Holy Trinity Sermon

TEXT: John 3:1-15
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 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. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And 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.”

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” To say that we believe in a Creator doesn’t seem all that controversial when we confess this truth here in the sanctuary with like-minded Lutherans. We have become so accustomed to saying the First Article of the Creed Sunday after Sunday that it often times rolls off our tongues with little to no thought at all. But what about outside of the sanctuary of the Divine Service? Do you confess God as Creator in your vocations as mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, farmer, and worker? Or, do you simply put the Creed back in the pew rack after the Divine Service and forget about it until the next time you’re in church?

Confessing that you believe in a Creator may be devastating to your reputation… even to job security. Consider Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez a professor at Iowa State University. Dr. Gonzales is a Christian who is considered an authority in Astronomy. His work has led to the discovery of two new planets and his credentials are many. Dr. Gonzales was one of several people who were highlighted in a recent film documentary, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” Ben Stein, the documentary’s host as well as an avid supporter of Intelligent Design, showed how Dr. Gonzales was estranged from other intellectuals and leaders in astronomical science after he wrote a book that suggested that scientific evidence lends credence to the possibility that the world was created by an Intelligent Designer. Sorry Will, you won’t get a chance to take a class with Dr. Gonzales. His last class at ISU ended three days ago.

The world would have us think that believing in God is an unintelligent thing to do. “God is for dummies.” Their intellectual god is atheism (truthfully, their god is themselves). Atheists such as Richard Dawkins think that Christians (you) are feeble minded… that God is some sort of mythical security blanket in a world that you can’t comprehend with your intellect, so you make up an imaginary god. And if you try to argue with the atheist, they’ll simply ask, “Well, show me your God, then maybe I’ll believe in him.” What sinners cannot comprehend apart from faith, they cannot believe.

That was Nicodemus’ problem too. Jesus had told him that “Unless a man is born again of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” But Nicodemus said, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb and be born again?” Nicodemus was well aware of the science of labor and delivery. He knew what it meant to be “born.” Then again, maybe he didn’t. Nicodemus’ logic was confined to the five senses (smell, sight, sound, touch and taste) and three dimensions (length, width, and height). He had overlooked the "sense" of faith and the "dimension" of Holy Things.

When Jesus said, “Unless a man is born again of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God,” He was referring to Baptism. Jesus sent out the Apostles at the Ascension and He had given them His authority to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… and to teach all of Jesus’ doctrine. No one was to be overlooked. God desired/desires disciples of all nations… Any and every man, woman and child God wishes to wash in the Sacrament of water and the Word in the Name of the Triune God.

Baptism is that Holy Drowning whereby we die with Jesus in His death by crucifixion and are raised with Him in His Resurrection. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” (Gal2:20) Baptism is that blessed clothing in which you are clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness, so that God no longer sees your sin, but only the Holy deeds of Jesus. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:3) That’s what we confess in the Athanasian Creed when we say, “And those who have done good will enter into eternal life.” For the Scriptures say that “if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Baptism is God’s way of rebirthing you. You are conceived in the womb of the one holy Christian Church and are made a child of God in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

What I have said about Heavenly Things makes no sense without faith. Try to explain the fragrant smell of homemade cinnamon rolls to someone who is not able to smell. You can’t. Try to describe the beauty of Spring, the budding trees and the flowers to someone who is blind even if their IQ ranks them with the most intelligent of men. They won’t understand. Try to explain the Triune God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier to the brightest of scientists apart from the gift of faith… they wont get it. Try using objects like an apple, or an egg… it won’t matter if the “sense” of faith has not been created by the Word of God.

The next time someone asks you to explain the true God to them, show them the cross. Even better, show them a crucifix. Yes, that’s what Jesus would do... that's what Jesus did do. He told Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever has faith (believes) in him may have eternal life.”

The science of medicine has adopted the fiery serpent on a pole as their emblem of health and healing. How interesting that I’ve never seen a snakeless pole at any vet office or doctor’s office. So shall the cross never by Christless. In Christ crucified the fullness of the deity dwells. To know Jesus is to know the Father Who sent Him and the Spirit Who proceeds from Him. "For through [Jesus] we have access in one Spirit tot he Father." (Eph. 2:18) Show them the cross. To know Jesus is to be baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. Show them the cross. To know Christ is to be touched by Him on your lips and to feast with Him in the Sacrament. Show them the cross. Yes, show them the cross.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.