Sunday 03/01/26 – Adams Village Baptist
Church
Sermon
Title: “The Wealthy and Prominent
Seek Him” -
“The Path to the Empty Tomb” (Part 2 of 7) - John
3:1-17
(Welcome
Picture)
I have a question for us to think about this morning. This question
might not be directly connected to us, but it will connect more to us as this
message goes on. The question is this, were all of Jesus Christ’s followers on
earth all regular working-class people? Meaning, were all of Jesus’ followers’ “regular
people”? Or were some of Jesus’ followers very high up in society, and very
affluent? You may have never thought about this question before, as the
fisherman that Jesus called were hard working, and what we would often call “blue
collar” workers. Were all of Jesus’ followers on earth like this though, or did
and do all sorts of people follow Jesus?
The answer is all sorts of people did and do still follow
Jesus. For these reasons, and more, my message this morning is called of Jesus,
“The Wealthy and Prominent Seek Him.” This is part of this sermon series called
“The Path to the Empty Tomb,” as this sermon series will end with the
empty tomb of Jesus on Easter or Resurrection Sunday.
Getting back to the
sermon title of “The Wealthy and Prominent Seek Him” though, if all sorts of people
followed Jesus, and if wealthy and affluent people also followed Jesus, this
means in our country and around the world there must be wealthy and prominent
people that claim to be devout Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. There
are people that believe in and love Jesus, it included people from all walks of
life. In fact, having shown some of the portraits at in the entrance area to the
sanctuary, this church has had some very significant and prominent members over
the years. I say all of this to point us to the fact that Jesus calls everyone,
and that people of all walks of life respond to that call. It begs the question
then, who is part of the Christian Church? Historically and even today, all
sorts of people are part of the church, for we all need Jesus. Amen.
In doing a little research of very wealthy and prominent people
that followed Jesus just during his life here are on earth, here is a brief
list that I found:
“Wealthy and prominent followers of
Jesus during his lifetime included Joseph of
Arimathea (a wealthy Sanhedrin member who provided a
tomb), Nicodemus (a
Pharisee and ruler of the Jews), and women supporters such as Joanna (wife
of Chuza, Herod’s steward) and Susanna.
Other notable followers included Zacchaeus (a
wealthy chief tax collector) and likely Lazarus of
Bethany” (https://www.google.com/search?q=wealthy+and+prominent+followers+of+jesus+when+he+was+alive).
For those that do not know, when Jesus was put in the tomb
on that first Good Friday, after he died on the cross, it was not his tomb. The
tomb that Jesus was buried or laid in belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, who was
a wealthy member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Meaning that Jesus was literally put
in another man’s tomb on Good Friday. Since Jesus was buried or laid in the tomb
of Joseph of Arimathea, and since Joseph of Arimathea was part of the
Sanhedrin, just what is the Sanhedrin? Here is a good definition:
“The Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish legislative, judicial, and administrative council in ancient Israel” (https://www.google.com/search?q=did+the+sandherin+try+Jesus+on+Good+Friday).
This means that early in the morning on that first Good
Friday that this was the same group of leaders that tried Jesus and determined that
he needed to die for claiming that He was God in the flesh. In fact, they tore their
robes, which they only did in response to the most grievous of religious blasphemy.
(Joseph of Arimathea
taking Jesus’s body - Picture)
After Jesus was taken off the cross on Good Friday, at the request
of the Sanhedrin member Joseph of Arimathea to Pontius Pilate. Joseph of Arimathea
and Nicodemus then prepared Jesus’ body and buried or entombed him together.
Nicodemus though is
who I want to focus on this morning, as “The Wealthy and Prominent Seek Him.” Before
getting into talking about Nicodemus though, who here honestly has never heard
of the character in the bible named Nicodemus?
(Nicodemus/Jeff
Foxworthy - Picture)
If you do not know who Nicodemus
is, you will be by the end of this sermon! For he is important.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee. The Pharisees were teachers and interpreters
of the Jewish Law and beliefs. Nicodemus was a very influential man, and likely
of man wealth and certainly influence. Nicodemus also could not deny everything
that he saw Jesus do and could not fully explain Jesus’ teachings. As a result,
Nicodemus came to Jesus in the middle of the night to figure out once and for
all, just who is this Jesus.
(Nicodemus
at the Table with Jesus - Picture)
In looking at our gospel of John 3:1-17 reading for this
morning, it says, once again:
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
3 Now there was a Pharisee
named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus
by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has
come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the
presence of God.’ 3 Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I
tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’
4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown
old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5 Jesus
answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without
being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the
flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do
not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.”
8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound
of it, 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 a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 ‘Very
truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen;
yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I
have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe
if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has
ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
14 And just 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. 16 ‘For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life. 17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son
into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved
through him (Jn.
3:1-17, NRSV).
So,
to summarize and explain John 3:1-17 once again:
Nicodemus was a first-century Jewish
Pharisee, and also a member of the Sanhedrin council, like Joseph of Arimathea and
a "teacher of Israel" who secretly revered Jesus. Featured only in
the Gospel of John, he is known for visiting Jesus at night to learn about the
kingdom of God, prompting Jesus to explain the necessity of being "born again"
(John 3:1-21).
Key Interactions and
Role:
·
The Night Visit (John 3): As a
cautious seeker, Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, acknowledging him as a
teacher from God. Jesus taught him that seeing the kingdom requires being born
of water and the Spirit.
