it was held in a different area.
Our thanks to the man who walked us there.
The
sanctuary featured high wooden arches and intricate wood carvings, whereas our
service today was contemporary in a modern space with a larger wooden cross and
well-designed acoustic treatment. In the hallway outside was a bulkhead delightfully
adorned with crosses provided by the members.
We
were greeted by almost everyone we passed, including the assistant pastor who took
time to talk to us. On my enquiry as to whether wine was used for Communion, he
explained their belief that the benefits of the elements were equally in both
and I was able to receive the bread and a blessing at the station of the wine. I
was able to participate in Communion and my 25 years without alcohol is intact.
We enjoyed
our coffee and the worship team’s music, particularly at the offering.
There
was a healthy age mix with a lot of delightful children. I am always amazed how
the worship area fills after the service starts in contemporary worship.
The
sermon was inspired of Christ and used, I thought, an unusual combination of
Scripture: Moses making a bronze snake so those who were bit by the serpents
could look upon it and be healed and the New Testament story of Nicodemus
coming to understand and believe in Christ on the Cross.
An interesting
quote from a recent survey that 70% of respondents would not want to live next
to “born-again Christians.” The pastor talked of his coming to Christ while in
seminary over a five-year period.
I
thought back to when God claimed me. I believed I was a Christian for the first
50 years, but then I was saved. Like Nicodemus, I came to know my Lord.
It
has been almost four years since we worshiped at this church, long enough that
I did not recall the facility being so maze-like, so I appreciated some kind people
who directed us. One of those kind folks was an Assistant Pastor who took time
to talk with us, and another gentleman who walked us to the worship area as we figured
out we had been waiting near the main sanctuary, admiring the woodwork, but
worship would be elsewhere in the building.
After
we found the coffee, we found seats. The stage area was attractively decorated
and the talented musicians were a joy, with voices blending perfectly.
We
loved watching the many little ones who seemed to enjoy themselves.
The
sermon was entitled The New Birth, a
subject that has fascinated humans since those words fell from Jesus’ lips. The
pastor spoke of what it means to be born again then answered his own question “Who
Needs the New Birth?” (answer: everyone).
A
portion I found especially fascinating was when he asked “How Does the New
Birth Happen?” To this he responded that it was much like the physical birth in
that we are born by the work of another, without our consent, focusing on what
God does.
He
relayed a personal story about becoming a New Creation and the spiritual
healing he experienced upon his own New Birth.
I
so appreciated his description of Nicodemus as he helped take Jesus’ body from
the cross. He, a member of the Sanhedrin, became ritually unclean in the
process because of the Blood, but experienced healing in surrendering to the
Lordship of Christ.
I
think that’s the way it is for true spiritual healing: in surrendering, we appear
to lose everything, only to regain even more as we are healed by the sacrifice
of Christ.
Lord, You have blessed Your Church greatly and we were blessed to meet You here in worship today. We ask for Your continued Presence and guidance for this congregation. Amen.
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