The
story is told of a man -- who, while walking down the street of his town --
passed the window of the local pet store.
What
caught the man’s attention -- & caused him to stop & stare -- was the most magnificent bird he had ever seen.
It
sat on a perch -- in the middle of the window display -- with beautiful
colorful feathers.
It
had a silvery blue head -- glistening yellow wings -- a ruby red throat -- fading into a misty rose on its chest.
Its
beak & feet were ebony black -- as were its fierce, intelligent eyes.
The
man couldn’t resist! -- Inside the pet store he noticed a sign posted near the
bird that read: -- “This bird is
guaranteed to sing.”
He
inquired as to the price -- & was told he could own the bird for $1000 --
which, of course, included the cage.
The
man gasped! -- But in spite of the sticker shock -- he paid the price -- &
proudly took the bird & its cage to his home.
The
rest of the day -- he watched & waited -- eagerly anticipating the bird’s
song.
By the
next morning -- the bird still had not sung -- so the man returned to the pet
store. -- “What could be wrong?” he asked.
The
clerk apologized -- “Sir, didn’t I tell you? -- The bird needs a ladder. -- He
will climb the ladder, then he will
sing.”
The man bought the ladder for $20 -- took it
home -- put it in the bird cage -- & waited expectantly to hear the bird
sing.
The
bird climbed the ladder -- but sat at the top in silence.
The
next morning the man returned to the pet store -- & told the clerk the bird
still had not sung.
The
clerk apologized again & said -- “I’m sorry. -- I forgot that the bird
needs a little bell. -- He will climb the ladder & ring the bell -- then he
will sing.” -- The bell cost $25.
Back
home when the man put the bell at the top of the ladder in the cage -- the bird
climbed the ladder & rang the bell -- but that was the only sound that came
from the cage.
The
next morning the man returned to the pet store. -- This time he learned the
bird needed a $35. mirror -- next to the bell.
Back
at home the bird climbed the ladder -- rang the bell -- & looked into the
mirror -- but it didn’t even chirp.
The
next morning the man rushed into the pet store -- pounded on the counter --
& angrily recounted his purchases totaling $1,080; -- $1,080 for a bird
that did not sing!
He
was told that the bird would definitely sing -- if the he installed a $35. swing in the bird’s cage.
In
frustration, he paid for the swing -- & warned the clerk that if this
didn’t work -- he would return the bird -- & expect a full refund!
The
man stormed back to his house -- put the swing in place -- crossed his arms --
& stared at the bird.
Sure
enough -- the bird climbed the ladder -- rang the bell -- looked into the
mirror -- & swung on the swing --
then --
it fell to the bottom of the cage -- dead!
The
man was aghast! -- He grabbed the cage with the dead bird -- took it back to
the pet store -- slammed it on the
counter -- & yelled hysterically at the clerk: -- “I
bought a bird for $1000; -- a ladder for $20; -- a bell for $25; a mirror for $35; -- & a swing for $35.
-- Not only does this bird not sing --
but it’s dead! -- What went wrong?”
“Oh” --
the clerk responded, -- “did I forget to tell you? --
He also needed birdseed to keep him
alive -- & help him sing.”
The
bird had everything -- except the one
thing it really needed the most -- not just for a song -- but for life
itself! -- It needed birdseed.
My
friends -- what about you? -- Is something missing in your life? -- Something
that you can not define?
Perhaps all you know is that your life does
not have a song!
Has
your search for your “song” -- for joy & happiness & meaning -- caused
you to choose a ladder -- as a way
of climbing up -- seeking a higher position -- devoting yourself to greater
success?
When
that didn’t work -- did you decide you needed a bell -- as a way of drawing attention to yourself by increasing
your public reputation -- or visibility -- or fame?
Did
you become more frustrated when that turned out to be another dead end?
Perhaps then you rushed to get a mirror
-- as a way of remaking your image through cosmetic surgery -- dieting --
weight lifting -- jogging -- an exercise video -- or a membership at the local
spa.
As a
last act of desperation -- did you purchase the swing -- by throwing yourself into pleasurable pursuits --
entertainment -- fun?
