Preacher's Desk

"Most Assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness." John 3:11

The only true God is the triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three distinct persons in One divine being. Jesus says, "We speak what We know and testify what We have seen."

Note the pronouns in our text. These pronouns are plural. Yet, they refer to God. But there are not many gods. There is only One.

We are not polytheists. We don't teach many gods. We teach monotheism. This can only mean the Trinity.

There are other suggestions what these plural personal pronouns mean. For example, maybe people.

But Jesus never equates people with Himself. Not John the Baptist. Not the Apostles. Not anyone. He is God!

Show me. Where does Jesus equate mere mortals with Himself in the Bible? We are mortal. He is God.

We are sinful. He is without sin. Uniquely, He is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present. We are not.

Yet Jesus doesn't equate Himself with others out of spite. But, as God's Son, He is unique, one of a kind.

Jesus doesn't distance Himself from us. His mission is to substitute for us, on the cross, and rise from the dead.

So, we can trust Jesus. What He says, He does.

Who is He?

He is God's Son, our substitute for sin.

This also is the third time in John 3:1-15 Jesus speaks by oath confirming the truth of His Word.

"Most assuredly" is an oath. A promise to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help Him God.

These words assure Nicodemus, and us today, that Jesus has ultimate authority, as God, to speak the truth.

All that Jesus says He has firsthand knowledge of. As True God, He has been there and done that.

Our text emphasizes the reliability of what we hear and read concerning the Holy Scriptures, The Bible.

Unlike all other books, the Bible is God's Word. It is "holy," set apart. It comes from God Himself.

Holy Scripture is God's Word. It is wrong to question or deny the truthfulness of the sacred text.

Only God speaks absolute truth. There is absolute truth. But, it is only found in the Word of God.

Today there are many who deny such a thing as absolute, or objective truth. Rather, society sets truth. A truth changing over time. And, with social media, this changing truth comes very quickly.

If we discount God's truth, we also discount the truth of the Gospel - that Christ dies on the cross for us.

Jesus uses the word "testify" in our text,. This word doesn't point to mere opinions debated, but to objective truth.

Editor's Note: "Preacher's Desk" is open to ordained clergy serving in Valley County. Clergy are invited to submit columns, which will be published on a rotating scheduled dependent on participation. If interested, send religious columns to [email protected]