❖ Video
❖ Audio (Message)
Jesus Is God’s Truth
(John 3:31-36)
Mari Ikeda
Continuing from the Gospel of John, today we will read 3:31-36. This section is like a summary of chapters 1 to 3 so far. Like verses 16-21, which we read last time, it is considered to be the narration part by John, who wrote this gospel. John’s sole purpose here is to reemphasize to the readers that Jesus, as a historical figure, is God Himself, who created the world, and that He is the one who reveals God’s truth. It’s a short section, but I’d like to divide it into two parts and read it. First, verses 31-34.
A. Jesus is the Son of God (31-34)
31 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 Whoever 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.
1. God himself who came from heaven
First of all, looking at the first verse 31, the first and last sentences are almost the same, repeating, “The One who comes from above/heaven is above all things.” The sentence between them, “the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth,” which contrasts the heaven and the earth, emphasizes that there is a definite difference between the one who belongs to earth and the one who belongs to heaven (or above). The one who came from heaven refers to Jesus, and the one who belongs to the earth refers to all human beings. It means that although Jesus appeared as a person, he originally belonged to heaven and is different from us who belong to earth. Also, He is said to be “above all things,” because Jesus is God Himself.
It is not easy to believe that a person named Jesus, who existed 2,000 years ago, was actually God himself, who created this world. It was a confusing teaching even to the people of the time when this Gospel of John was written. The Gospel of John is said to have been compiled about 60 years after the death of Jesus. Which is easier, believing that a person who existed 60 years ago was God, or believing that a person who existed 2,000 years ago was God? I don’t think either is easy for different reasons for each. Sixty years after Jesus’ death, there were still living witnesses who actually knew Jesus and were teaching him powerfully, but at the same time, it was the time when faith in Jesus was denied as blasphemy against God, and persecution was fierce. Moreover, because it is difficult to understand that Jesus is both perfect man and perfect God, false teachings that were biased towards either side were also widespread. There are no more living witnesses in this age, but in the long 2,000 years, false teachings have been eliminated, and to some extent, what is the right teaching has been established. Also, Christians are persecuted in only a few countries. On the contrary, the organizational mistakes of the church and the mistakes of individual Christians have become so well known that many people distrust and contempt the church today. It’s easy to say that God became human is just an absurd fiction, and an old story that has nothing to do with us. However, even if Jesus is an ancient person, I think he is very attractive to us today.
2. God’s word
V.34 says, “the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God.” This leads us to what was said at the beginning of this Gospel of John, that Jesus is the Word of God itself. The words and actions of Jesus recorded in the Bible all teach us what kind of person God is. This is a very strange thing, or perhaps it just has to be so, but if we read carefully Jesus’ words and actions recorded in the Bible, we will find that they are innovative even in the light of modern values, and that they have universal value that transcends time. The Bible reflects the values of the time and society in which it was written. For example, in Paul’s letters there are quite a few parts that reflect very masculine values, which we feel they are anachronistic. But even among them, there is no such point in the records of Jesus’ words and deeds. Rather, Jesus has a mindset of gender equality that can be said to be advanced even in modern society, stands by the weak and denies the logic of the strong. And the ultimate form was His act of offering one’s life for sinners. It was to teach us that it was God’s love, and that God wants us to love each other with that kind of love.
3. Triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit
The second half of v.34 says, “for God gives the Spirit without limit.” This means that God will give Jesus His spirit without limit, and at the same time, it means that God is a trinity of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It’s because God does send the Holy Spirit to us, but he does not “give (us) without limit.” Ephesians says, “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7) While each of us is just a part of Jesus’ body and given a part of his grace, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit share each other infinitely and are one. Jesus is God Himself. The Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus. Each of the three is an independent being but at the same time they are one. This will be further discussed later in this Gospel of John.
Now let’s move on to the second half, verses 35-36.
B. Our attitudes toward Jesus determine our relationship with God (35-36)
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
1. God placed everything in Jesus’ hands
In v.35, it says that God placed everything in Jesus’ hands. This means, as it says in verse 36 that follows, God decides whether or not He saves us depending on whether we believe in Jesus or not. This is a very misleading way of saying it, so let’s think about it carefully.
