John 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
In all my years of ministry, I’ve never preached on this passage. The reason is quite simple: the tradition in which I serve follows the Revised Common Lectionary – a three-year pattern of readings for Sunday worship – and these verses simply never appear there.
And probably for good reason, as there is considerable debate about this little passage. It sounds a lot less like John than most of the rest of the narrative, and so some wonder whether it is a later addition (though it is contained in the earliest manuscripts we have of John’s Gospel). It’s hard to tell if this is supposed to be a continuation of John the Baptist’s speech to his disciples or, as most versions assume, commentary from John the Evangelist. Further, it’s both complex and convoluted and so somewhat difficult to follow.
When I am faced with a complex passage like this, I usually look to see whether there is some central or core message that helps me read it better. And here, I think, there are actually two. First, God is true. Part of the life of faith is trusting that, indeed, the promises of God are true, something to be trusted and held on to. Second, Jesus comes to share God’s true word of grace and to give the Spirit of truth freely. So whatever else may be going on in, behind, or with this passage, that much seems clear to me: the promises of God are true, and Jesus comes bearing gifts of grace. And perhaps, on this and most other days, that’s enough.
Prayer: Dear God, let us interpret both Scripture and our lives in light our your love for us and all the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I am not a Biblical scholar, but when a passage speaks of God in a way that is not the living and forgiving God, then I suspect that the statement such as the “wrath of God” was added by someone other than the author.