Dear Christian friends:

What is a mystery? We hear people say, "That is a mystery to me." They mean, "I don't understand that." We sign that work, "hidden truth." We know its true and real but we can't explain know it works. Scientists and doctors say, "Life is a mystery." We know that animals and men are alive, but we don't know how to make a living creature. We can't even make a worm. Only God can make a living creature. Man can make wonderful machines, but he can't make an animal or a man, only a robot.

So life is a mystery. So is God Himself. Paul in the epistle lesson says God is a mystery. (Romans 11:33-36) Today is Trinity Sunday when all Christians consider the nature of God that He is three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although we can't understand that teaching it is true and important for us to know and believe or we cannot be saved. The Bible teaches that the only true God is the Triune God and in Him alone is salvation for sinners.

So this morning let us attend to our text and consider:


Although we can't understand God, we must believe in Him. Many people do not accept God because they can't understand Him. The teaching about the Holy Trinity and other teachings of the Bible seem funny and foolish to them. Also our own natural mind and reason despises that and is not interested in that. The Bible says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So Nicodemus here in our text thought Jesus' words about God foolish. (Read verses 1-7) Some of you laugh at Nicodemus because the Holy Spirit has already given spiritual light and understanding to you. But perhaps some of you see nothing funny in his question. His question seems very sensible and good to you. So you will find and hear many good and sensible arguments in the world against the Holy Trinity.

Even some ministers and many church members do not believe the teaching about the three in one God: Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists and others. Men born only once of flesh cannot accept such strange and wonderful things as God's Word teaches. Jesus told Nicodemus: "You must be born again of the water and of the spirit." Then we can believe in the Triune God.

How are we born again? When we hear about the Triune or we are baptized in His name. In our text Jesus Himself clearly teaches the Trinity: He says that God, His Father sent Him. (read John 3:16-17) In verse thirteen He calls Himself the Son of Man who came down from heaven. And in verse five He tells Nicodemus of the work of the Holy Spirit. And in John 3:3-5, (read it) "He can't see God's Kingdom; He can't go into God's Kingdom."

So let us by God's Word and Spirit today cast away our proud natural reason and like children accept the clear teachings of Jesus here. Let us confess our ignorance and pride, our judgement and criticism of God's Word and trust the Holy Trinity our wonderful mysterious God. (Tell the story of St. Augustine and the Seashell.)

"Three persons in one God, " he thought, "equal in power, glory and honor, yet one God. How can this be true." He noticed a child pouring water from the sea with a sea shell into a hole. He asked the child what she was trying to do. She said, "I am trying to pour the sea into the hole." Then he thought, "That's what I've been trying to do with God. I've been trying to understand the great God with my tiny mind and it is impossible."

Let us like Augustine humbly bow before the mystery of the glorious eternal trinity, and although we don't understand Him, let us believe in Him and rejoice in the great salvation he gives to us.

Amen.