Friday 30 June 2023
- Bible Book:
- John
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. (v. 35)
Background
Following John the Baptist’s explanation that "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30), the writer of John's Gospel dwells further on the nature of Jesus, the one who comes ‘from above’.
Because Jesus comes from God, he is ‘above all things' and able to speak of heavenly realities in ways that are true (v. 31). There is an echo here of Jesus’ earlier dialogue with the pharisee Nicodemus, where Jesus also contrasts ‘earthly’ truth with ‘heavenly’ truth (John 3:11-14); the former is important, but only Jesus can give us the latter. Drawing on the language of the courtroom, John's Gospel describes Jesus as a ‘witness’, one who testifies to the truth. Tragically, Jesus’ testimony is often rejected (v. 32), and means Jesus’ life ends at the Cross. Those who accept the witness of Jesus, however, show that "God is true" (v. 33).
The writer then explains that God sends Jesus to speak the ‘words of God’ and does so because he gives Jesus the ‘Spirit without measure’. While earlier prophets may have received a portion of the Spirit, the Spirit is poured on Jesus completely, who will himself give the Spirit to those in communion with him (John 15:26). Disciples continue to heed the witness of Jesus because he is full of the Spirit and teaches the things of God.
The writer explains that the Father loves the Son [Jesus] and has placed all things ‘in his hands’ (v. 35). Jesus has authority because he comes from God and remains in eternal relationship with the Father. This also explains why believing in – trusting in – Jesus is so important (v. 36). The one who believes in the Son ‘has’ eternal life while the one who disobeys the Son ‘must endure’ God’s wrath. The present tenses here are significant; eternal life can be experienced in the present as and when we embrace Jesus as the one who is above all.
To Ponder:
- In what ways is it helpful to think of Jesus as a ‘witness’ to heavenly realities?
- God is described as the one who gives the ‘Spirit without measure’, the Spirit who Jesus gives to those who follow him. In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit’s work in your own life?