We are in John chapter 3. So John chapter 3, our focus on verses 31 through 36. But I'll read from verse 22 through the end of the chapter, near God's holy word. After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Anon near Selim. because water was plentiful there and people were coming and being baptized for John had not yet been put in prison. Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan to whom you bore witness, look, he is baptizing and all are going to him. John answered, a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear witness that I said I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. 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 who bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 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. 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. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word. The grass withers, the flower fails, but the word of our God endures forever. Let's pray for God's blessing. Our Father, we do rejoice in your word. We thank you that you speak to us and that you grant us blessing. And so, Father, grant us your blessing now. As your word is to be proclaimed, as it has been read, Lord, give us each listening ears and speak to us that we might learn more of who you are and how we might love you and serve you. And so, Lord, be with us now and grant us your blessing. We do pray it in Jesus' name. Amen. Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, last week we were called to strive to be useful servants, useful Christians. And in that striving, we are needing to avoid jealousy. And we need to realize, therefore, that our goal is not to make a name for ourselves, but to seek to glorify God, to seek to exalt the name of Jesus, to seek to make the name of Christ known. We also saw that we're called to serve joyously. John rejoiced when he saw the bride gathered to the groom. He wasn't jealous or envious, but excited because that's what ministry is all about. And finally, we saw that we're to aim for humility in serving God. We must have the attitude of John that we must decrease so that Christ can increase. And this is not a surprise that John had an attitude like this. He knew that Christ was the groom. He knew his position was to point to Christ. He knew, right? He kept pointing out that I'm not even worthy to untie his sandals. He proclaimed Christ is the Lamb of God to take away sin. And so when people were following Christ, he wasn't jealous. He was like, that's what I wanted in the first place. Now there's a little debate as chapter 3 closes as to whether verses 31 to 36 are some concluding remarks of John the Baptist to his disciples or whether this is John, the author of the gospel here, who is speaking up, tying things together. It seems to me that these words are from John, the author of the gospel, as he does try to untie some important themes together. at the end of the chapter. But regardless of who's speaking here, this chapter concludes by highlighting why Jesus is the one person who deserves to be heard, believed on, and followed. And so as John the Baptist proclaims that he must decrease and Christ must increase, we're then told that Jesus is the witness who has come from heaven, and therefore he is to be heard. All other witnesses, even those used by God, write John the Baptist, a prophet, was simply an earthly witness to God. Jesus is the one who has come from heaven. And his words are truly powerful. And in his words are eternal life. And so today, we'll be looking at the witness from heaven and two things in that regard. First of all, the witness himself. And then the great question which we all need to ask ourselves. Let's then look at the witness from heaven. Now you have to remember that John's followers complained that people were following Jesus instead of John. Obviously John's disciples didn't realize, as they should have, that this is exactly what John wanted. His ministry was to point to Jesus. But the point here is that Jesus is uniquely exalted. He's one of a kind. He's not just a prophet amongst prophets. Now John the Baptist, he was, what we might say, the last of the Old Testament prophets. And you might say, well wait a second, he's in the New Testament, I know, but he came before Christ in that sense, right? And pointed ahead to Christ. But Christ is more than a prophet. I mean, we can call Christ a prophet, but not merely a prophet. Verse 31 says, he who comes from heaven, or he who comes from above, rather, 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. And so you see what's being said here. Jesus speaks with an authority far greater than anyone else. Far greater than John the Baptist. Far greater than any prophet because they're just merely men of the earth. They're men. Simply men. John the Baptist can only speak what he receives, right? What he got from God. He can only speak in an earthly way. John the Baptist and all other prophets have no authority of their own. He can only witness to what he's received because he's a mere man of the earth. He's not from heaven. He does not know all, but Jesus knows all. Christ is above all, and therefore it means that He's above all. That He speaks with authority. John the Baptist is a mere man. But Jesus knows all. He's come from heaven. And so Jesus can speak in a way and with an authority like no one else. Jesus coming from heaven, being