11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
Message: The Witness of Jesus
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is continuing to speak to Nicodemus. Nicodemus begins by acknowledging that Jesus has come from God clearly because of the signs he is doing. Jesus sort of switches gears and tells him that to enter the kingdom of God he must be born again. This doesn't make sense to Nicodemus. Jesus clarifies and speaks that one must be born of water and the Spirit. It is the Spirit that awakens people to having this desire to be born again. Nicodemus does not understand. Jesus remarks he is a teacher and does not understand.
Then today we pick up Jesus continuing to speak. He says, "we speak of what we know" and "testify and what we have seen." And yet Nicodemus does "not accept our testimony." Interesting he says, "we" and "our." And Jesus explains further and contrasts between earthly things and heavenly things and Nicodemus not believing either. And then speaks of descending from Heaven: the Son of Man, which I think is the first time Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man here in John.
In verse 13, Jesus remarks that "no one has ascended into heaven" and then come back to earth to explain it. But he says that "He who descended from heaven - the Son of Man." He himself had come from heaven to earth to tell all about heaven. Thus, Jesus has been granted special insight into the mind of God.
In verse 12, Jesus remarks about learning and understand and that before you can understand the heavenly things you must understand the basic or earthly things.
Summary: Jesus testifies that He has come from heaven to speak of the things of God. We must know the basics to understand the heavenly things.
Promise: We must trust what Jesus says about matters both basic and advanced, so let us seek to receive Him at His Word always.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have given me new life, and I am born again, believing in You. Thank you for informing me and teaching me and testifying of God so that I can understand all that He is. Glory to Your Name on High.
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