As a
result -- do you find that at this moment you are beyond frustration -- &
totally exhausted in soul & spirit? -- You’ve just died on the inside.
Hasn't anyone told you? -- You need “birdseed.” -- Or better yet -- you
need the Bread of Life! --
You need the most basic Necessity of real life
You need Jesus Christ! -- He is the One
who can put a ‘song’ in your heart -- when everything else is just not enough!
In John 3 -- we are told about a man who
came to Jesus -- late one night -- seeking answers to the emptiness in his life.
He
was a man who had everything -- position -- wealth -- respect -- education --
fame -- prestige.
He
had the ladder -- the bell -- the mirror -- the swing -- he had it all!
Yet
something important was missing -- so he came seeking.
He
was searching for something more! -- His name was Nicodemus.
Something was missing in Nicodemus’ life; -- something that perhaps this
Teacher -- as he called Jesus -- could help him find.
Nicodemus knew how to be religious -- but he longed to sing.
He
knew there was something more -- but he didn’t
know where to find it
-- So
he came to Jesus.
Are you looking for something more today?
Are you fervently, inwardly searching for
something?
Why
not come a little closer & listen in --
to the life changing conversation that took place between Jesus &
Nicodemus.
Nicodemus opened the conversation with gracious respect: -- “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher, come from God -- for no man
can do these miracles that you do -- except God be with him” (John
3:2).
While
Nicodemus recognized Jesus as a great teacher -- his faith stopped short of acknowledging Jesus for Who He truly
was.
Nicodemus expressed his lack of faith when he called Jesus “a” teacher who had come from God -- but
not as “the” Teacher -- that is, the
Christ -- the Messiah!
With
compassionate gentleness -- yet convicting truthfulness -- Jesus pinned down
Nicodemus’ need -- when He declared in stark simplicity: -- “I assure you, unless you are born again --
you can never see the
What
-- what did Jesus mean by the term “born
again”?
In
essence -- Jesus was saying -- “Nicodemus, you are looking for real life. --
Abundant life. -- Eternal life. -- A
personal relationship with God now -- & heaven when you die. -- But unless you have a completely new
beginning -- unless you are born again -- you will not experience God.”
My
friends -- spiritual
rebirth is the only answer to the unspoken unconscious need of your heart!
Jesus’
appeal to Nicodemus to believe --
&
be born again -- to experience this
spiritual rebirth -- in order to receive
eternal life -- &
be assured a place in heaven -- is God’s
Gospel in a nutshell!
Let’s
hear the words of Jesus to Nicodemus -- in
John 3:16-21 (Read)
John
References to John 3:16 can be seen on posters behind the batter in the
stadiums of World Series Baseball games -- or on customized auto-mobile license
plates -- or adorning T-shirts.
It
can be heard in sermons -- & in testimonies.
What
a wonder it must have been -- to
have heard those words for the very first time: --
“For God so loved the world that he gave
his one & only Son -- that
whoever believes in him -- shall not
perish -- but have eternal life.”
Thousands of men & women --
boy & girls -- throughout the ages --
have experienced the life changing impact of the words Nicodemus had the privilege of hearing first.
In
John
Being
born again is God’s solution to our need for love & life & light!
Let’s
look at those three things: --
1. Our Need for Love!
-- Jesus meets our need for love!
Our
world is looking every where for love!
As
human beings -- we need to love & to be loved. -- But we’re looking in all
the wrong places.
We
look for love from a parent -- from a child -- from a sibling -- from a spouse
-- from a lover -- from a friend -- even from a pet.
But
our parents grow old & die -- our children
grow up & live their own lives --
our siblings move out & on -- our spouses are
too busy or too tired --
our lovers become jealous or bored --
our friends are superficial or self-fish -- our pets can’t speak or counsel.
Who
can truly understand the need of the
human heart?
Who
can meet the need of our hearts? -- Where is love found?
Jesus
revealed to Nicodemus the profound insight -- that love is found in the heart of God!
Man
was created by God to know & love Him in a permanent, personal
relationship.
