March 12, 2016 - Church at Worship

Sermon: “The Verdict of a Midnight Visitor”  - by Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Roy Ice

Scripture Reading: John 19:38–42, TNIV

Children's Feature: Doug Mace

Sermon Notes:

 He came to see Jesus at night. Then he disappeared from the story— disappeared, that is—until the weekend of Calvary. Then he makes a reappearance. His name is Nicodemus. And the weekend of the cross, he discovers—as did others— that the cross demands a verdict.

We know his story well. We’ve often read and studied and listened to sermons on John 3. I myself have preached often on that passage. It is a passage that contains what is arguably the most beloved verse in all the Bible: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, TNIV).

What we don’t do as often is to turn to a much later chapter in the gospel of John and read of the reappearance of Nicodemus.

Why did he disappear? 

Why didn’t he make his choice more open and clear after that midnight visit? 

What happened to him in the intervening time? 

The truth is, we don’t know the answers to most of our questions. But what is even more disturbing than that is that many among us have had the same experience: early experiences with Jesus—and then— a disappearance from the account. Some never reappear. Others reappear late in the game. Why?

Maybe Nicodemus can help us with the answer.

Randy Roberts, Senior Pastor