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Encounters with J esus in John’s Gospel:

Encounters with J esus in John’s Gospel: 2 . The Leader John 3: 1 – 5, John 7: 45 – 52, John 19: 38 - 42. A letter to … my husband, who has 'found God' (The letter you always wanted to write)

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Encounters with J esus in John’s Gospel:

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  1. Encounters with Jesus in John’s Gospel: 2. The LeaderJohn 3: 1 – 5, John 7: 45 – 52, John 19: 38 - 42

  2. A letter to … my husband, who has 'found God' (The letter you always wanted to write) This is a lonely problem for me as I can't tell our friends and family, most of whom would be negative about your changing; most of our friends are non-believers, and many are quite anti-religion and might think you foolish or having changed fundamentally – I don't want them to think badly of you. It is like a shameful secret .t

  3. A letter to … my husband, who has 'found God' (The letter you always wanted to write) So it is your joining a church, rather than starting to believe in God, that is so disappointing. You were always an intelligent, free-thinking, rather independent person, and I can't quite get over you joining such a conforming and didactic organisation..

  4. Nicodemus: believer? ‘These are 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.(20: 31). This, the first of the miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He He thus revealed his glory and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2: 11)

  5. Nicodemus: believer? What does it mean, to ‘believe’? What does it cost to believe?

  6. ‘Probably no passage in John’s admittedly mysterious Gospel is more ambiguous that the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus. Sandra Schneider,‘Written that you may believe’

  7. 1. Nicodemus: are you claiming to know, or daring to believe? (3: 1 – 15) Nicodemus: “We know…..” (3:1) Jesus: “no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (3:3)

  8. 1. Nicodemus: are you claiming to know, or daring to believe? (3: 1 – 15) ‘Waterand the Spirit’? (5) • Physical birth, as in v.6? • Symbolic, as in Ezekiel 36: 25 – 26? • Christian baptism? • John’s baptism? Does ‘water’ = repentance, a change of mind, making straight the way for the Lord’ (1:23)?

  9. Selina, Countess of Huntingdon: Why are you always preaching on John 3: 5, ‘You must be born again’? George Whitfield:Madam, because you must.

  10. 1. Nicodemus: are you claiming to know, or daring to believe? (3: 1 – 15) Real knowledge comes from believing the one who came from heaven and receiving the new birth he brings, not from our human efforts and credentials.

  11. The result of revival in China was thousands of evangelists being sent out to all corners of the nation, carrying the fire of God with them. When God moves in the West, it seems you want to stop and enjoy his blessings too long, and build an altar to your experiences. You can never really know the Scriptures until you’re willing to be changed by them.Brother Yun

  12. The thing we would remember from meeting a truly gospel-humble person is how much they seemed to be totally interested in us. Because the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. Tim Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.

  13. 2. Nicodemus: are you keeping your head down or making a stand? (7: 45 – 52) Do the temple guards have more courage than Nicodemus? (7: 32, 46) Is his stand courageous (51) or cowardly (48)? Many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (12: 42-3)

  14. Q: ‘You have a Time Machine; do you go forwards or backwards?’ A: ‘I’d want to go back to Christ’s time, just to make sure it’s all bull.’ Jack Black, interviewed in ‘Total Film’ magazine.

  15. If you are going to walk with Jesus Christ, you are going to be opposed ... In our days, to be a true Christian is really to become a scandal. George Whitefield

  16. 3. Nicodemus: are you burying Jesus,or making him your King? (19: 38 – 42) Another night-time encounter (Matt 27: 57) With one who feared the Jews (38, 12:43) Why so many spices? (39) Is he just burying Jesus or enthroning him ? (2 Chronicles 16: 14)

  17. Let’s ask ourselves… • Am I being persecuted by someone in authority? Persevere, and pray. • Have I joined the ranks of the respectable? • Am I proud in my own knowledge? • Am I keeping my head down? • Am I burying Jesus rather than enthroning him? • Is my discipleship ambiguous?

  18. It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy. Richard Wurmbrand

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