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.

John 3:31 (NIV)

Just as surely as the heavens are above the earth, the One who comes from heaven is above all the peoples of the earth. Jesus’ thoughts and ways are so far superior to man’s thoughts and ways which, I might add, are indeed evil apart from Christ. I am reminded of God’s words through the prophet Isaiah:

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Isaiah also broadens our scope with the following questions which point us to the Truth:

13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? Isaiah 40:13-14 (NIV)

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

“God is wonderful in all his doings, his ways are past finding out; at the end we can see best the wise and gracious steps he took with us: therefore, when things take such a wonderful turn that we are quite at our wits’ end, and do not know which way to go, we may believe the hand of the Lord is in it, and some good will come of it at last. As we experience the name of Christ to be wonderful at such times, we may well expect that he will show himself to be our Counsellor and mighty God also. At first, everything may seem to be against us, and go quite contrary; but at last, we see plainly that it was highly needful that it should go contrary to our corrupt nature, and that thus it went well; for though the ways of God are marvelous, yet they are glorious.” K. H. Von Bogatzky

Paul also states the supremacy of Christ in Colossians – Jesus being preeminent over all creation, exalted by God the Father to the highest place and given the name that is above all names:

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Col 1:16-20 (NIV)

In this one passage alone John 3:31is confirmed. Note the following: All things were created by Jesus and for Jesus; all things are held together by His power; He is the Head of the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn, the supremacy; He came as the fullness of the God-head in bodily form, indeed, the One who comes from heaven is above all. The lowness of those who stood and those who are now standing in competition with Him is certainly here illustrated. All the prophets and apostles were in the same mold as mere men – they were simply earthen vessels though housing rich treasure within them. Further, Paul goes on to state that Christ has all knowledge and all wisdom - knowledge being the apprehension of Truth and wisdom being the application to life of the Truth. Being Truth and fleshing it out is summed up in the life of Jesus:

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3 (NIV)

“None but he who came from heaven was fit to show us the will of heaven, or the way to heaven.” Matthew Henry

“This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: ‘I will help thee’. ‘It is but a small thing for Me, thy God, to help thee. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help thee? Why, I bought thee with My blood. What! Not help thee? I have died for thee; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help thee! It is the least thing I will ever do for thee; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose thee. I made the covenant for thee. I laid aside My glory and became a man for thee; I gave My life for thee; and if I did all this, I will surely help thee now. In helping thee, I am giving thee what I have bought for thee already. If thou hadst need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it thee; thou requirest little compared with what I am ready to give. ‘Tis much for thee to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. “Help thee?” Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of thy granary asking for help, it would not ruin thee to give him a handful of thy wheat; and thou art nothing but a tiny insect at the door of my all sufficiency. “I will help thee”.’ O my soul, is not this enough? Dost thou need more strength than the omnipotence of the United Trinity? Dost thou want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring hither thine empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Haste, gather up thy wants, and bring them there – thine emptiness, thy woes, thy needs. Behold, this river of God is full for thy supply; what canst thou desire beside? Go forth, my soul, in this thy might. The Eternal God is thine helper!” C. H. Spurgeon

What I Glean

  • Jesus is above all.
  • In Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
  • Jesus will help me.
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