Anchor My Faith

The Testimony of Jesus

Scripture: John 3:32-34

In the previous lesson we saw that Jesus was above all or superior to all because he was the Son of God who was sent from heaven. In this lesson we will learn that he came with a message for us who are of the earth: “He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony” (John 3:32 ESV). Since Jesus is the Son of God what he has to say is the word of God. Those who heard Jesus were hearing God speak to them. Today we have the Bible and learn from God as we read and the Holy Spirit opens it to us. But verse 32 tells us that no one accepts his testimony. From previous lessons we learned that anyone who has not been born spiritually is spiritually dead and does not understand spiritual things. These are the ones who do not accept his testimony and at times even some who are born spiritually refuse to accept parts of his testimony.

John speaks of those who accept his testimony in the next verse: “Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true” (John 3:33 ESV). They are the ones who are born again and are spiritually alive. Those who accept his testimony believe what they hear and have the conviction that God is indeed truthful. These believers are convinced that God will fulfil all that he has promised and are willing to give their lives to follow him. We see these people in many closed nations giving their lives for their faith. I saw this in the house church movement in China when I taught there and had a close encounter with authorities. Most of my students were not so lucky.

It is clear that Jesus divides the population of the world into two parts; those who accept his testimony and come to him in faith and obtain eternal live, and those who do not accept his testimony and remain of the earth and continue to live in the flesh spiritually dead. We should slow down some and take time to listen to what Jesus has to say: “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:34 ESV). The one whom God sent was the Son of God, the Messiah, and he comes to speak the words of God, the truth, or the commands of God. Looking at 1 John 5:10 (ESV), we find that “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.”

We come to the part of verse 34 that can cause one to stop and wonder over the meaning of “for he gives the Spirit without measure.” A simple explanation would be that all who are born spiritually have been and are empowered by the Spirit to some extent, but Jesus has a measureless anointing from the Spirit. That anointing came upon him at his baptism.

Prayer

Lord, what joy I have as I study your word to prepare these lessons. Each lesson is like being seated before a great meal. My heart aches for those who don’t take time to study or for those who don’t even take time to read. How they will groan in that day when they realize they lived life with the wrong priorities. Father, I pray for them and thank you for all you have done for me.