John 3:31-36 says,...

Today's devotional verses are John chapter 3 and verses 31 through 36, which read,

v.31 - "He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth.  He who comes from heaven is above all."

What is amazing here is that we have the longest discourse I believe in the Scriptures from John the Baptist.  He gives an extended explanation of who Jesus is as the Son of God.  He has just finished saying, "He must increase, but I must decrease."  Now he turns to the crowd and explains beyond his relationship with Jesus to their relationship with Jesus.

His first point is that Jesus is from above and above us all, not just John the Baptist.  Jesus is like us but also different from us and that difference allows Him to give us information from where He comes from.  Because Jesus is from above and we are not, He has the position of being above or over us all.  Jesus holds a position that John the Baptist and we do not hold.

v.32 - "What He has seen and heard, of what He testifies; and no one receives His testimony."

Jesus comes with a message from above.  He has seen and He has heard from the Father and will testify.   He will give His very life as a martyr as verification to what He is saying as true.  What is the common reaction to this message from Jesus?  What do those many who are walking the wide road that leads to destruction think of what Jesus says?  The larger group does not receive it.  The popular opinion is to not see Jesus as over all and above all.

v.33 - "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true."

The smaller group that does accept His testimony is putting their seal of approval that God is true.  They look at Jesus and they see God.  They grab ahold of what Jesus has said and wholeheartedly listen and apply as the very words of God.  God has sent His one and only begotten Son.  They put their own seal and John the Baptist did, that God is fulfilling His plan through His Son, Jesus Christ.

v.34 - "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure."

John the Baptist wants them to listen to Jesus.  The words that come from Jesus are coming from God and they come with the power of the Spirit with no holding back.  This is another beautiful verse of the Trinity.  We have God sending the Son, Jesus.  Jesus, the sent One by God, is speaking the words of God.  The Spirit that Jesus gives in relationship to the words of God is without measure.  The Spirit, like God and Jesus, has no end.  God, Jesus, and Spirit all together and connected in one verse.  

v.35 - "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand."

There is a love between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  This is a union of love.  Not only does God love the Son but He also loves the world (mankind) to send His Son to it.  Salvation comes only through Jesus and therefore "all things" are in His hands for the outcome of "all things" hinges on Him.  "All things" are connected to Him and so a very of invitation and instruction is going to come from John the Baptist to end this discourse.  We are part of the "all things" so what is your connection to Jesus?

v.36 - "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

To believe in the Son is to also obey the Son.  If I believe that Jesus is God then you are going to see the evidence of that belief because I am going to obey what He says.  This is not a shallow belief of just saying some words.  This is a deep belief that shows that you have put your seal on this with evidence of obedience even in the face of persecution.  John the Baptist will model this as does Jesus to the very end and also the Apostles after the ascension of Jesus back to heaven.  

Those who believe with obedience have eternal life.  John the Baptist is echoing Jesus' words to Nicodemus at night.  Those who don't have a belief with obedience will not see life with God but rather see the wrath of God.  In the end it will not be just nothingness but rather just the opposite of pure joy with God will be the pure agony of being apart from Him.  We try our best to "soften" hell but John the Baptist and Jesus never do this.  It is not going to be a party.  God's attributes are eternal and so when it is spoken of "the wrath of God" it is eternal too.  This wrath of God abides on the one who doesn't have a belief with obedience that Jesus is God and all is connected to Him.

John the Baptist is basically saying to the crowd, "Which group are you in?"  John the Baptist wants them to know the whole story about Jesus.  Do we tell the whole story about Jesus?  Let us pray.

"Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us these words that John the Baptist has said about Jesus.  Thank You for this example of someone bringing others to the question about who Jesus is.  Thank You also of tying belief with obedience.  May we speak of You but also do what we speak today to glorify You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam