31-32 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33-34 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

35-36 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:31-36 English Standard Version

Today's words are likely still part of the reply John the Baptiser gave to his followers who were concerned that many of John’s followers had joined the crowds now following Jesus, the man he had baptized. But what does John say about Jesus in vs 31-32?

God had surely revealed to John that while Jesus was just a man like all other men born of women, there was something very unique about him. He had come from the heavenly realms. Earlier in this chapter we were told of a man named Nicodemus who came looking for answers from Jesus. And Jesus had said to him: “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” (John3:12-13) Jesus himself claimed to have come from heaven. What does John then say about people who believe this amazing claim Jesus made? (vs 33-34)

They see it as truth which God Himself confirmed through the words and works which Jesus came to do. John had seen a symbol of how the Holy Spirit had descended upon Jesus when he was baptized, and the words Jesus spoke in his lifetime and the miracles he did were evidence of the truth that he had indeed come from heaven. There've been many people through the ages who claimed to come from God, even claimed to be Jesus, but not a single one of them ever lived up to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

In the modern days we live in it seems that the majority of people may not even know these things took place all those years ago, and even if they hear of them, may simply write them off as religious nonsense. But why does the writer of this gospel, who had experienced life with Jesus and later saw him die on a cross but then become alive again, consider this to be a very important message? (vs 35-36)

He says that what you and I think about Jesus Christ is not just a life or death matter, it is a life or wrath matter! You see, death is common to all people – to those who love Jesus and to those who are not interested in him. But John says there is something beyond this common death. He says that God has 'given all things into the hands' of the Son He loves so dearly. He speaks of some who will have life beyond the grave, eternal life. And he says that others will continue to experience God's wrath.

This picks up on the more well known wonderful words of John 3:16 where we read: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Eternal life belongs to those who believe in Jesus Christ, who believe he is who he said he was, and in what he came to do. Yet even John 3:16 was spoken with the serious warning that: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:17-18)

Jesus is unique. He was born of a woman, but he had descended from heaven. He did miraculous signs that have never been repeated. He died a real death, but rose triumphantly from the grave. He ascended to heaven from whence he had come. When a man or woman believe in this Jesus they affirm that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the true God, and they enter into eternal life.