of course the Son of God, He ought to be heard. That doesn't mean you ought not to hear The prophets, right? But, you need to hear Jesus. Jesus came into the world from heaven and He's above all. You remember what we saw already back in chapter 1, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And then we read in verse 14 that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ came from heaven. His origins are from heaven. He came into the world from above. He's not merely earthly. He speaks with an authority that no one else has and can speak with. So what John the Baptist had to say, of course, what John the Baptist had to say in pointing to Christ was wonderful. But Jesus is far beyond that. And so both John the author of this gospel and John the Baptist are happy to see people listening to Jesus. But also note that as Jesus begins His ministry, people recognize how He speaks. And they recognize His authority. Remember Matthew chapter 7 verses 28 and 29? And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. For He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. He's the one who has come from heaven, and He can speak as the one who comes from heaven. He needs to be heard. Jesus speaks of things that He knows firsthand. Right? Verse 32, He bears witness to what He has seen and heard. Yet no one receives his testimony. The prophets can only bear witness to what they've received. So the best place to go for information about heaven, right, is to one who's come from heaven. Makes sense, doesn't it? It's only logical. If you want to know about heaven, if you want to know about salvation, you go to the origin. You go to Jesus, who's come from heaven. Just think of this. If you want to know something about some place in the world, But you can't go there right now. Isn't it best to talk to somebody who came from there? Right? That makes sense, doesn't it? Jesus alone knows God. Because he is God. Because he's come from heaven. You know what he said as well. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father except through me. There's no better source for truth about salvation, for truth about heaven, for truth about God than Jesus Christ Himself. And think about this, no other religion has anyone like Jesus. No religious leader can compare. Not Buddha, not Muhammad, not the Dalai Lama, not Joseph Smith. These are all men of what? Right? The earth. Jesus Christ alone is the very Son of God who came from heaven with first-hand knowledge of God, with first-hand knowledge of heaven, with first-hand knowledge of salvation. No other religion claims to have such a leader. And Jesus Christ has a totally different message than all these other so-called religious leaders as well. Think about every other false religion. Despite how different they are from one another, Whether we're talking Islam or Buddhism or Mormonism or Judaism or even Roman Catholicism, there's a similarity between all of them. And what's that similarity? That we come to God, at least in part, by being good, by doing good works. We come to God because we have to do something. That's how we come to God in every other religion. Every other religion contains a doctrine of merit to be right with God, to come into the presence of God. It's not the leader. It's you've got to do something. Jesus' message was totally different. As John the Baptist proclaimed, Jesus is the Lamb of God who came to take away sin. He died on the cross in the place of His people. Remember what Jesus taught Nicodemus in this very chapter. Nicodemus thought he was good, but Jesus told him, you must be born again. And Jesus also said that the Son of Man must be lifted up, that is lifted up on a cross to die for the sins of His people. Jesus alone teaches that God has so loved the world that He gave His own Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus taught salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That's the message that has come from heaven. This is not what men of the earth think, or what they think of when they think of salvation. So it's very strange today that there are so many who say we need to learn from one another. that we need to evangelize, and they mean by evangelizing so many in the world today, that you go and you can talk to somebody else from a different religion, and you can take some of the strong points from what they say, and you can take some of the points that you have, and you kind of blend them together. Brothers and sisters, no. Jesus alone is the way. He came from heaven. He came to die to mix Jesus with our own works, with our own merit, however you might do that, is to reject Jesus Christ, is to reject the message that has come from heaven itself. You have the one who came from heaven to listen to. Listen to Him. But isn't it narrow-minded to believe that Jesus is the only way? I guess in one sense it is. But that doesn't mean that's bad, right? I mean, Jesus did say, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father but by me. And so, yes, let's be narrow-minded, if you will, when it comes to the way of salvation, when it comes to the message of the gospel. There's nothing else. The only way, right? There's a narrow road that leads to heaven, and there's a broad road that leads to destruction. Jesus alone is the way. Jesus is the witness from heaven. And so hear his word. He is the true gospel. There is no other. There is no other name under heaven