These are the words Jesus spoke to Nicodemus when he came to him at night and Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus did not understand Him and Jesus chided him for being a Teacher (rabbi) of the people yet not understanding this simple concept. But Jesus points out here that there is a big difference in knowledge and experience.
Notice the four words: speak, know, testify and seen! They all are four different Greek words: Lets look at the first two:
SPEAK laleō lal-eh'-o
A verb meaning; to talk, that is, utter words: - preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.
KNOWLEDGE eidō i'-do
A verb meaning; to know: - be aware, behold, consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand,
So it means we say or talk what we know.
Speak with knowledge or vocalize our understanding.
Now lets look at the other two connecting words:
TESTIFY martureō mar-too-reh'-o
to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.
SEEN horahō hor-ah’-o
Properly to stare at, that is, (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); to attend , to experience; passively to appear: - behold, perceive, see, take heed.
Speaking and testifying are different. Knowledge and seeing (or experiencing) are different.
There are many theologians who go to seminar and know the Bible but have yet to experience Christ or Salvation.
Jesus is saying we can not just talk about what we know but must give witness and testify to what we have experienced! This is not just head knowledge but real experience.
We need both knowledge and experience, this is spiritual maturity. A child or teenager has some knowledge but has yet to embark on life's experience. Knowledge of Christ's plan of salvation is meaningless without experience. Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that you must be born again, but that it was something he needed to experience
Some things need to be experienced before they are understood!) When I was 19 years old I was only two years in the Lord and I wanted to go out and preach the gospel in the streets but thought that I did not have enough understanding of the Bible to do so. The Lord spoke to me and said I did not need to be a Bible scholar , I just needed to testify as to what the Lord had done to me and what He could do for them! I certainly had enough biblical understanding of salvation so I could simply speak as to what I knew and testify to the experience that I had. I was quite successful leading many to the Lord and a year later ended up as a counselor at a Billy Graham crusade despite my youthfulness in the Lord!
Jesus said we must speak what we know and testify to what we have seen and experienced to be an effectual witness for him!
Jesus said you are MY witnesses to the ends of the earth. Many testified of His resurrection because they had seen (experienced his presence) Him.
Let us speak what we know and testify what we have seen and our light will be the witness to His truth and His glory!
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