February 17th 2008
“GOOD NEWS FOR SUCCESFUL PEOPLE!”
Background Readings: Psalm 32
John 3:1-21
GOOD NEWS FOR SUCCESFUL PEOPLE!
Nicodemus was successful. We know from the Biblical record he was wealthy, a man of political and religious influence, living in Jerusalem as a member of the ruling council, and, as a Pharisee, immensely pious and respectable.
Yet, one night he comes privately to meet Jesus-the Galilean Odd-Job Man. He comes at night, possibly in secret, possibly by prior arrangement. He comes with a measure of faith-at least he’s heard stories about Jesus and has some ‘head-knowledge’: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him.”
Above all, he comes to meet Jesus in person. Possibly he has some questions he wants to ask, or theological points he wants to discuss. But the first part of the Good News, for successful people, is that Jesus actually has a whole lot more he wants to say to Nicodemus.
Here Jesus has an opportunity to share his message with someone of great influence who is willing to listen: A rare thing in the Gospels. And the conversation must have had a great impact on Nicodemus: For he makes two other appearances in the Gospels. First, he speaks up for Jesus in the Sanhedrin Court, at Jesus’ trial. Second, he helps Joseph of Arimethea provide Jesus with a dignified burial after his crucifixion, at his own expense.
A question: Are you a successful person with influence? Then hear this good news-Jesus has a personal interest in meeting with you! He wants you to understand his message in such a way that you can share it with those you have influence over.
I know a Methodist Minister who once described his Dog-Collar as his ‘Heineken Ministry’! It allows him to reach people other Church members cannot reach. However, another Ministerial friend reminded me that every single member of the Church has a Heineken Ministry. We all have a unique ‘sphere of influence’ in which to speak up for Jesus. Ask yourself, ‘what’s my Sanhedrin?’
However, there is one big problem with being successful and influential: Most really successful people are competitive by nature. And the problem with success is that it is always relative. No matter how good you are at something-someone else is always better! No matter how influential you may be someone else is always more influential. And this often leads successful people to suffer from an unholy trinity of disease: a sense of “Regret, Fear and Failure”.
If this is you then there is more Good News for you in this story: Let me share with you a slight paraphrase of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: “I am telling you the truth: in the Kingdom of God you can be born again!”
We cannot say for certain what Nicodemus’ regrets, fears and sense of failure may have been-but I am sure they were there, lurking someone deep inside his life-that’s really why he came to see Jesus. Most people I know (especially successful ones) have at some time or other in their lives have desperately wanted a completely fresh start. How many of us have ever wished we could be born again? Probably every single one of us, for some reason or another.
Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, and saying to every successful person: “Believe in God, believe in me and, yes, it is possible to have afresh start-it usually starts in your spirit (because often that’s where the root cause is) but it can then affect the whole of your life.”
A question: Anyone want a fresh start? Believe in Jesus and you can have it.
There was a Pop song in the 1980s which had the catchy lyric, “You knock me down and I get up again!” The eternal Christian lyric should be, “I get knocked down and God helps me up and start again!”
The greatest regret, fear, or sense of failure amongst the successful-is often the knowledge of things they have done wrong along the way: (possibly the hidden secret of their apparent success). Did Nicodemus have some lurking sense of guilt? As a Pious Pharisee had he bought his way onto the Sanhedrin? Cash for honours-and money for favours is not a new political phenomenon. Therefore, I wonder if the key verse for Nicodemus was John 3:17, rather than John 3:16, “God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its Saviour.”
For some, this may be a wonderful piece of Good News. If that is you, then also consider Psalm 32:5
“Then I confessed my sins to you (God); I did not conceal my wrongdoings. I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins.”
Surely that’s Good News!
A Summary of Good News for Successful People:
Let God give you a personal message to share. (You have influence!)
Let God give you a fresh start. (You can be born again!)
Let God forgive your wrongdoings. (God so loves the world!)
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