2. Whoever believes Jesus has eternal life
Firstly, it says, “Whoever believes Jesus has eternal life,” but what does it mean to believe Jesus? It doesn’t mean just to believe that the person called Jesus historically existed. Nor is it enough to believe that Jesus was God Himself. It is important to know what Jesus did, what kind of person he was, and if he really was God himself, what it would mean to us. As I mentioned earlier, it is to know Jesus’ words and actions, especially his death on the cross and resurrection. In other words, it is to know Jesus’ love through his actions, and to know that it is the love that God has poured out on us. Therefore, believing in Jesus means believing in the love of Jesus and believing in the love of God.
Also, “eternal life” is an extension of knowing Jesus’ love. Because eternal life means living with Jesus forever and maintaining a loving relationship with Jesus forever. Eternal life is not something that comes only after physical death, but rather it already begins when we are in a loving relationship with Jesus, whether we have our physical body or not. Thus, both believing in Jesus and gaining eternal life can be summed up in one sentence. It is about having a loving relationship with Jesus. By knowing the love of Jesus on the cross, we can restore the relationship God wants us to have. That was what God entrusted in Jesus’ hands.
This also leads us to what is said in v.33, “Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.” Jesus is the one who shows that God is truthful, and believing in Jesus is knowing God’s truth.
3. God’s wrath remains on whoever rejects Jesus
Now then, what does it mean, “whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them”? First of all, “not seeing life” means that unless you become in a loving relationship with Jesus, you will not find the meaning of living with Jesus forever, which is naturally a matter of course. However, I think we need to think carefully about “God’s wrath remains on them.”
Firstly, when thinking about God’s wrath directed at those who do not believe, we should remember 3:17-18, which we read last time. Let’s read it.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already… (3:17-18)
This meant that those who do not believe do not know God’s love and had no choice but to suffer in sins, which had already become a judgment to them. We can think of God’s wrath remaining in the same sense.
However, I think that the wrath of God that is being spoken of here means more than that. It is related to the fact that God is both the One of love and the One of justice, who never overlooks the evil that afflicts people and who judges us justly. Also, we need to be careful here that it says “Whoever rejects the Son,” which means not simply those who do not believe in Jesus, but those who disobey Him. That is to say, God’s wrath is said here to remain on those who disobey Jesus and go against His will. To go against the will of Jesus is to do something that goes against God’s love, whether consciously or unconsciously. In other words, it goes against God’s justice, such as not loving each other, excluding the weak, and discriminating against others. God is not the one who pretends not to see such things as nothing, but the one who directs righteous anger and grief to them.
4. “No one accepts Jesus”? (32)
Considering this, you may have noticed that no one is immune to God’s wrath. Because none of us can fully love each other, and all of us have excluded the weak and have prejudice and discrimination against others. That’s why v.32 says, “He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.” So that means no one accepts Jesus.
It seems like everything I’ve talked about so far is wasted, but that’s not the case. The hint is what Jesus said to Nicodemus.
Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. (3:3)
Believing in Jesus and knowing God’s love means being born again.It is to die to the old self day by day, to realize our own sin that has to be dead, and to live by relying on Jesus’ love. It’s not something we can do on our own, but it’s God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to make it possible.
While it is hard to believe that God became a human being and truly lived on this earth as a person called Jesus, it is also difficult to understand that God died for us. But that is God’s truth, and this truth gives us new life and continues to illuminate the direction we should take.
(Prayer) Dear Jesus, you went to the cross because you loved us and wanted us to know your love. Please help us receive your love, love you and each other, and live a new life each day. Help us admit our mistakes, forgive each other, and be honest with everyone. Please send your spirit on us and guide us. Dear our Lord Jesus, we pray this in your name. Amen.
Summary
People have a vague image of the existence of God based on their own experiences and knowledge. But what the church has been telling us for more than 2,000 years is that one person, Jesus, who died on the cross, was God Himself who created this world. Jesus teaches us the truth of God through his death on the cross. God’s truth is that He is the One of justice who judges our evils, and at the same time He is the One of love who forgives our sins.
For Discussion
1. What exactly does it mean “to believe in Jesus (or to obey Him)”(v.36) ?
2. What does it mean, “God’s wrath remains on whoever rejects Jesus”?