Jesus' testimony about Himself. John 3:16

I just realized that John 3:16 is Jesus' words about himself prior to his crucifixion and resurrection! Crazy, huh!  Jesus, in a private conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who admits that he and his fellow Pharisee's recognize that Jesus is a teacher sent by God, gives this lengthy testimony to his own identity.

- Jesus speaks of what he knows and what he has seen.
- Jesus has chosen to speak of earthly things, recognizing that if they can't believe the earthly things it will be difficult for them to believe the heavenly things.
- he speaks of the future has if it is already past - "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven"
- he basically identifies himself as "the Son of Man."
- he claims that as the people were healed by looking at the snake Moses lifted up in the wilderness, so those who look at him when he is lifted up like the snake will be healed/receive eternal life.

and it goes on from there.  Just take a look at it again from the perspective of this being words Jesus spoke to  seeking Pharisee prior to the crucifixion.  The Pharisee, Nicodemus, didn't know what was to come.  Imagine hearing these words from that perspective! Changes things a bit, doesn't it!

Jesus speaks as God!

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