John the Baptist had been preparing the way for Jesus, and now Jesus had come and started His ministry.
John’s disciples were confused and asked what was up with Jesus. John tells them
John 3:27
To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.”
John is telling them that John the Baptist is from earth, but Jesus is from heaven.
John tells them how delighted he is for Jesus’ coming, much like the best man at a wedding for the groom.
Then he says this:
John 3:30
He must become greater; I must become less.
Wow! John understood he was only a messenger, but Jesus, Jesus was something much greater.
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.
Jesus is above all. He is from heaven.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
We as humans are on this earth, broken because of our sins and lost because we can not overcome this brokenness.
But Jesus is not from here, but from heaven. Though taken on a human body, He was without sin. He came to answer the rightful judgement of God against those who have rebelled against Him.
This is why we celebrate His coming, Christmas.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
This is why we believe in Jesus so that we, too, may have eternal life and forgiveness of our sins and no longer be under the rightful judgement of God.
I pray you have a Merry Christmas. As you place your faith in Jesus, you too will rejoice because your sins are forgiven, and you no longer need to fear the judgement of God but can be part of His family.
Merry Christmas!
