Extra! Extra!

The Life of Jesus Series

How Jesus interacted with others.

John 3:1-21

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A1-21&version=NIV;ESV

  

"In the early days of newspapers, when something big happened, the publisher would not only publish the normal daily paper, but would also publish an “Extra”.

 

 

 

The newspapers were sold on the street, often by newsboys, who had a stack of papers and would sell them to walkers-by. When an Extra came out, they would chant "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" to call attention to the fact that something big has happened, and an Extra paper has been published".      From reddit.com

 

That’s basically what’s happening in this interchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus emphatically states three times; “Truly, truly I tell you”; which in ancient times meant, “Extra! Extra! I have something really important to say to you!” It was a way of interrupting Nicodemus’ life and getting his attention.

 

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”       ESV

 

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.           ESV

 

¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you… ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.      ESV

 

Jesus is straight out telling Nicodemus that he is the Son of Man; that he is the way to not only see the kingdom of God, but to enter it. Jesus stepped into the life of Nicodemus, and changed him forever. In the same way, Jesus can step into your life and into mine changing us forever.

 

Emmanuel means God with us. Two thousand years ago God stepped into the world we live in through the person of Jesus Christ. Not only did he step into it, but he interrupted the natural order of things. It was more than an Extra edition of the paper. It was an “Extra! Extra!” of life-changing proportions.

 

Your life has been interrupted. Will you listen to the head lines?

 

 

 

Now Hear This!

Isaiah 46:3-13

  

According to Wikipedia, the phrase "Now hear this" is used in the United States Navy to instruct personnel to give their “full attention to an order or command that is about to follow”. When Navy personnel hear this phrase, they are to immediately stop what they are doing, listen closely and follow the instructions without question.

 

In today’s passage, Isaiah wrote his own version of “Now hear this”. Actually, it was God’s version.

 

³ “Listen to me, all Israel who are left; I have created you and cared for you since

you were born. ⁴ I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and be your Savior.       

 

⁸ “Don’t forget this, O guilty ones. ⁹ And don’t forget the many times I clearly told you what was going to happen in the future. For I am God—I only—and there is no other like me ¹⁰ who can tell you what is going to happen.

 

¹² Listen to me, you stubborn, evil men! ¹³ For I am offering you my deliverance; not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save you, and I will restore Jerusalem and Israel, who is my glory.”    TLB

 

 

God spoke these words through Isaiah to the people of Israel in a specific historical context. He was speaking to the remnant of Israel that had been taken as captives into a totally different culture including pagan idols and gods.

 

Now God was about to bring the remnant back to the Promised Land and He was reminding them of who He was, and who they were. But you get the definite feeling that the people of Israel have a history of being hard headed, stiff necked and stubborn.

 

Does that sound familiar? It does to me. How many times has God had to tell me something before I got it?

 

Now hear this Joe!

 

I have created you and cared for you since you were born. ⁴ I will be your God

through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age… For I am God—I only—and there is no other like me… ¹³ For I am offering you my deliverance; not in the distant future, but right now!

 

Look at your own life. God is sovereign. He is always at work in your life. There is no other like Him. There are many pretenders, but none can match Him. He is always with you, ready to deliver you; to bring victory to you.

 

Now hear this!