John 3:31, commentary and pictures

One who comes from above stands over all, while one who belongs to the earth remains earthly in nature and speech. John spoke this when his disciples were jealous because crowds were leaving him and going to Jesus for baptism beside the Jordan. Jesus is the promised Messiah sent from heaven, having the Spirit without measure, speaking the words of God with full authority, with all things given into His hand by the Father who loves Him. To receive His testimony is to affirm that God is true and to receive everlasting life and power to become sons of God, but to reject Him in unbelief is to remain without life under the abiding wrath of God. John, emptied of self and free from envy and ambition, therefore gave Christ the first place as bridegroom and rejoiced that Christ must increase while he himself decreased.

Meaning and Historical Setting

The one coming from above, from heaven, stands above all, while the one who belongs to the earth remains earthly and speaks out of the earth and from an earthly standpoint. The contrast sets forth a heavenly origin carrying decisive authority against a merely earthly limitation to earthly things. It places Jesus as above all because He comes from heaven, and places John as of the earth in comparison with Him.

John uttered this when his disciples grew jealous over the growing following of Jesus in the region about the Jordan. The tide of popularity was turning from John himself to the Saviour, with his own crowds lessening day by day while the disciples of Jesus increased daily and many came for baptism. That baptism, administered through the disciples of Christ, stood as a seal upon the mission of His forerunner.

In that setting there were disputes over whether baptism cleanses the soul from sin, whether the baptism of Jesus differs essentially from that of John, what form of words should be used, and whether the disciples of Christ had any right to baptize at all, along with the grievance that all men were coming to Jesus. None of these questions, and none of that grievance, can justify hindering the work of Christ, sowing dissension, and impeding the gospel. The testimony John then bore was spoken in almost the same words as those of Christ Himself, and was almost the counterpart of what Jesus had given to Nicodemus in their secret interview.

Christ Above All

He who comes from heaven is above all, while one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks from an earthly standpoint, and this contrast establishes Jesus as the promised Messiah and Promised One of Israel whose way John came to prepare, the great Teacher to whom disciples must turn and whom they must follow, whose success rather than John's own influence is the cause for joy.
Though He could have chosen the highest rank, He clothed His divinity with humanity and came in humble life of poor parentage so that humanity could touch humanity and the poor have no excuse that He does not understand their difficulties and trials, bringing great light to the highest and most lowly while priests and rulers who claimed to be wise expositors of the law had lost the true sense of prophecy, with angels announcing Him as Redeemer to despised shepherds and the common people hearing Him gladly in synagogues and streets.
His heavenly origin and superiority belong with His becoming human and serving through works of compassion, as the light and life of the gospel who became flesh and lived among people, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and doing good.

Because God sent Him and gave Him the Spirit without measure, He testifies what He has seen and heard above and speaks the words of God with decisive authority.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand, and He is divine and exalted above every man, with all power given into His hands to dispense rich gifts, His own righteousness, covenant blessings, and eternal life.
With the verses that follow, the passage presents the law and the gospel bound in a perfect whole.

Receiving His testimony affirms that God is true and, through believing on His name, gives power to become sons of God, born of God, with everlasting life and grace for grace from His fullness.
Not receiving Him and not believing leaves a person without life under the wrath of God abiding on him.
The chapter urges being born again, humbling before God, and walking in received light as Christ walks in the light, as a careful guide for fallen people needing life and salvation.

Witness and Christian Living

John spoke emptied of self and filled with divine light, so his witness reflected the glory of the One who comes from heaven and is above all, in contrast to one who is of the earth and speaks from an earthly standpoint. Those true to their calling as messengers do not seek honor for themselves, for love for self is swallowed up in love for Christ, and they lift up Jesus, with whom humanity will be lifted up. In this glory of Christ all His followers are to share as they yield self to Christ and receive heaven's light.

John identified himself fully with the cause of Christ, rising above all worldly considerations and personal interest to give his testimony in defense of Jesus as the Promised One of Israel whose way he had come to prepare. He steadfastly refused ambition, splendid bribe, self-sympathy, grief and disappointment at being superseded, and envy and jealousy when the tide of popularity turned from himself to the Saviour, his own crowds lessening while many came to Jesus for baptism. He directed attention fixed on himself to Another, giving Christ the first place as bridegroom deserving first place in affection, and rejoiced to hear His voice and in the success of His work rather than competing for honor. The contrast shows why Jesus must have the greater place and increase while John's role is subordinate and must decrease, for an earthly person is limited to earthly things and speaks from an earthly perspective, while Jesus speaks with the authority of what He has seen and heard above. Disputes over whether baptism cleanses the soul from sin, whether Jesus' baptism differs essentially from John's, what form of words to use, whether Christ's disciples have right to baptize, and the grievance that all men come to Jesus cannot justify hindering Christ's work, sowing dissension, and impeding the gospel.

God's people are to sound John's testimony throughout the length and breadth of the world so that all may discern the light and walk in the light, for Christ's heavenly origin and authority make His testimony decisive as the words of God revealing what He has seen and heard. With the verses that follow it presents the law and the gospel bound in a perfect whole. Christ's heavenly origin belongs with His becoming human and serving through works of compassion, as the light and life of the gospel who became flesh and lived among people, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and doing good. His ministry and compassionate work is the pattern for His followers, who by becoming partakers of His nature are to work in Him and do His works.

What is earthly is limited to earthly things. Earthly thoughts narrow and debase the mind, while pure, strengthening thoughts broaden and elevate it. When the mind keeps a low standard and is not made pure and ennobled by God's truth, conversation is cheap and profitless and centered on earthly things, not reaching even the standard of the more cultured worldly class. When minds are directed aright with Christ and heaven as the theme of contemplation, conversation is upon exalted themes, fitting and seasoned with grace, giving evidence of education in the school of the divine Teacher.