John 3:31-36 CSB
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. [32] He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. [33] The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true. [34] For the one whom God sent speaks God's words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. [35] The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands. [36] The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Able to Save
I love to travel. From the time I was a small child traveling with my father to different military bases, to my years in the Navy, and later finding jobs that required me to work around the world, I have been blessed with nomadic feet. There is a specific kind of nervous anticipation—an excitement—about what I might encounter in a new place. In the past, I sometimes did my homework by talking to a travel agent, but more often than not, I was impulsive and just left. However, I’ve found that real knowledge of any destination only occurs when a friendly local takes me by the hand to show me what their world is really like.
This is our Lord. Jesus knows what Heaven is like because He is the “Local.” When Jesus speaks, He speaks the absolute truth. Other religious leaders, both before and after Him, are from the earth; they teach about things they do not fully understand because their knowledge is imperfect and limited. Even the prophets of old, though they spoke by the Holy Spirit, did not have full knowledge. They were simply passing on words from the Father to the hearers. The book of 1 Peter even says that angels long to catch a glimpse of these things—the redemptive acts of our loving Father.
Since Jesus came from above, He is above all other teachers. When He speaks, it is time for me to drop everything and listen, leaving behind the incomplete explanations of others. The Son has the Spirit of the Father without measure. As the only Son of God—the one who sacrificed Himself for us and holds all authority—Jesus does more than just teach; He forgives sins and grants eternal life. This eternal life isn’t just something we look forward to in the future; it starts now. Every day is a new day in an everlasting relationship with the Lord.
The prophets had the Spirit to a limited degree for specific tasks, but Jesus spoke with the Spirit without measure. He tells us the deep things of God, yet many today still reject the only one who knows the full truth. Sometimes people say, “Me and Jesus have an understanding,” as a way to justify doing their own thing. But that line of thinking diminishes the authority of our Lord. It shows no real understanding of how great and full of truth He actually is. To truly know Him is to submit to His authority, recognizing that He alone has the map to the world we were made for.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to you that Jesus has the Spirit “without measure”? How does that give you more confidence in His words than in the opinions of the world?
- How can we move from having a casual “understanding” with Jesus to a life that truly recognizes His authority?
- In what ways can you experience “eternal life” as a present reality today, rather than just a future destination?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You for sending the One who truly knows the way. We confess that we often listen to earthly voices and our own limited understanding instead of listening to the Son. Thank You for giving Him the Spirit without measure so that we can have the full truth. Help us to respect Your authority and follow Your lead today, resting in the eternal life that starts right now.
Amen.