But
the Bible tells the story of how man sinned; -- & that sin broke the
relationship with God -- for which we were created -- causing us to be
separated from our Creator God.
The
eternal plan to reconcile man with God -- & bridge the separation -- to
forgive us of all our sins -- originated
in the heart of God.
It
was motivated by God’s great love -- for you & for me.
For God so loved you -- that He gave
His Son -- His only Son -- the Son Whom He loved -- God gave heaven’s most
precious Treasure -- He gave everything He had -- in order to offer you eternal
life.
Now
that is love! -- Love in the truest form!
My
friends -- why, why do you doubt the love of God? -- Why?
Is it
because of the bad things that He allows to happen to good people?
Is it
because of the unfairness & injustice & unkindness & misery &
pain & suffering & cruelty of life?
Some
questions we may have will not have answers --
until we get to heaven. -- “We will understand it better by & by.”
But one thing we can know for sure is that
-- God loves you & me!
How
do we know that? -- We know it by just looking at the Cross -- where He proved His love for the world that mocks Him --
& ignores Him -- & despises Him -- & scorns Him -- & rejects
Him.
We
look at the Cross -- & we see “I
love you” -- written in red! -- The red of Christ’s own blood!
Our basic human need for love is met in
Jesus Christ!
2. Our Need for Life!
-- Jesus also meets our need for life!
Because of the sinful condition in which we are born -- we are not only
separated from God now -- but we are also condemned by our sin.
We
are condemned to an eternity of separation from God -- which the Bible calls hell.
Listen to what Jesus says in vss 17 & 18 -- “God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn it -- but
to save it. -- There is no judgment awaiting those who trust Him. -- But
those who do not trust Him have already been judged -- for not believing in the
only Son of God” (NLT).
Notice those words -- “God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn it -- but to save it.”
God
does not want you to perish -- to go to hell.
God
wants to save you -- & give you life -- abundant & eternal!
A
Native American -- who had lived a rough life came to know Christ through the
witness of a missionary.
He
found it hard to describe this new life
he was experiencing in Christ.
He
gathered his friends together -- & bending down, he found a worm -- picked it up -- & placed that worm on
a pile of leaves.
Then
he took a match -- & set the leaves on fire.
As
the flames drew nearer to the center --
where the worm was -- the old chief plunged
his hand into the burning pile -- & snatched
out the worm.
Holding the worm gently in his hand -- he said: -- “I ... that worm!”
One
of our great hymns -- At the Cross --
originally spoke of God’s love -- “for such a worm as I.”
The
writer of those words was the gifted
Isaac Watts.
President Thomas Jefferson thought Watt’s lyrics were so outstanding --
that he ordered that the government pay for the printing of Isaac Watts’ lyrics
in a book as required reading for the students of the
But
by the mid 1950’s -- Watt’s reference to a “worm” -- must have offended
someone’s sensitivity -- because the words were changed in many hymnals to read
-- “For sinners such as I.”
My
friends -- hear me clearly -- without Jesus Christ -- we are as worms of the
dirt -- without hope -- & without life -- & about to perish!
But
by believing on God’s Son -- we can be saved -- & have real life!
“God
did not send His Son into the world to condemn it --
but to save it.”
Whosoever believes in Jesus as God’s gracious provision for salvation --
will not perish -- or come under God’s judgment -- but will be saved -- & receive eternal life!
But
my friends -- you have to believe --
or you will perish.
There
is no other way to be forgiven of sin; -- no other way to get right with God;
-- no other way to go to heaven; -- no other way to escape eternal punishment;
-- no other way to experience real life -- then
that which God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ!
The
invitation is for you to believe & trust in Jesus Christ.
To
refuse to believe -- is to be condemned for time & for eternity!
Our
desperate need for eternal life is
met in Jesus Christ.
All
you & I need to do is to receive Him -- to believe on Him -- to accept Him
as our Lord & Savior -- to trust Him.
Jesus meets our need for life! -- He is
still the Bread of life!
3. Jesus also meets Our Need for Light!
All
of his life -- Nicodemus had been convinced that his religion made him right with God.
