John 3:31
“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.”
John the Baptist is unique in the history of God’s prophets because he is the herald of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John’s relationship with God is revealed in John 1:33 where John says, “And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ” The “one who sent me” is God and John clearly says that he was “told” certain things by God. Having had direct communication with God seems to have imparted a deep understanding of man’s relationship with God.
In today’s passage, John clarifies how what he says differs from what Jesus says. To speak as “one from the earth” is to speak as one of us earthlings. To speak as one “from above” is to have a very different perspective on things.
Q: How does John’s statement help you understand why some of the things Jesus said were (and are) hard to understand?
Two different kingdoms – Earthly and heavenly.
Two different languages.
Two different world views.
Earthly kingdom ‘seems’ to offer endless philosophies, all sorts of options for the outcome.
Heavenly kingdom offers one choice only – Jesus.
Hell isn’t a choice, it is the consequence of not choosing Jesus.
Yeah, this explains why I’m dumb as a doorknob. It’s pretty mind-blowing to see things from God’s point of view.
Just think how lost we’d be without the Bible. Life’s tough without an Owner’s manual.
Happy Friday brothers!
You got that right!
Happy Friday brother Robster!
The bible is not a book written by men for men. It is the word of God, written by God for the humble who approach His wisdom as children, allowing our spirits to be taught by the Holy Spirit. We don’t understand when we either lean on our own understanding, or deep down find the truth unacceptable according to our standards. God has provided all everything we need, for spiritual growth with eternal reward. But our flesh puts up a fight, dies hard.
Psalms 25:9
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Matthew 18:2-3
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
John 14:26.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, Whatsoever I have said unto you.
Wow,..never really put much thought into it until the question,..sometimes I read over things and don’t put much thought into it,..and then there are things that I meditate on for days,..isn’t there a verse in the Bible somewhere where God say’s that He has given some of ears that do not hear?,..or something like that?
To answer the question,..
It puts more emphasis on my understanding of Jesus being the Master Teacher and that it is Him who I need to be learning from and following instead of some self help three step program that gets me right back where I started to begin with,..nowhere. Being in Christ I have gone places I would never have gone on my own,..I have said things I would of never said if it weren’t for Jesus being in my life,..and I have written and heard things that I would never of written or heard if Jesus wasn’t a part of me.
Again Jeff,..thanks for getting this theology class online,..it’s good to be a participant and better to get to read what others have to say,..
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing! It is funny: I don’t think of this forum as a “theology” class, and yet that is exactly what we do! “Theos + Logia” is literally the “study of God.” That said it is important to me that we acknowledge the Word and the Spirit of God as our Teacher. I am simply the guy who provides the discussion prompts. Like you, I love reading the comments from those of you who dare to share! Thank you so much for enriching my life with your thoughts, faith, and experiences with our God.