Page 41 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

their applauses, and had it not been for my compassionate high priest, popularity would have destroyed me. I
used to plead with Him to take me by the hand and lead me unhurt through this fiery furnace. He heard my
request and gave me to see the vanity of all commendations but his own.” Failure has slain its thousands, but
success has slain its tens of thousands. Or as William Cook writes in his commentary on John, “success is the
breeding ground for pride.” It is not uncommon for those whom God has used to lose focus on pointing people
to Jesus and begin to make ministry about themselves.

Jesus and the Beginning of the New Age

John 3:31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in
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earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet
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no one accepts His testimony. The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. For
God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the
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Son and has given all things into His hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one
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who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

John elaborates further on why Jesus is greater than John the Baptist. The simple straightforward explanation of
the previous versus now expands into more abstract statements. The author, from decades – long reflections on
Jesus’ superiority, sets for three reasons for the greatness of Jesus: His heavenly origin (3:31), His heavenly
testimony (3:32 – 34), and His heavenly authority (3:35 – 36).

Christ Had a Heavenly Origin

John 3:31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in
earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. He is above all;

Christ is sovereign over the universe in general, and the world of men in particular. In contrast, John the Baptist
declared himself to be of the earth, and speaks in earthly terms.

Christ Knew the Truth Firsthand

John 3:32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.

Tragically, John lamented, despite Jesus’ powerful, authoritative proclamation of the truth, no one receives His
testimony. Echoing Jesus’ words to the same effect (3:11; 5:43; 12:37), the Baptist’s hyperbolic statement
emphasized that the world in general rejects Jesus and His teaching.

Christ’s Testimony Always Agreed with God

John 3:33 The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.
Having stated the general rule, John gave the exception although the majority of people rejected Jesus’s
message, not everyone does.

Christ Experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit without Limit

John 3:34 For God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure.
The Spirit’s ability to empower us is limited by our sinful fallen human nature. But in Christ all of the fullness of
Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Therefore, there were no limitations Spirit’s power working through
Him.

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