October 24 God Not Man

John 3:31-34 “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
 
JOHN the Baptist identifies three aspects of Jesus and his ministry.
   First, John, for a second time, affirms Jesus’ deity. Jesus is “The One who comes from above is above all.”  The prophet contrasts this with his own identity as a man from the earth. Yes, God gave to John and all the prophets before him Spirit-powered ministries. But their work was not as great as Jesus’ soul-transforming ministry.  
   Second, John condemns our hard hearts. Jesus has come to testify of all he knows – all he has seen and heard. Imagine! The eternal Word made flesh testifies to all he knows! Hear God’s knowledge: Proverbs 3:19-21 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. How can we not accept God’s testimony? What so severely divides our minds from God? Be urgent to follow Proverbs 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.
   Jesus, too, often testified that he spoke what the Father had given him to say. John 8:28 “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”
   Third, John tells us Jesus’ ministry is empowered in the Spirit without limit. This contrasts to the Baptist and all Old Testament prophets who were anointed with the Holy Spirit only when they were speaking for God. In other words, the Spirit of God was not always on the prophets to give them unlimited power. Jesus, though, is fully under the Spirit’s anointing. Every move he makes, and each word he says is conveyed in the ever-present, active Spirit. 
   Jesus would later speak of the Christian’s power to live in the same anointing. John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus also confirmed this with his testimony of John contrasting with the church in Matthew 11:11 “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
   Jesus Christ of Nazareth is God. He has come to teach in God’s unlimited power. I pray we all listen to him.
 
Prayer: Do we know, Father, how grand and glorious is your love that you have sent Jesus, anointed in the Spirit, to teach us of God? In the Savior’s name I pray. Amen.