John 3:31-36

JOHN'S WITNESS CONCERNING CHRIST

Text 3:31-36

31

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32

What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.

33

He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true.

34

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.

35

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36

He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Queries

a.

Who is he that cometh from above and he that is of the earth?

b.

What is the meaning of He giveth not the Spirit by measure?

c.

What is the significance of the word obey?

Paraphrase

The One coming from above is far above all men: but he that comes from the earth remains on an earthly level and is above no one and he speaks from an earthly standpoint. The One coming from heaven is above all men: He is bearing witness to that which He has seen and heard in the very presence of God and no one is receiving His witness! The person who has received the Son's witness has acknowledged that God is true. For the One Whom God sent is speaking the words of God, for the Father does not give the Spirit to the Son in part. The Father loves the Son and the Father has given all things into His hand. The person continuing to believe in the Son with a trustful obedience is continually possessing eternal life, but, conversely, the one continuing to disobey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him in his disobedient state.

Summary

The Baptist points out that Jesus comes with the full revelation of God's will. The person who accepts Jesus-' words acknowledges that Jesus is God's true Representative.

Comment

Although it is not certain whether John 3:31-36 are the words of John the Baptist or John the Apostle, contextually they seem to be the words of the Baptist. John the Baptist is certainly capable of uttering such high and lofty phrases when speaking of the Son of God (cf. Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 3:7-8; Luke 3:16-17; John 1:26-27; John 1:29-36; John 3:27-30).

Assuming these to be the words of John the Baptist, they are his final testimony to the Sonship of Jesus. These words of witness to Jesus-' deity are but a continuation of the witness John is giving his disputing disciples. These disciples must recognize, as did Andrew, Peter, Philip and the other early disciples of John, that the Lamb of God has come and He is the pre-eminent One. Thus, the Baptist points out, since Jesus came from the bosom of the Father He is superior to every mortal. He is above even a great mortal like John the Baptist, for this prophet was earthly in origin like all other mortals (cf. Matthew 11:11). These loyal (but jealous) disciples of John must see that the one to whom all men are flocking is the One Who has come down out of heaven with the complete and final counsel of God (cf. John 1:9-15; John 3:11-13). The Baptist states an axiom which not only applies to ordinary fallible men, but also in some instances to Spirit-inspired mortals when he says, he that is of the earth. and of the earth he speaketh. John the Baptist and some of the apostles. when left to their own fallible reasoning, reverted occasionally to carnal thinking and speaking (cf. Matthew 11:2-3; Galatians 2:11-14).

The Baptist continues, in John 3:32, to explain to his disciples that Jesus has come from the very presence of the supreme God and Father with the message of absolute truth. The message of Jesus does notvary; it contains no conjectures and is not frustrating. His message is the exact will of God for men which the Son heard directly from the Father (cf. John 5:19; John 7:16; John 7:29; John 8:26; John 8:38; John 8:40; John 15:15). What a blessed knowledge! He Who speaks to us through the gospels speaks the words which He heard in the council-halls of heaven. He has interpreted for us (John 1:18) the divine plan of redemption, and He became God's oath, sworn in blood, to show that the promises of God are immutable (Hebrews 6:17). Then the Baptist, in the last phrase of this verse, shows the superlative guilt of one who rejects Christ's testimony. John does not mean every man, without exception, when he says no man receiveth his witness. This is plain from the following verse (John 3:33).It is so monstrous to the Baptist that even one man should reject the message of Christ that he is moved to say, no man receiveth his witness.

John says there were some who did receive the witness of Jesus, and thereby acknowledged that God is faithful and will fulfill all that he has promised. Those few of Israel who did accept Jesus as the Son of God realized God was fulfilling His promises through Jesus and they set their seal that God was true to His word. Up to this time, John the Baptist, Peter, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, and undoubtedly John and James had all received the witness concerning Jesus as the promised Messiah. Another principle is implied in this verse (John 3:33).The person who will not receive the witness of Jesus is actually calling God a liar. Jesus told the Pharisees that although they claimed God as their Father, in reality Satan was their father because they rejected the Son's witness (cf. John 8:38-47). To reject the witness of Jesus is to call God a liar (1 John 5:10). To dishonor the Son is to dishonor the Father (John 5:23 b).

