The One from heaven

JOHN 3:31-36

THE One who comes from above is above all. The One who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever does accept His testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the One whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration His gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to Him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

REFLECTION

THE ONE WHOM GOD SENT SPEAKS THE WORDS OF GOD. The Gospel is the conclusion of John the Baptist’s reply to those who tell him about Jesus baptizing and their concern that people are leaving him and flocking to Jesus. His response echoes Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus, wherein he speaks of the need to be born from above.

John the Baptist explains: The One who comes from heaven is above all (v 31c); He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony (v 32); He whom God has sent speaks the words of God (v 34) — all this refers to Jesus Christ.

Two kinds of responses and their corresponding consequences are mentioned: While the One who believes in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son whom God sent, has eternal life, the One who disobeys the Son will not see life, but will endure God’s wrath.

John the Baptist instructs the baptized Christians of the early Church: They must believe in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son sent by God to speak His words. He is the Word of God who takes on our human nature, the incarnate Word of God who reveals the Father to us.

“Our words are a faithful index of the state of our souls”

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.