The Saviour

John responded,"No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said 'I am not the Messiah', but I have been sent ahead of Him.

He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

He must increase and I must decrease. The One who comes from above is above all. The one who comes from earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.

The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.

For God sent Him, and He speaks God's words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead the wrath of God remains on him. Jn3:27-36 

John had been questioned by his disciples regarding the fact that Jesus and His disciples were also baptising. John's disciples were perhaps annoyed at Jesus for invading John's territory. However John knew his place and the above scripture puts it all into perspective.

How often does the forerunner become enamoured with his position and then turns and persecutes the one who comes behind. John was not going to do that.

John gets it right when he said, "no one can receive a single thing unless it is given to him from heaven." This applies to all things even salvation. Yesterday I had the pleasure of assisting a young man with business and he brought up that he had tried to find 'the big fella'. I told Him I had found Him but his ears were not open to hear. Now I can pray for him that he will have ears to hear and a heart to understand.

John also put something else in perspective. On this earth we have had many good men who their followers deify and yet John says, "The One who comes down from heaven is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all." (verse 31)

This fact was so important that John stated it twice. We are so thick sometimes and need to have truth rammed home. Salvation is from our God, no one else has the power.

Over the last few nights there has been 2 episodes of a long running programme called Doctor Who on the ABC here in Australia. Doctor Who is a supposed time lord and cannot die, each time his life is threatened he rebirths into a new Doctor Who. The doctor flies around the universe in his space craft shaped like an old blue telephone box on the outside, inside a roomy spaceship. The doctor is a 'saviour type', he finds ways to rescue civilizations who are threatened by various nasty groups. A quirky English speaking individual, the doctor has friends all over the galaxy and invariably takes various Englishmen and women with him on his adventures. This show has a cult following.

I grew up watching Doctor Who every evening before the news and loved it. I can now see it with different eyes and know there is one greater but hey this is science fiction at it's best. I still enjoy an occasional episode.

However, the show typifies the experience of many, in that all are looking for a saviour and many settle for one who is not God.

As John says in verse 36: The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not have life, instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

How terrible to realise that I can live my life lost and go into eternity lost. Yes I will live forever, like Doctor Who, but that eternity will be one of futility and suffering if I refuse Christ. Christ alone is the answer, He alone gives life and certainty of a hope and a future, with Him. Amen!