by which we might be saved. Jesus came to bear witness to what he's seen and heard. Now, while it's true that Jesus performed miracles, It's very important for us to realize, to understand, that Jesus came into the world, yes, of course, to die on the cross, to live in our place, but he came into the world as well to bear witness, to bring a message from heaven. Remember Mark chapter one, what Jesus did after performing many miracles, after performing healings. You remember what happened in Mark chapter one? It's really interesting. Mark one, verses 34 to 39. And he healed many who were sick, with various diseases and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place. And there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him. And they found him and said, everyone is looking for you. And he said to them, let us go. to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came." And he went through all Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. You see, the purpose of miracles were to point to the authenticity of Jesus Christ as one who's come from heaven. And so when the crowds were coming simply for miracles, what did Jesus say? I came to preach. I came to give a message from heaven. I came to be heard. So let's keep going. Jesus came to preach. He came to reveal heaven. He came to reveal the way to God. But the problem is that people are unwilling to receive Him. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony. Now that's used somewhat figuratively, of course, because John does point out as well that there are some who did receive his teaching. So it's not literally no one. But A.W. Pink says that most people refuse Jesus because his message is too heavenly for them. In other words, people are consumed and concerned with things of the earth. Very few people today attend church to hear the word of Christ proclaimed. They would rather watch a ball game than hear from Christ. Or they're out seeing if they can hit a little white ball into a hole rather than hearing the one who has come from heaven with a message of heaven. Now I'm not against playing golf. I'm not saying it's bad play golf. But what does that compare in coming to hear Jesus Christ speak? Man condemns himself by his lack of interest in salvation, by his lack of interest in things of heaven. Or what did we learn already? Verse 19, and this is the judgment that light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Now people will sometimes ask, but how can we know that what Jesus said is true? Brothers and sisters, this is not a mere human giving a record or restating what they heard or learned. This is the Word of God. This is not a merely human process subject to human error. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent from heaven by the Father to reveal heavenly truth to the world. This is why Christ came, so will you listen? Will you believe the message of Christ? Will you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? And that no one comes to God except through Him? Now many have and many will reject that message, but may that not be said of any one of us here. And by the way, notice in verse 32 that it does not say that Jesus bore witness, past tense. It says that he bears witness, present tense. In other words, Jesus didn't merely come into the world to speak the truth and then leave it to merely human agencies to present his truth to the world. Jesus continues to speak the truth. the truth from heaven today, the spirit works through the message of Jesus even now. In Hebrews we read, Hebrews 4 verse 12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Christ continues to speak today through his word. That's why we ought to be gathering for worship together. Some might say, but how do we know that Jesus really came from heaven? Well, he comes with witnesses or credentials, you might say. Two are mentioned here. The first is that he possesses the spirit. And some might say, but don't believers have the spirit? How is that different? How does that make Jesus different? Well, believers do have the Spirit, right? At Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out on the church. There's no doubt about that. However, notice that Jesus has full possession of the Spirit, not partial. Look at verse 34. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. And you remember what it says in Isaiah as well, Isaiah 11 verse 2, And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And then do you remember what Jesus said as he began his ministry in Galilee, what he read from the Isaiah scroll? In Luke 4, verse 18, the Spirit of the Lord, this is what Jesus read in the synagogue. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. And then this was seen throughout the ministry of Jesus. as Jesus performed many miracles that certified His teaching. Again, what were the purpose of miracles? Some might say Jesus was lovingly caring for those in need, and there's a truth to that, but that's not what's central. What was the purpose? It was to verify that Christ is the one from heaven. You remember the friends that lowered the paralyzed man through the roof? Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven because of his faith. And the Pharisees jumped on this. And they said, who is this who speaks blasphemies? For who can forgive sin but God alone? Do you remember Jesus' response? Luke 5, 22-24, when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered them. Why do you question in your hearts, which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or to say, rise and walk, but that you may know the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home. Right? How could, how could they tell when Jesus said your sins are forgiven? Right? They couldn't see that. So they questioned him. At least in their minds. I like it says Jesus perceived their thoughts. I don't think they said it out loud. And Jesus said, okay, what's easier? To say his sins are forgiven or to say rise up and walk? They probably were answering in their minds, well, to say rise up and walk. And so what did Jesus say? Rise up and walk, go home. And he did. So if what Jesus said there happened, then what Jesus said in the prior statement, your sins are forgiven, also happened. And so you see his miracles, right? They weren't merely to be kind. I'm not saying they weren't had anything to do with kindness, but what were the purpose? Here's the one who speaks from heaven. Here's the one who speaks as God. Here's the one who you need to listen to. This is the witness. Christ bore the credentials of heaven. There's also another certification we might say or another witness. Look at verse 35 in our passage. The father loves the son and has given all things into his hand. John was one of those who heard the voice speaking from heaven after Jesus was baptized. Matthew chapter 3 verse 17, and behold a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. And there's another credential, another witness. He is my beloved Son. He did come from heaven. Listen to Him. And so brothers and sisters, Jesus is to be heard. He is to be listened to. He has come from heaven. He has a message that no one else has. Your faith is to be in Him. You are to follow Him. But the great question then is this. Is your faith in Him? Have you heard what Jesus has to say? This is the greatest question you will ever be asked. What do you make of Jesus Christ? Have you responded to the messenger from heaven in faith? Or are you hardened and unbelieving? Jesus teaches of our need to be born again. And of God's gift of His only Son lifted up on the cross. And so what is your response to the message from heaven from the greatest messenger there ever was? This is the greatest question you will ever be asked. Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Verse 36 says, 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." There are only two options. The first is to believe the message of the Savior and to put your faith in Him. If you've done that, you have eternal life right now. Again, notice the past tense of verse 36. Not whoever believes will have eternal life. No, whoever believes has eternal life. When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you immediately receive eternal life. You are immediately pardoned. Your sins are immediately done away with. Why? How is this possible? It's not your faith that accomplishes it. It's Jesus. He's the Lamb of God who's come to take away the sin of the world. And so the ground of your salvation is not the faith by which you receive the gift. The ground of your salvation is that very messenger from heaven, Jesus Christ. He paid the penalty in your place. He bore the fierce blows of God's wrath in your place. There is salvation in Him and in Him alone. The second option is to reject Jesus. But look at the warning here in verse 36. 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. If you will not believe Jesus, if you won't put your faith in Him, then you won't even see life. To reject the Savior and the witness that God has sent from heaven is to therefore commit treason against heaven because a message has come from heaven. To deny Him the faith that He calls for is to forfeit the life that He offers. is therefore to leave you in your own sins. Therefore God's wrath remains on such a person and he will not see life. Such a person will bear rather God's wrath himself for eternity in hell. People sometimes get angry when we talk about God's wrath. They think that we're so narrow-minded, as I was saying earlier, to think that there's only one way of salvation. But I bring you the words of Him who came from heaven, He who performed miracles, showing that He came from heaven, showing that His words are true. I bring you the words of Him who is the beloved Son of the Father. Whoever believes on the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. There is no greater evil than to deny the one whom the Father has sent from heaven and on whom the Spirit bears testimony. Unbelievers will spend an eternity in hell, not for rejecting a message of men, but for their sin and for rejecting the message that has come from heaven. The greatest witness is Jesus Christ. And you see, there is an answer. There is an answer for our sin. That's Jesus. Are you resting on Him? There is salvation there to God. Be the glory. Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, how we do thank You for this glorious message that there is salvation in Jesus Christ. How we thank You, Father, that You've sent a messenger from heaven. Lord, may it be that each one here, young and old alike, would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and have that great gift of eternal life. Lord, work in us that we might thankfully live for you. And so, Father, grant us your blessing, we do pray it, in Jesus' name, amen.