·
Defender of Jesus (John 7): When the
Pharisees sought to arrest Jesus, Nicodemus interrupted to demand a fair trial
according to the law
·
Burial of Jesus (John 19): Following
the crucifixion, Nicodemus openly identified with Jesus by helping Joseph of
Arimathea bury him, bringing a massive, expensive mixture of myrrh and aloes
(about 100 pounds) to prepare the body.
Specifically, it says this
of the burial of Jesus in John 19:38-42, which mentioned just a minute ago:
The
Burial of Jesus
38 After these
things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one
because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of
Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus,
who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took
the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to
the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden
in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in
which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was
the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there (Jn. 19:38-42, NRSV).
Not only did Joseph of Arimathea follow and love Jesus, but
so did Nicodemus. It has always made me wonder, as well, if there were other
Pharisees, members of the Sanhedrin, and the Sadducees who also secretly
followers of Jesus? I mean everyone has but one life to give up, but when people
of wealth and prominence follow Christ, sometimes historically they have given
up a lot.
At the one of the churches that I served for five-years,
there was a Christian Men’s organization that every year would offer, for free,
lawn signs saying something about the coming birth of Jesus Christ. As I was
writing this sermon, I thought of a lawn sign we were given one year that spoke
of so much of this sermon for this morning. You see, one year the lawn signs
that we had said of Jesus, “Wise Men Still Seek Him:
(Wise Men
Still Seek Him - Picture)
You see the Wise
Men or Magi were men of wealth and influence, and yet they traveled a long distance
to see this Christ, this savior that came into the world. The hope of Jesus
Christ is universal, and we all need His love, His grace, His mercy, and the
hope that only He can offer everyone.
To me Nicodemus and
Joseph of Arimathea were Godly men. They were both willing to admit when they
were wrong, ask tough questions, and they were both willing to learn and grow. Nicodemus
once again went to Jesus in the middle of the night because he just had to know.
I still believe, once again, without knowing for certain that other wealthy
affluent people secretly believed in and followed Jesus but did not want to pay
the price of what following Him meant. You see my brothers and sisters to follow
Christ as Lord and Savior will and continues to cost us something. If much of the
world is against the gospel, then we will pay a price for those that oppose it.
For example, if
you look at the painting up front here in the sanctuary of the “Rich Young
Ruler,” which is a parable in the gospels of Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18.
In this parable, the “Rich Young Ruler” sees Jesus and tells Him that he has
done everything right religiously, followed all the scriptures to the letter,
etc. So, he asks Jesus, what else he needs to do to have eternal life. Jesus
tells him to sell everything he owns, give the money to the poor, and follow
Him. The “Rich Young Ruler,” looks sad and walks away from Jesus. Then Jesus
says in Matthew 19:23-24 this:
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’ (Matt. 19:23-24, NRSV).
It is not a sin to be successful, and it is not a sin have
wealth, but it is a sin to put anything before Jesus. It is a sin worship wealth
and possession over God, and pastor that painted this portrait with chalk
reminded us that Christ has to be first in our live. The “Rich Young Ruler” however,
loved his possessions and wealth more than Jesus. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea
risked a lot to follow Jesus, as do many. However, sometimes it seems that the
more possessions and the more someone has, it can make it harder to choose
Jesus first.
Further, the ministry of Jesus, and of many in the early
church, was assisted financially by people of wealth and influence. For “The
Wealthy and Prominent Seek Him.”
To bring this all home the, why is Nicodemus, and Joseph of
Arimathea for that matter, important the life of Jesus, and why do “The Wealthy
and Prominent Seek Him?”
Here is why:
Nicodemus is a crucial figure in
the Gospel of John, representing the intellectual, religious elite who
journeys from cautious skepticism to open discipleship. As a Pharisee and
Sanhedrin ruler, his nighttime visit (John 3) highlights the need for spiritual
rebirth, while his later defense of Jesus (John 7) and assisting with the
burial (John 19) mark his transition from darkness to light.
Key
Reasons for Importance:
·
The "Born Again" Discourse (John 3): Nicodemus
serves as the foil for Jesus to explain the necessity of being "born
again" (spiritual regeneration) and belief in the Son of Man to enter the
Kingdom of God, providing the context for John 3:16.
·
Symbol of Transformation (Night to Light): He starts by
coming at night (symbolizing ignorance or fear) but gradually moves toward the
light, representing a journey of faith that moves beyond rigid legalism to
understanding.
·
Representative of Seeking Elite: Unlike many
Pharisees, Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus as a teacher sent by God, showing that
even within the religious establishment, some were drawn to Jesus.
·
A Voice of Reason (John 7): He advocates
for fairness within the Sanhedrin, asking if the law can judge someone without
hearing them, demonstrating his growing courage.
·
The Burial of Jesus (John 19): Alongside
Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus provides a large amount of spices to bury Jesus,
showing his open devotion and wealth, defying the typical "secret
disciple" status.
Nicodemus
represents a personal, intellectual, and ultimately committed journey to faith,
contrasting with the superficial belief of others.
So, on this “Path to the Empty Tomb” of Easter morning, may we understand why “The Wealthy and Prominent Seek Him,” along with every walk of life. For truth, hope, love, and salvation are available to all through Jesus Christ. We seek Him, may we service Him, and may He be the very center of our lives and beings. Amen.
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