“God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. Jesus came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him. he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'” John 1:6-15 NLT
“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.” John 3:13 NIV
Are you scratching your head over the above verses? OK Say what? Let’s break these down.
If you remember in John chapter 3, Jesus is engaged in a deep theological discussion with one of the great teachers of Israel, Nicodemus. In fact Jesus calls him “The teacher of Israel.” “The” a determining word denoting only one. Nicodemus was a prominent teacher of Mosaic law, yet here he was seeking answers from Jesus. Jesus at the time was an up and coming Rabbi. He was new to the philosophy scene. He was different. He was like no other teacher Nicodemus knew. The words Jesus spoke were backed up by the miracles he performed. Not only did Jesus talk the talk, but he could walk the walk also. Nicodemus had taught most of the other Pharisees, but not this Jesus. No one knew who this new Rabbi had trained under. So Nicodemus came seeking answers. Where did Jesus come from? Who schooled him in the Law of Moses? Little did Nicodemus know, he was speaking to the very one who wrote the Law on tablets of stone.
Jesus was there before the beginning. Jesus was, Jesus is, and Jesus will always be the very Son of God. He walked with Creator God before there was creation. He spoke with God Most High every second. Father and Son, they were and are and forever more will be one heart beat. Jesus was the One who hung each star in place. God spoke it, Jesus hung it, and the Spirit of God hovered over it.
So Jesus tells Nicodemus, “I am the only one who has ever come down from the presence of God.” Jesus was trying to explain to Nicodemus who had trained him in the Word of God. Jesus was factually telling Nicodemus, “I’m not trained in the Word of God; I AM the Word of God.” Jesus talked with the Mighty God face to face for forever. There is no description for infinity, and yet that’s how long Jesus had been in communion with God. His previous address had been the gold streets of heaven.
Jesus left heaven. He came to this earth as God’s light. Jesus came into the very world He created, but Nicodemus did not recognize the One who created him. He did not recognize the very One who wrote the law that he had been studying all these years. ?
Jesus wrapped up His glory inside human flesh that felt pain and agony. He got hungry. He got tired. He felt everything we feel. He felt joy and happiness. And He came and made his new home here on planet earth just to show Nicodemus and the world the unfailing love of the heavenly Father, our Creator.
“Jesus said, “You’re a respected teacher of Israel and you don’t know these basics? Listen carefully. I’m speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eye. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don’t believe me what use is there in telling you of things you can’t see, the things of God.” John 3:10-12 the Message bible.
I know it’s hard to wrap your head around these words of Jesus. Nicodemus had hard time with it even. Sometimes you just have to let go of what makes sense in the world’s eyes. Just let go and let Jesus explain sobering truth to you. He is the Only One who has the first hand knowledge of what our Creator looks like. Jesus is the only man who knew and physically felt all of God’s likes and dislikes.
??
If you don’t know Jesus yet, don’t procrastinate. Just ask him to teach you.