John 3:34-35 are John's climactic conclusions to convince his untaught disciples that Jesus is the One to be followed and adhered to. John is convinced that Jesus is the One whom God sent. Except for one or two instances, the phrase hon apesteilen ho theos (The one whom God sent) is always applied to Jesus (cf. John 3:17; John 5:36; John 6:29; John 7:29; John 8:42; John 9:7; John 10:36; John 11:42, etc.) Upon others who spoke on behalf of God the Spirit came only in measure. God spoke by others in divers portions and in divers manners, but the Son was the effulgence of his glory and the very image of his substance, and the Spirit was given to the Son without measure. The Baptist was an eyewitness to this and he saw the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him (John 1:33-34). Not only does the Son receive the Spirit without measure, but the Father gave all things into His hand (cf. John 5:19-20; John 12:49; John 13:3; John 17:2; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18).

John 3:36 certainly fits the character of John the Baptist's preaching as it is recorded in the Synoptic gospels. There his message was, the axe lieth at the root of the tree. hewn down and cast into the fire. shall baptize. in fire. flee from the wrath to come. whose fan is in his hand, etc. Here, in John 3:36, he intends to warn these quibbling disciples in no uncertain terms that to reject Jesus inevitably brings down the wrath of God upon the disbeliever. The sharp contrasts of the Baptist here between the destinies of the believer and the unbeliever are very similar to the contrast Jesus presented to Nicodemus (John 3:16-18). John uses the present tense to denote that the one receiving eternal life is one who continually trusts and obeys. One who has an abiding faith has also an ever-present assurance of eternal life.

The only other alternative to accepting Jesus is rejecting Him. With Christ there is no middle-of-the-road policymen either obey Him or disobey Him. Evidently, there is a plan or a norm which the Son came to manifest, which every man must act in accordance with, or rebelliously reject Him. Believing in Christ, then, entails more than admitting His historicity, and even more than giving intellectual assent to His message and claims. A faith that does not express itself in obedience is a dead and useless faith (cf. John 14:21; John 14:23; John 15:10; James 2:26). The gospel of Christ is a gospel demanding obedience, and its commandments are plain enough that they who run may read. The law of the kingdom of Christ is love. But it is a love which leads to trust, repentance, confession and baptism. These are but the entrance requirementsonce received as a citizen by the Lord, the new member must participate and share in the edifying of the whole society of believers to his fullest capacities.

The dreadful sentence upon the disobedient is that even now the wrath of God is potentially abiding upon him. The disobedient does not experience the wrath of God while he yet lives, but when Jesus comes again He will render vengeance unto all them that know not God and obey not the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Then those who have chosen to disobey Christ's terms of entrance into the kingdom will go into eternity to reckon with an all-righteous and perfectly just God. There the unredeemed must bear the eternal and perfect wrath of God all alone. The one who chooses to disobey can blame only himself. he has been given the message and the opportunity to accept or reject. he brings the wrath of God upon himself.

Quiz

1.

What great difference between Jesus and himself does John the Baptist point out to his disputing disciples (John 3:31)?

2.

What has Jesus seen and heard that He bears witness to?

3.

How does a person set his seal that God is true?

4.

Who received the Spirit without measure? Explain!

5.

What is the significance of the word obey in John 3:36?

6.

Which is the best translation only-unique Son, or only begotten Son?

Conclusion

I.

NOW THE APPLICATION. NOW THE DECISION IN REGARD TO NEW BIRTH

A.

We know its necessity, what it is, how it shall be done. WE HAVE THE TRUTH, NOW WE MUST OBEY OR REJECT

II

Nicodemus stumbled at not being able to see this new birth.

A.

Jesus replied, If we could not see the wind blow the trees and could not hear it, we would never know it was blowing. in like manner, if the Spirit through the Word did not produce reborn men we would never know His presence or working.

1.

MY FRIEND, YOU CAN TELL A REBORN MAN!

2.

THE MIND OF CHRIST WILL MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE PERSON WHO HAS CRUCIFIED SELF AND SEEKS ONLY THE KINGDOM!

III

ONE WHO HAS ALLOWED THE WORD OF GOD FREE COURSE IN HIMSELF WILL:

A.

Repent like Zacchaeus (with restitution if necessary)

B.

Confess like Peter and John in Acts

C.

Go anywhere Jesus has commanded, even unto immersion in water. although not completely understood

D.

If you will allow him, Jesus will come into your heart and help you live as a Christian

BUT YOU MUST OBEY HIS WORD (John 14:23).