31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[a] 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. (John 3:31-36)
The first verse of today's Scripture clearly says, "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:31) It means that whoever comes from heaven comes from God, and that is why His power is beyond the universe, and what He says from heaven carries the authority of the heavenly kingdom. On the contrary, words from an earthly being is just human words, and is without heavenly authority. John the Baptist used this analogy to point out the difference between himself and the Lord Jesus Christ.
At that time, Jesus Christ began His ministry in Judea, and He started to baptize those who believed. The disciples of John the Baptist said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” (John 3:22-26) John's disciples were concerned that Jesus Christ would steal the show, so they anxiously tipped John off. However, John acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the one from heaven, with the power and authority to testify for God the creator. He himself could only spread the heavenly truth using earthly language.
These verses serve as a great reminder to me. Sure enough, we believers are only earthly beings, and cannot be compared to our Lord Jesus. However, verse 34 reminds us that Jesus Christ was sent by God. God had given Him the Holy Spirit, and heavenly power and authority. In a similar way, God has also given us the Holy Spirit who has the power and authority from heaven. The Holy Spirit indwells in all believers, and this means that Jesus is with us all the time! He guides us to say the right thing, to make God-pleasing decisions, and to walk the right path to God’s heavenly kingdom. Since the Holy Spirit indwells in us, so when we lead Bible study, or evangelize or give testimonies of God’s grace in our lives, we are doing it with the power and authority from heaven.
Therefore, regard every opportunity to spread the Gospel as important, for it is not we who are speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit within us transmitting God's word through our mouths. The Apostle Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Amen.