Jesus Christ’s position and authority are prominent elements of the Apostle John’s introductory chapters. Again and again he emphasizes where Jesus came from.
John 1:1-2, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
And then he hits that same message again.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And again.
John 3:3 “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
And then again and again in the same verse.
John 3:31 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.
Jesus’ position (from above/heaven) and his power (above all) are fundamental truths. Those truths allowed John the Baptist to humble himself and let his ministry dwindle as Jesus’ ministry grew. “He must increase and I must decrease” John 3:30. Imagine a pastor of a church today happily watching his church shrink while the church down the street grew and grew. That is how John the Baptist’s ministry shrank in relation to Jesus’ growing popularity and following. But it was just what John was waiting for.
Am I trying to outshine Jesus? Am I trying to grow myself or my thing instead of elevating Jesus’ name?
People struggle to take Jesus’ position as the lords of their own lives without ever having Jesus’ perspective. Humans strive to be on top, but are of the earth and speak of earthly things. Only Jesus is “from above” and therefore worthy and able to be above all.
Please pause for a moment and consider if Jesus is “Above All” in your life right now.
Pastor John Riley
Jr. High Ministry