John 3:31-36

Acts 5:27-33

Psalm 34:2 and 9m 17-18, 19-20

John 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all.

The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.

But the one who comes from heaven is above all.

He testifies to what he has seen and heard,

but no one accepts his testimony.

Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.

He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,

but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,

but the wrath of God remains upon him.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I meditate on the life of your Son, I see how he was mistreated and misunderstood. He was innocent, yet put to death. This is the paradox of the Christian life: by dying to myself, I will gain eternal life. Help me to live that truth and conform my life to that of your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The One who Comes from Above: It is not clear in the Gospel if the words spoken are those of John the Baptist or those of John the Evangelist. Either way, Jesus is referred to as “the one who comes from above.” This recalls the conversation with Nicodemus about being born from above and about the Son of Man descending from heaven (see John 3:3, 7, 13). As the Son of God, Jesus is above all created things. He was the Word through whom all things were made and given life (see John 1:1-4). Jesus has revealed God the Father to us and sent us God the Spirit to guide us toward our heavenly home. Jesus has testified to what he has seen and heard at the Father’s side. “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (see John 1:11). Many members of the people of God rejected Jesus, his works, his signs, his authority, and his testimony. “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name” (John 1:12). By accepting the testimony of Jesus, we know that we can trust our heavenly Father to care for us (see Matthew 6:25-34).

2. Abundant Gift of the Spirit: John’s testimony here mentions that Jesus does not ration the Spirit. Jesus is not a stingy giver. Many of the signs in John’s Gospel speak about Jesus’ abundance. When he turned the water into wine, he made 120-180 gallons (around 900 bottles of wine!). When he multiplied the bread, he multiplied 5 barley loaves to feed 5,000 and ended with 12 wicker baskets of bread left over! When the disciples anointed Jesus’ body with a mixture of myrrh and aloes, they poured out 75 lbs. worth! When the disciples return to fishing after the Resurrection, Jesus enables them to catch 153 fish! And so, when Jesus pours out his Spirit, the Bond of Love between him and the Father, he does so abundantly: “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). As Paul teaches us: “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

3. The Wrath of God: At the end of our Gospel passage, John mentions the wrath of God. This does not mean that God is subject to the whims of passion, happy one day, sad another, and angry another. God is perfectly and infinitely happy and blessed in himself. The wrath of God is a way of referring to God’s just punishment of sin. “By refusing the Son, one turns down God’s invitation to eternal life, thus choosing to remain in spiritual darkness under the condemnation of sin. Hence, the wrath of God, the punishment due to sin, remains upon him (see 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9)” (Martin and Wright, The Gospel of John, 79).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment in the New through your obedient suffering out of love. You have the power to transform me and conform my life to yours. Teach me to be an obedient child who heeds the Word of God.

Living the Word of God: Have I ever experienced the abundance of joy in the Spirit? What fruits of the Holy Spirit have I seen in my life? What can I do to be more docile to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?