Christ's Testimony to be Received
A. Beith, D. D. John 3:31-36 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth… I. CHRIST'S UNIVERSAL SUPREMACY, WHICH EXCLUDES ALL COMPARISON WITH WHAT IS EARTHLY (ver. 31). 1. Christ was from above. Thence He came to His own. Of Him alone can this be asserted: a glory belonging to Him and not to another. (1) He is pre-eminent; with reference to the whole creation, among all that are illustrious in His Church, all His predecessors who are types of Him and all His followers who are sent by Him. (2) He is invested with universal dominion. (3) John speaks of what He is, not has been or will be, merely. (4) It was true therefore that Christ must increase. There could be no result but progress. 2. John was of the earth — (1) In His origin and condition, as were all His predecessors and all His followers, partaking of weakness and imperfection. (2) In His office and doctrine, receiving both as an earthly teacher, and inferior therefore to Christ as earth was to heaven. 3. Let us be impressed — (1) With Christ's glory and yield the submission and obedience which are His due. (2) With the subordinate place occupied by His ministers yet rejoicing that He employs them. II. THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF HIS TEACHING AND ITS GENERAL RESULT (ver. 32). 1. Christ's testimony is of what He has seen and heard (ver. 11). It was direct without the intervention of a third party, as in the case of Moses and the prophets. 2. The general result — (1) Not what might have been expected, but, (2) — sadly true, then and now. III. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING HIS TESTIMONY (ver. 33). 1. God thus submits Himself to the judgments of men. They can have a full knowledge of His character in no other way. He demands, therefore, that they shall consider the testimony thus uttered. 2. Those who receive Christ and His doctrine find that they have to do with a true God. (A. Beith, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. WEB: He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.