John 3:22-36
“Notice what you notice.” My apologies for this very late post, but Carol and I have been in travel and “wedding” fellowship all day. But I did not want to fail to post!
So today I only brought The Chronological Study Bible and not my other Study Bible, so I can only comment lightly, but there are still a number of items that I noticed.
First, John the writer is staying geographical and chronological. He begins with After this <they> went into the Judean countryside… (v. 22). That is, Jesus and his friends have left Jerusalem (which was in Judea), but have left the city environment and have moved to the countryside, presumably near the Jordan River where Jesus could baptize. A small item, but it lends credence to John’s chronology!
Second, …He gives the Spirit without measure (v. 34). What an awesome thought! There is absolutely NO LIMIT to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives! I know I’ve read this verse hundreds of times, but never picked up on that truth.
Third, putting together some phrases from vv. 31-32: He Who comes from above…, He Who comes from heaven…, and What He has seen and heard… All of these phrases refer to John the Baptist speaking about Jesus. Jesus Christ, God the Son, has come down from heaven to take up residence on earth – but He is still “from heaven”. What He has seen and heard… probably does not reflect his pre-human existence, but has probably come from His prayer time with His Father. But What He has seen and heard… is probably so unbelievable that “no one” (translate, the Jewish leaders) can believe his testimony.
Fourth, just read and re-read the words (vv. 31b-36a): He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life… GOD IS TRUE!
Slava Bohu!!
What I noticed — I think for the first time — was the similarity of language between John 3:11-16 and John 3:31-36. In John 3:11 we have “what we know” and “what we have seen,” while in John 3:32 we have “what he has seen and heard.” Again in John 3:11 we have “but you do not receive our testimony,” while John 3:32 has “yet no one receives his testimony.” In John 3:12-13 we have “earthly things” and “heavenly things” and “he who descended from heaven,” and in John 3:31 we have “He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way.” Likewise in John 3:16 we have “…that whoever believes in him should…have eternal life.” And in John 3:36 we have “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…”
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Cor 9:15)
Phenomenal insights, John! I NEVER saw all those phrase similarities! Does that mean that John was listening closely to what Jesus was “preaching” – then repeated what he heard? I suspect it would be easy for gospel critics to dismiss John’s words as being made up by John the writer. From my perspective, however, wonderful insights!