Reflections on John 3:34-36

Last night I read John 3, and was just thinking about the wonder of God's love in sending His Son. As Graham Cooke says, the Good News, is almost to good to be true, but it is!

I was struck by the three last verses of the their chapter of John: John 3:34-36 NIV
'For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. [35] The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. [36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them."

Breaking these three verses down - in verse 34, we see the focus is on the words that Jesus speaks, being the very words of the Father, and the Father pouring forth the Spirit without limit, or more accurately - no end to the measure He uses in pouring out the Spirit. This really looks forward to several topics that are covered in much greater detail within John's Gospel, the obedience of Jesus to His Father's will, saying and doing only what the Father is saying and doing (John 5:19, John 8:28) and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, given to guide, direct, be our advocate, and teacher (John 14-16).

Verse 35 speaks of the authority that is given to Jesus by the Father. In Matt 28:18, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me..."
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he writes - ..."he (the Father) exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (Eph 1:21-23). We have in Jesus one who is capable, powerful, loving and forgiving. God sent Jesus for our salvation, and really did place this whole plan of salvation into His hands. It took His constant choice to follow the Father perfectly, to become that sinless, perfect sacrifice, that He might meet the requirements of the law, and fulfill it perfectly, setting us free.

Finally in verse 36, the simplicity of the Gospel, and our choice. We choose to believe or not, and our choice brings with it consequences. If we choose to believe in Jesus, we inherit eternal life. If we choose to deny Him, rejecting the Gospel, we remain under the wrath, or previously existing judgement of God. The choice is ours, for our debts and sins have already been paid for, its just whether or not we apply the payment to our lives, which we do by believing in Jesus, as our savior and Lord. This is not based on our good works, our being nice, friendly, or good, but simply by the choice we make to believe, or have faith in Jesus. Once we step into that place of belief, we restore ourselves to relationship wth God, and He invites us into His Eternal life. What an awesome deal!

Lord, that the fullness of Your promises and the reality of the Gospel might firmly be established in all our lives. We thank You for Your amazing love, and the good news, that is indeed good, beyond our wildest imaginations.