How does John 3:11 challenge us to trust the testimony of Jesus? Setting the Scene In John 3, Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a respected teacher of Israel. Right in the middle of the conversation, Jesus states a principle that reaches far beyond that evening encounter. Reading the Verse “Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, yet you people do not accept our testimony.” (John 3:11) What the Words Mean • “Truly, truly” – a double “Amen,” underscoring absolute reliability. • “We speak of what we know” – Jesus is not sharing opinion but firsthand knowledge. • “We testify to what we have seen” – He reveals eternal realities He has personally witnessed. • “You people do not accept” – a sober acknowledgment of human resistance to divine truth. Why Jesus’ Testimony Matters • He is the eternal Word who “was with God, and was God” (John 1:1). • He alone came “down from heaven” (John 3:13), making His testimony uniquely authoritative. • God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2); therefore, every word from Jesus is trustworthy. How John 3:11 Challenges Us • It confronts our tendency to doubt supernatural truth simply because it stretches human understanding. • It exposes the danger of valuing human opinion over God’s revelation. • It insists that rejecting Jesus’ words is not an intellectual misstep but a spiritual refusal. • It calls us to respond as the disciples did: “We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69). Putting Trust into Practice • Submit your worldview to Scripture rather than squeezing Scripture into your worldview. • Treat every command, promise, warning, and comfort from Jesus as settled fact. • Let His testimony override feelings, cultural trends, and personal preferences. • When doubts surface, return to what He has “seen” and “knows,” reminding yourself that His perspective is perfect. Encouragement for Today Because Jesus speaks with unmatched authority, our confidence rests on immovable ground. Trusting His testimony is not blind faith; it is the only reasonable response to the One who has witnessed eternity and speaks nothing but truth. |
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