Have you EXPERIENCED him?

In John 3:11 Jesus speaks to Nicodemus and says, “We speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen.” This, of course, would be true in all walks of life. For example, a doctor can speak authoritatively about medical treatments. Presumably, they’ve spent the appropriate amount of time in study and, the best doctors, have a deep well of experience to draw from. In essence, they KNOW what they are doing. It’s the same thing for you and your job. Initially, when you first begin, there’s a learning curve. Eventually though, you settle in and KNOW how to do your job well. That’s knowledge gained through experience.

The reason that Jesus and the disciples could speak authoritatively about the new birth (v. 3), is because they had experienced it first hand. Jesus is the one who creates life and the disciples KNEW what it was like to become a completely new creation. At this point in John’s Gospel, Nicodemus had not experienced that. He knew nothing of regeneration and, consequently, could not understand Jesus’ teachings on the subject.

I think the obvious question for us is: Have I actually experienced the new birth that Jesus is speaking about in John 3? This is an important point for us to consider. Nicodemus would have professed to be righteous. Nicodemus would have claimed to be Heaven bound, and yet, he knew nothing of the new life required in Christ to posses such things.

Believer, search your life. Have you EXPERIENCED Christ in this way? Do you know what it’s like to be dead in trespasses and sins and raised to life? Do you know what it’s like to have your hopelessness transformed into joy? Do you know what it’s like to be powerless against the sins that you battle against, never able to overcome them, only to be delivered when Christ gave you a new heart with new desires? The new life that Christ gives enables us to be obedient to His revealed word. If your life isn’t marked by consistent obedience to Him, then when you speak about Him, you’re talking about someone that you do not KNOW.

For those of you who stand where Nicodemus stood, the invitation is the same. By faith, come to the foot of the cross, repent of yours, and ask Him to make you a new creation. Whoever does this will have eternal life. It’s not a mistake that Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus is immediately followed by John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The invitation is set before you. Have you experienced Him?