He Is Above All
John 3:31-36
June 26, 2022
Abraham Hong
Sermon Script
What is the best thing about being a Christian? This question is very important. But it comes with a simple answer.
The best thing about being a Christian is having Jesus. Having Jesus as your Savior. Having Jesus as your Lord. The best thing about being a Christian is learning more and more about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us. And the best thing about being a Christian is worshipping and loving and proclaiming Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
Dear Highland, I really hope that you want to learn more and more about Jesus for the rest of your life. And I really hope that you will cherish and enjoy learning about Jesus today as we go through John 3:31-36.
Look at verse 31. It says this. “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.”
This is so amazing. This means that Jesus is the king. He is higher and greater than anyone or anything. He is supreme and sovereign. He is glorious and majestic. He is undefeatable. He is the best. Jesus is above all.
This is why John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John was a mere human being of the earth. John belonged to the earth and spoke in an earthly way. John was just the messenger for the king. But now the king has come. Now Jesus has come down from heaven above. And he who comes from heaven is above all.
But praise be to our God. Because while Jesus was the king, he took the form of a servant. A servant in order to save us. Jesus humbled himself and he died on the cross for your sin. In a sense, Jesus was a king who decreased. What king does this? Only Jesus. Praise the Lord.
Dear Highland, may you never forget this. Never forget that Jesus came from above. And never forget that Jesus is above all. This means that he is above you. He is above all of your earthly hopes and dreams. He is above your family and your friends and your career and your life. May you therefore examine yourself. And may you joyfully decrease. How do you view and approach Jesus week to week? Does your life look and feel royal? If we were to go through your thoughts and words and actions, would it be clear that you are living for the one true king? Where is your love for your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Jesus is above all.
Look now at verses 32 and 33. It says this. “He 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.”
This is so encouraging. This means that Jesus has spoken words of truth. Jesus (because he is God and because he is from above) is a first-hand witness of heavenly things. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard. No sinner is able to receive Jesus’ testimony on their own. Jesus gives sinners the gift of faith and belief in him. And when he does that, sinners believe that he is true. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
Praise be to our God. Jesus is abundant in truth. He is the truth. His judgment is true. When you abide in his word, you are truly his disciple, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth. And he will guide you into all the truth. And Jesus defeated Satan, our enemy, who is a liar and the father of lies. Praise the Lord.
Dear Highland, may you set your seal to this, that God is true. Believe in the truth of Jesus. This world will try to convince you that the things of Christ Jesus are not true. The enemy will try to convince you that Jesus and his salvation is not real. Don’t fall for any of this. Set your seal. Cling tightly to Jesus’ words of assurance. Have deep conviction about your hope in the Lord. By faith, acknowledge that you are a stranger and an exile on this earth. By faith, wait patiently for the return of your king. Jesus is true.
Look now at verses 34 and 35. It says this. “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.”
This is so wonderful. This means that the relationship between God the Father and God the Son is glorious. The Son was sent by the Father. And the Son utters the words of the Father. The Father gave the Son the Spirit without measure when John the Baptist baptized Jesus and when the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus and when the Father said from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Father loved the Son. The Father gave all things into the hand of his Son. This was and is and always will be the glorious relationship between the first person and the second person of the Triune God.
Praise be to our God. Because our salvation is a trinitarian salvation. From the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit… we are redeemed. Our Triune God is one in substance and three in persons. And each person of our Triune God has worked in perfect unity to rescue us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Lastly, look at verse 36. It says this. “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.”
This is so important. This means that believing in Jesus is a matter of life or death. There is nothing more important than believing in Jesus. Because if you believe in Jesus, if you repent of your sins and believe in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done, then you will have eternal life. But if you do not believe in Jesus, if you do not repent of your sins nor believe in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done, then you will suffer the wrath of God. add more here here
Praise be to our God. Jesus lived and died and rose again for your salvation. And he has secured for you what you could never get on your own: eternal life. Those of you who believe in Jesus have eternal life. You have the greatest blessing and the most important thing of all: eternal life with Jesus.
Dear Highland, may you rest and be at peace knowing that you have faith in Christ and eternal life with him. Do not be afraid of death. Remember that we have won. We know how everything is going to turn out. May you think less and less about the things of this world and may you think more and more about eternity and the things of heaven. Set your mind on things that are above. And let us consider the lost. Let us pray for those who still have not repented and who still have the wrath of God upon them. And let us proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to them with truth and love.
Soli Deo Gloria