He
had taken refuge in the security that his good works would outweigh his bad
works -- & God would let him into heaven.
Nicodemus was sure his morality & integrity would please God.
And
all the while -- Nicodemus lived in spiritual darkness!
It
had never occurred to Nicodemus -- a Jew -- circumcised on the 8th day -- a
citizen of the nation of
But
now -- the light of truth penetrated his
darkness.
What
would Nicodemus do with this new truth? -- This light of the Word?
Jesus
told Nicodemus -- in the words of vss. 19 & 20 -- “the light from heaven
came into the world -- but they loved the darkness more than the light -- for
their actions were evil. -- They hate
the light because they want to sin in darkness” (NLT).
The
fact is -- my friends -- that we have convinced ourselves that living in
darkness is really the way to live.
Our
eyes may be opened physically -- but there’s no light bouncing off our
spiritual retina. -- We’re blind!
We’re
ashamed of our deeds -- & the choices we have made.
But
God invites you to experience the Light of the world!
Jesus
meets our need for Light!
He
wants to take us out of the darkness of our sin filled lives -- & into the
light of His forgiveness -- His grace -- His love.
Won’t
you today come into the Light -- & discover
the joy of sins forgiven -- & the gift of eternal life -- that comes in
knowing Jesus Christ in a real & personal way? -- He is still the Light of the world!
Jesus
can cast out the darkness of your life -- & put light into your soul!
Some
years ago -- Billy Graham was seated at a dinner attended by the civic,
business, religious, & political leaders -- of the eastern nation that had
invited him to hold evangelistic meetings.
The
man next to Billy Graham was the archbishop
of the dominant religion in that country.
During the course of the dinner conversation -- Billy Graham asked the
archbishop when & how -- he had become a Christian.
The
man’s eyes glistened with emotion -- as he put down his fork -- & proceeded
to tell Billy Graham his story.
The
man said he had already been installed as the archbishop in his country --
when he was invited to
He
accepted the invitation -- & found himself in the heart of the
He
turned to look into the full, round, ebony face of an obviously poor woman seated
behind him.
In a
wonderfully rich voice -- she asked: --
“Mister, has you ever been born again?”
The
archbishop frowned -- thinking for sure he had misunderstood her question --
since English was his second language.
With
polite reserve he asked -- “Excuse me?”
The
deep, rolling voice repeated: -- “I says, has you been born again?”
The
archbishop stiffened his back -- straightened his shoulders -- & replied
with the greatest dignity: -- “My dear madam -- I am the arch-bishop of the
church in my country. -- I am here to give a lecture at the theological
seminary.”
As
the bus rolled to a stop -- the woman rose to get off.
She
looked at the proud, religious man --
dressed in his flowing robes -- bearing the
jeweled insignia of his office -- & persisted bluntly: -- “Mister, that
ain’t what I asked you. -- I asked you, ‘Has you been born again?’”
Then
she turned & walked off the bus -- & out of his life.
But
the archbishop said -- her words rang in his
ears & burned in his soul
He
went back to his hotel room -- located a Gideon Bible in a dresser drawer --
opened it to the Gospel of John -- & read the familiar story of Nicodemus.
With
increasing clarity & conviction -- he knew that even with all of his
religious training & devotion & service & recognition -- he had
never been truly born again.
So he
slipped down on his knees -- & that night -- in a
And that night -- an archbishop discovered
that being born again is God’s solution to our need for love & life &
light!
Conclusion:
-- How about you my friend?
The
bird in the cage had everything -- except the one thing it really needed -- not
just for a song -- but for life itself! -- It needed birdseed!
You
may have everything -- just like Nicodemus did -- but something is missing in
your life.
You
have no song -- because you do not know the Bread of Life Himself -- Jesus
Christ -- Who is God’s solution to your need for love & life & light!
Won’t
you invite Jesus Christ to give you that spiritual rebirth -- through which you
can experience God’s love for you? -- & through which you can have abundant
life here -- & eternal life in heaven? -- & through which you can live
in Light instead of darkness?
You
too can have a personal relationship with God now -- & enjoy heaven when
you die. -- And He will put a song in your heart!