The Joshua Victor Theory

  Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. In John 3 we meet Nicodemus. Who is he? A moral, religious man. Serious about spiritual matters; curious about Jesus’ teachings. A Pharisee, devoted to purity, good living, and obedience to the Law. He also was an upper-class member of society on the prestigious Sanhedrin, a council of 70 ruling elders, who eventually judged Jesus guilty of blasphemy (though he and his friend Joseph of Arimathea did not consent to their decision). He comes at night to speak to Jesus, hiding his interest from his fellow Pharisees or the Sanhedrin. At the end of the Gospel of John, however, he openly comes out as a disciple of Jesus, honors Jesus’ body in burial in Joseph’s tomb. Early in the story here, his faith is beginning. He sees Jesus is from God. He says: “ 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’ miracles...

Sermon outline: ·          We just had our school Spring Musical, “Nic’ at Night” about this same story! Beautiful singing and great telling of the story of Nicodemus. “Secret disciple”. That changed when he and Joseph of Arimathea, boldly buried the body of Jesus after His death on Good Friday, and were no doubt among the faithful who saw Him after His resurrection. Refrain from song: John 3:16 means, “we can be born again!” ·          Pharisees—strict laws, Jewish leaders, many on the Sanhedrin, or ruling council of 70. Most would become fierce opponents of Jesus; Sabbath law, forgiving sins and making Himself equal to God, calling God His Father, making Himself equal to God. Saul was a Pharisee, persecuting Christians, before his conversion and becoming the Apostle Paul. This is why the secret visit—going against the group. Made his discipleship open when he buried Jesus. ·    ...

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He came to Jesus at night; undoubtedly to hide his meeting with the famous teacher. It’s not hard to figure out why. He was a Pharisee, prominent Jewish religious leaders and constant rivals of Jesus, who frequently challenged His authority and teachings. Not only this, but he was one of the Sanhedrin, a ruling council of 70 influential men in Jerusalem. His secrecy was easy to understand at a human level, but his curiosity and his questions drove him to this nighttime meeting with Jesus. If there was something to what Jesus had to say after all, Nicodemus had to find out. If there wasn’t, no one would need to know about this late night interview. Nicodemus opens the conversation with an honorable and respectful greeting, “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.” While this was still far short of recognizing that Jesus was God’s own Son, t...