He Who Comes From Above Is Above All

John 3:25-36

John told his disciples concerning the Lord Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease”. He rejoiced that the multitudes were now following the King whose way he had prepared.

John said of Jesus, “He who comes from above is above all.” Again he said, “He who comes from heaven is above all”.

The Lord Jesus is more than a prophet. He is the holy Son of God who came down from Heaven. He is above the Herald who told the people of His coming.

John had an earthly origin. He was frail and sinful, though God did speak through him. The Lord Jesus, by contrast, is perfect and sinless.

The message that we must proclaim is that Christ is above all.

Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He is the brightness of His Father's glory; He is the express image of His Person.

Christ was in the beginning with God. And all things were made through Him.

He is above all because the Father loves Him and has given all things into His hand. He is above all because He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The message of the love of God, who gave His beloved Son to die for sinners, is wonderful!

John testified about Jesus who came down from Heaven.

But most people rejected his testimony.

The vast majority today continue to reject Christ and they do so at their peril!

The chapter closes with a solemn warning about the wrath of God: He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Only the Lord Jesus is able to save sinners. Those who refuse to trust in Him have the wrath of God hanging over them. They are condemned and have no hope!

Whatever He Says to You, Do it

John 2:1-12

Nathaniel was from Cana in Galilee.

On the third day after he met the Lord Jesus, there was a wedding in his home town, which was about eight miles north of Nazareth. It was at this wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle. Jesus’ first miracle was at Cana!

Through this first miracle the Lord Jesus manifested His glory.

His disciples believed in Him. They began to understand that the Lord Jesus was no mere man or prophet that they were following, but the almighty Son of God!

Mary told the Lord Jesus that they had run out of wine.

Jesus responded by saying, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come”.

The Lord Jesus was not showing any disrespect to Mary in the manner of His response. The way He used the word “woman” was in a tender and loving manner.

The Lord Jesus used the expression 'My hour has not yet come' in relation to His death on the cross and His victory over death. His resurrection was the greatest of all His miracles.

The Lord Jesus never lost sight of the fact that He had come to earth to suffer and to die on the cross in order to save sinners.

Mary pointed people to her Son and said to the servants at the wedding, “Whatever He says to you, do it”.

Those servants obeyed the Lord Jesus and drew from the waterpots as He had instructed and found that a wonderful miracle had taken place. Blessing comes through obedience to His Word!

Is God challenging us as we read the Bible or through a sermon we have recently heard? — “Whatever he says to you, do it.”

The glory of the Lord Jesus was revealed to His disciples and to the wedding guests through this miracle. (n) They needed to see that the Son of Mary was no mere man, but also the Son of God.

In the Beginning was the Word

John 1:1-5

John introduces us to the Lord Jesus Christ by describing Him as the Word: “In the beginning was the Word”.

This title is given to Jesus because God the Father reveals Himself through Christ and speaks through Him.

John leaves us in no doubt concerning the identity of the Lord Jesus: “The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God”

Christ was with God before the universe was made and He has always been with God because He is God.

These verses not only inform us that the Lord Jesus is God, but also that He made all things: “All things were made through Him”.

Creation is the work of the Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This world did not come into existence by accident! Human life did not evolve from simple, primitive cells over millions of years. Our great Savior created the whole universe and all life in it.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men”.

The Lord Jesus is also the Giver of life. He brings light to men who are in darkness because of sin. He gives them spiritual Life. He gives them spiritual light or understanding. Jesus is the Life who alone gives spiritual life. He is the Light who gives spiritual understanding. There is no way of salvation from our sin except through trusting in Him.

“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

The darkness of this world cannot defeat the Light of Christ. He is altogether wonderful and glorious.

Let us now worship our great Savior and bring to Him our grateful praises!

The Light Was Good

"God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness."
- Genesis 1:4 -

"Let there be light."

Light is good. 

We who enjoy it should be more grateful.

We should see more of God in it and by it.

Light is sweet.

But the gospel light is infinitely more precious.

Gospel light reveals eternal things, and ministers to our immortal natures.

When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light, He opens our eyes to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We behold sin in its true colors, and ourselves in our real position.

We see the Most Holy God as He reveals Himself, the plan of mercy as He propounds it, and the world to come as the Word describes it.

Spiritual light has many beams and prismatic colors.

It brings knowledge, joy, holiness, or life, all are divinely good.

May the Lord God give us more of light, and more of Himself, the true light.

Light and darkness have no communion.

God has divided them.

The Sons of light must not have fellowship with deeds, doctrines, or deceits of darkness.

The Children of the day must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord's work, leaving the works of darkness to those who shall dwell in it forever.

The Churches should by discipline divide the light from the darkness.

In judgment, in action, in hearing, in teaching, in association, we must discern between the precious and the vile.

We should maintain the great distinction which the Lord made upon the world's first day.

May the Lord God be our light throughout our whole life.

The Promised Rest

"The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan."
- Joshua 5:12 -

Israel's weary wanderings were all over.

The promised rest was attained.

No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses.

They had come to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land.

Joyful is the prospect.

To be with the Lord Jesus in the rest is a cheering hope indeed.

Let us banish every fearful thought.

Let us rejoice with exceeding great joy.

We shall be forever with the Lord.

Let us feed on Jesus, and eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan.